Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 5 Oct 2011

Amanda Knox back home in America at Seattle airport

published 5 October 2011

amanda KNOX 'overwhelmed' to be home Amanda Knox told media and supporters gathered at Seattle airport early today that she was "overwhelmed" at being back on US soil. She thanked "everyone who believed in me". Media expert Professor Paul Levinson, speculating on potential interviews, said: "We're talking about a fee of anything up to $10m. This is up there with OJ Simpson and Monica Lewinsky." Amanda Knox outfoxes Britain’s news hounds Amanda Knox flies home to Seattle via London UK ECONOMIC growth revised downwards The UK economy grew by just 0.1% between April and June - 0.1% less than was predicted. The Office of National Statistics also revised down its GDP growth figure for the first three months of the year, from 0.5% to 0.4%. The figures suggest the recovery was stalling even before the summer's market turmoil. UK quarterly growth figures downgraded CAMERON defends spending cuts David Cameron has defended the coalition government's deficit reducing measures in his speech to the Conservative conference, saying the rich have paid more. The PM was forced to rewrite his speech after concerns that a call for the public to pay off their debts would reduce consumer spending and derail the recovery. In pictures: delegates snooze at the Tory conference PUTIN PLANS TO CREATE 'EURASIAN UNION'Vladimir Putin, due to return to the Russian presidency next year, yesterday outlined plans in the newspaper Izvestia to recreate the map of the USSR with a "Eurasian Union", bringing together the former Soviet republics in an "integration project" to have "an undoubtedly positive global effect". But its "values" would differ from the communist Soviet Union. Putin's Eurasian Union: a new Russian Empire? HUGH GRANT: 'I SAID, DON'T HIRE ANDY COULSON' Actor Hugh Grant, at the Conservative Party conference to continue his campaign against phone hacking, revealed last night that he told George Osborne at a dinner party before the 2010 general election that hiring former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was a "catastrophic mistake", but the chancellor "pooh-poohed" him. Grant wants an explanation from the PM. CHRIS CHRISTIE 'NO' TO WHITE HOUSE RUNNew Jersey Governor Chris Christie, tipped to become the fattest man ever to join the presidential race, finally announced yesterday that he will not be seeking the Republican nomination next year, saying "now is not my time". The decision increased the odds that Mitt Romney, mainstream but uncharismatic, will be President Obama's challenger. Chris Christie: is America ready for a fat president? ITALY'S CREDIT RATING DOWN, FTSE FALLSThe European debt crisis spread yesterday when the Italian government's credit rating was slashed by Moody's from Aa2 to A2 with a "negative outlook". The ratings agency cited lost confidence in eurozone government debts. In London, the FTSE index fell to its lowest in 15 months, while Fed chairman Bernard Bernanke said the US economy was "faltering". Germany ups EU bailout fund – but is it enough? Nobel for quasicrystals discovererThe Nobel prize for chemistry has gone to Daniel Shechtman for his discovery of the structure of quasicrystals. The Israeli faced years of ridicule after his 'impossible' discovery in 1982. Applications include durable steel, light-emitting diodes and frying pan coatings, the BBC reports. APPLE 'iPHONE 5' LAUNCHED IN CALIFORNIAApple finally unveiled its long-awaited iPhone 5 yesterday: actually called the iPhone 4S, it looks just the same as the iPhone 4, but is twice as fast, can respond to voice commands, and operate games at seven times the speed. It was launched at Apple HQ in California by new CEO Tim Cook, who took over from ailing Steve Jobs in August. Apple iPhone 4S: faster but not thrilling enough MAN u player wins damages from sun Manchester United footballer Tom Cleverley has won "substantial" damages from the Sun after the tabloid suggested he demanded sex from a woman he had met in a Blackpool nightclub. In reality the woman was pestered by a man impersonating Cleverley.