Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 4 Dec 2011

1. NHS RECORDS TO BE SHARED

Patient records and other NHS data could soon be shared with private health care firms, including vivisection researchers, David Cameron will announce tomorrow. The PM believes life science companies could boost the UK economy if regulations were eased. Privacy campaigners and animal rights groups will bitterly oppose the move.

2. ISLAMISTS SET FOR EGYPT WIN

The latest results from the Egyptian elections show Islamist parties are set for a big majority in the new parliament. The political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Islamist party lead, with moderate secular parties lagging behind. Turnout was 62% in what is described as the country's first free and fair election.

3. BANKERS TURN ON KING

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King is undermining confidence and worsening the economic situation, senior bankers and business figures have told The Sunday Times. One banker said King has only an: “academic understanding of markets”. King warned on Thursday we are in "extraordinarily serious times".

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Bankers, business leaders and politicians attack Mervyn King

4. QUEEN FACES PAY FREEZE

The Queen is taking a pay freeze until 2015 as royal finances are shaken-up as part of austerity measures. New figures show the Queen's income has been dropping since 2009. There will also be no further taxpayer funding for the court of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, despite pleas from the Shadow Chancellor.

5. CAIN QUITS WHITE HOUSE RACE

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has suspended his White House bid after accusations of sexual harassment and infidelity. Cain said "false and unproved" accusations had led him to quit. He added: "I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me."

6. WALSH IN X FACTOR GAFFE

X Factor judge Louis Walsh dropped a clanger during last night's semi-final when he wrongly claimed legendary Motown producer Berry Gordy is dead. Praising a contestant's performance, Walsh said: "If Berry Gordy were alive, he'd absolutely sign you." Gordy is alive and attended the American Music Awards two weeks ago.

7. PAKISTAN 'GAVE NATO GO AHEAD'

Pakistan gave the go-ahead for the NATO airstrikes last weekend that inadvertently killed 24 of their own troops, US officials tell the Wall Street Journal. They claim Pakistan officials at the border told them they had no soldiers in the area, clearing NATO to strike what it thought were insurgents. Pakistan disputes the claim.

8. CHILTERNS TUNNEL MULLED

The Government may dig a 1.5mile long tunnel under the Chilterns as part of its plans for a HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham. The £32 billion project has provoked fury among many MPs and organisations such as The Campaign to Protect Rural England. The Transport Secretary will delay the final decision on the project until January.

9. RUSSIA GOES TO THE POLLS

Vladimir Putin's United Russia party is expected to lose seats but retain power as voters in Russia go to the polls today. An independent monitoring group has logged over 5,000 allegations of electoral violation. Putin, whose approval rating is at its lowest in a decade, has accused foreign countries of meddling in the polling.

10. WIND TURBINE EXPANSION PLAN

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is planning 32,000 more wind turbines and new nuclear plants in a major expansion of green energy to get British homes and vehicles running on electricity by 2050. There is concern that the Government is struggling to meet its obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions.