Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 14 Mar 2012

1. BELGIUM MOURNS DEAD AFTER BUS CRASH

Belgium is mounring after at least 28 people, including 22 children, died when a bus bringing a group home from a skiing holiday crashed into the wall of a tunnel in Switzerland. Another 24 children were injured in the crash near the town of Sierre. The cause of the single-driver accident is not yet known.

2. CAMERON CONFUSED BY BALL GAME

Barack Obama yesterday welcomed David Cameron to the US for his second official visit by taking him to a basketball game. The PM later admitted he had found the action hard to follow. The pair discussed Afghanistan and Syria today, before a dinner at the White House with guests including old-Etonian actor Damian Lewis.

A dinner jacket for Dave, a tux for Obama: let the feast begin

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3. REBEKAH BROOKS RELEASED ON BAIL

Rebekah Brooks, former News of the World editor, and her husband Charlie have both been released on bail after spending 12 hours being questioned at separate police stations yesterday. The two were arrested at their Oxfordshire farm early yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Brooks affair raises chances of PM being called by Leveson

4. SPECTACULAR RANT ROCKS GOLDMAN SACHS

Senior Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith has resigned in spectacular fashion, using an article in The New York Times to lambast the company and accuse it of lacking "moral fibre" and "ripping off" clients. He claimed that anyone who made money and was not an axe murderer would be promoted.

Goldman Sachs exec slams ‘toxic’ bank in resignation letter

5. UK UNEMPLOYMENT UP 28,000

UK unemployment rose by 28,000 to 2.67m in the three months to January, according to the Office of National Statistics. The rise was the lowest for a year but the number of out-of-work young people jumped 16,000 to 1.04 million, a new record. The ONS also said that 270,000 public sector jobs were lost in 2011.

6. SARKOZY TAKES SURPRISE POLL LEAD

Incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy has for the first time been placed ahead of his socialist rival Francois Hollande by a poll, which suggested he would receive 28.5 per cent to Hollande's 27 per cent in the first round of voting. However, the 57-year-old was predicted to go on to lose the second round to Hollande.

7. KAUTO STAR DEFINITE FOR GOLD CUP

Kauto Star was included in the final declarations this morning for Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Some racing fans are anxious about the 12-year-old running, especially after three horses - Scotsirish, Garde Champetre and Educated Evans – had to be destroyed on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Three deaths at Cheltenham add to fears for Kauto Star

8. CAR IN FLAMES ON CAMP BASTION RUNWAY

A car drove onto the runway at Camp Bastion, the main British base in Afghanistan, and burst into flames as US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta, arrived there today. A Nato spokesman said the driver, a local man employed at the base, had been taken to hospital. He added that no-one aboard Panetta's plane was at risk.

9. STEPHEN FRY BACKS HOBBIT PUB BATTLE

Stephen Fry has accused the company behind the Hobbit film, in which he appears, of "bullying" after a Southampton pub, called The Hobbit, was ordered to change its name. The American firm that holds the rights to the JRR Tolkien tale has told landlady Stella Roberts to remove all references to the book by May.

Stephen Fry backs plan to save Hobbit pub from Middle-earth

10. HOT TICKET: FIVE STARS FOR DABBOUS

Dabbous, recently opened in London’s Fitzrovia, is making waves. The restaurant specialises in seasonal produce and unusual ingredients. On the menu are beef tartare with cigar oil, savoury acorn praline and chocolate with basil moss. “Game changing,” says the Evening Standard - meriting a rare five stars.

Dabbous knocks the socks off London's restaurant critics