Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 1 Nov 2012

1. CLEGG SLAMS CAMERON'S EU PROMISE

Deputy PM Nick Clegg has added to David Cameron's EU woes by saying the PM's plan to use the eurozone crisis to repatriate powers was a “false promise wrapped in a Union Jack”. Clegg did at least back Cameron's plan to demand a freeze in the EU budget at a summit on 22 November. The government was defeated last night in a Commons vote calling for a cut to the EU budget.

David Cameron given a bloody nose by new Tory 'bastards'

2. OBAMA GETS BOOST FROM GOV CHRISTIE

President Obama returns to campaigning today boosted by reaction to his handling of the Hurricane Sandy disaster. Governor Chris Christie, a high-profile Romney supporter, praised Obama's "personal concern and compassion" for the people of New Jersey, while a Washington Post poll found eight out of ten voters were impressed by Obama during the emergency.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Sandy bounce? Obama boosted by poll and Gov Chris Christie

3. JIMMY SAVILE'S £4M ESTATE FROZEN

The distribution of Jimmy Savile's estate has been frozen by NatWest bank, which is acting as his executor, in the light of threats by sexual abuse victims to sue for damages. The BBC presenter and DJ is thought to have left an estate of about £4.3m. Several charities are likely to lose bequests as a result.

Charities stand to lose out as Jimmy Savile estate is frozen

4. BA FARES BADLY IN LEGROOM RATINGS

Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have been rated joint leaders in a worldwide survey of legroom in economy by Business Traveller magazine. Virgin Atlantic came tenth while British Airways came a lowly 21st equal, only just beating Ryanair by an inch. Out of 32 airlines surveyed, EasyJet came 31st, beaten to bottom place by Iberia.

5. CLINTON: SYRIA NEEDS STRONGER OPPOSITION

The United States is urging Syrians to form a more powerful opposition to President Assad. Hillary Clinton said yesterday: "There has to be representation of those who are on the front lines, fighting and dying today to obtain their freedom." Too many members of the exiled Syrian National Council hadn't even visited Syria for 20, 30 or 40 years.

US wants new Syrian opposition to replace SNC

6. SYLVIA DAY BEATS FIFTY SHADES RECORD

The huge success of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' by E L James was not a passing fad. Another erotica writer, the Japanese-American author Sylvia Day, sold 82,000 paperback copies of 'Reflected in You' last week, more than James's record-breaking novel sold in its first week. The erotica boom is here to stay, says the Bookseller.

New erotic novel set to follow Fifty Shades' sales success

7. CHELSEA KNOCK MAN UTD OUT OF CUP

Chelsea, beaten by Manchester United in their recent Premier League clash, got their own back last night, winning 5-4 after extra time and knocking Man U out of the Capital One Cup. The draw for the last eight is: Leeds United v Chelsea, Swansea City v Middlesbrough, Norwich City v Aston Villa and Bradford City v Arsenal.

Chelsea overcome Man Utd in Halloween thriller

8. MAN MURDERED ON N. IRELAND MOTORWAY

A prison officer murdered on a Northern Ireland motorway this morning has been named as David Black, a married father of two, from Cookstown. Black, 52, was killed as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim. A gunman reportedly leaned out of a passing car and fired a number of shots. The car carrying the assailants was found burned out later.

Ulster prison officer shot dead in motorway ambush

9. DOTCOM LAUNCHES NEW SITE MEGA

Kim Dotcom has announced a successor to Megaupload, the filesharing site that was banned for alleged piracy. The new site, Mega, will also allow users to upload and share files, but will attempt to neutralise charges of piracy by preventing staff from having access to files.

Kim Dotcom launches Mega: bigger, faster, more legal

10. HOT TICKET: NATIONAL GALLERY PICKS PHOTOS

'Seduced by Art', a new exhibition at the National Gallery, pairs the work of photographers with paintings from the permanent collection. A photo by Martin Parr, for example, is hung next to the Gainsborough that inspired it. "Wonderfully vivid", says The Times. Until 20 January.

Snap! National Gallery pairs photography with fine art