Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 7 Nov 2012

1. PRESIDENT OBAMA WINS SECOND TERM

Barack Obama has pledged to work with his opponents and reach across the political divide after winning a second term as the US President. The Democrat told America "the best is yet to come" after his victory. His Republican challenger Mitt Romney conceded early on Wednesday and said he "prayed the President will be successful in guiding our nation".

Obama wins, Nate Silver wins, Romney and the lawyers lose

2. BRITAIN WILL TALK TO SYRIAN MILITANTS

Britain will "break new ground" on Syria, The Guardian reports, by opening talks with armed opposition groups fighting to depose President Assad. William Hague will announce the change of tack in Doha today. The move follows Cameron's controversial comment that he would be prepared to allow Assad safe passage out of Syria to avoid further bloodshed.

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3. DORRIES SUSPENDED OVER I'M A CELEBRITY

Tory MP Nadine Dorries was last night suspended by the Conservative Party over her decision to appear on ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here and spend up to a month on location in Australia far from her Parliamentary duties. The Mid-Bedfordshire MP said 16 million watched the show and she believed MPs "should go where people go".

‘I’m a Celebrity’ Nadine Dorries could be de-selected as MP

4. HIGH TAXES DRIVING BRITISH BRAIN DRAIN

Business leaders last night blamed high taxes and the slow recovery for a "disturbing" rise in the number of professionals leaving Britain for Australia, America and Canada. A Home Office research team found that half of the 149,000 British citizens who emigrated last were "highly skilled" professionals, doctors, academics and company managers.

5. CAMERON WON'T HAND OVER REBEKAH TEXTS

Prime Minister David Cameron is refusing to release further text messages he exchanged with Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive. He told reporters on his Gulf arms sales trip yesterday that he had given information to the Leveson Inquiry and he did not think "there is anything I can usefully add to that".

6. SAVILE A SUSPECT IN RIPPER CASE

Jimmy Savile was questioned as a suspect by detectives investigating the Yorkshire Ripper murders more than 30 years ago, former West Yorkshire detective John Stainthorpe, who worked on the case, told ITV last night. Savile was "put forward" in a tip from the public, he said, adding "They were aiming in the right direction... child perverts soon become child killers."

Jimmy Savile was suspect in Yorkshire Ripper murder hunt

7. JUSTIN WELBY TIPPED TO BECOME ARCHBISHOP

Bookies have suspeneded betting on Justin Welby becoming the new Archbishop of Canterbury after some "very significant" moves for the current Bishop of Durham. Welby, an old Etonian and former oil executive, was only appointed a bishop last year. The announcement, which is already overdue, is expected by the end of the week.

Justin Welby '98% certain' to be Archbishop of Canterbury

8. MURDOCH'S NEWS CORP PROFITS TRIPLE

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp yesterday reported that its quarterly profits had almost tripled in the last quarter ending in September, rocketing to $2.3bn, despite Murdoch's troubles with the hacking scandal in Britain. The rise was credited to the sale of a cable encryption company and strong cable TV advertising. Shares rose 3% in New York.

News Corp profits soar

9. ASH DIEBACK SUMMIT IN BID TO SAVE TREES

Tree experts are joining forces with government and forestry industry officials today in a summit chaired by environment secretary Owen Paterson to assess the extent of the ash dieback epidemic and find ways to tackle the disease. Scientists say it may be too late to stop the disease Chalara fraxinea, which has the potential to wipe out Britain's 80 million ash trees.

10. HOT TICKET: ROYAL BALLET BRIT MIX

The Royal Ballet's new Mixed Bill has opened at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Kevin O'Hare directs works by three British choreographers: Liam Scarlett, Christopher Wheeldon and Wayne McGregor."Fabulous," says The Guardian. Until 14 November.

Royal Ballet's new director delivers a triple whammy