Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 11 Nov 2012

1. BBC'S ENTWISTLE RESIGNS AFTER 54 DAYS

BBC director general George Entwistle has resigned, saying in the wake of the Newsnight child abuse saga, "I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down." After an unconvincing performance on Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday morning, pressure had mounted on Entwistle, whose tenure as director general lasted just 54 days.

George Entwistle quits over ‘shoddy’ Newsnight journalism

2. OBAMA ADDS FLORIDA TO VICTORY

Barack Obama won the presidential vote in Florida by 50% to 49.1% - a margin of around 74,000 votes - widening the margin of his overall victory over Mitt Romney. The president has now won 332 electoral college votes, while Romney has 206. Florida includes a high number of Latino voters, so Obama's victory there reinforces the Republican's failure to attract Hispanic votes.

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3. MESSHAM BRANDED 'UNRELIABLE' IN 1994

Steven Messham, who incorrectly claimed he had been abused by Lord McAlpine, was branded an "unreliable witness" in a libel case in 1994 after falsely claiming to have been assaulted by a police officer. The Mail On Sunday reports that Messham physically assaulted a QC at a public inquiry into sexual abuse in north Wales.

4. AID TO BANGLADESH 'SPENT ON TV SHOW'

Millions of pounds of British aid to Bangladesh was spent on a Question Time style television show and on a phone line that lists the debates schedule in the country’s legislature, reports The Sunday Telegraph. Anne Main MP has called for a “fundamental overhaul” of British aid. The government has announced it will stop aid to India by 2015.

5. FIFTY SHADES NOVEL CITED IN DIVORCE CASE

A highly-paid City businesswoman is divorcing her husband after he refused to play along with sexual games inspired by the erotica novel Fifty Shades Of Grey. The 41-year-old woman, who bought the novel soon after its publication, has cited her husband's lack of sexual adventurism as a ground for divorce. Her solicitor says it is the first divorce case in which the hit novel has been cited.

6. WATER COMPANIES IN TAX SCANDAL

Three of Britain's largest water companies paid little or no tax on their profits last year, reports The Observer. Thames Water and Anglian Water paid no corporation tax while Yorkshire Water paid only a low figure. However, Thames Water paid its chief executive a handsome bonus of £420,000 on top of his £425,000 salary.

7. RENEWED FIGHTING OVER GAZA BORDER

Violence has flared between Israel and the Gaza Strip after terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli patrol, seriously wounding two soldiers. After Israel responded to the fire, Gaza terrorists fired 31 rockets into southern Israel, sparking retaliatory raids. Five Palestinians have been killed and more than 20 injured.

8. UK REMEMBERS FALLEN SOLDIERS

Britain will observe a two-minute silence at 11am this morning, as respect is paid to the UK's fallen soldiers on Remembrance Sunday. The Queen, religious leaders and MPs will gather at the Cenotaph to lay wreaths. Nadine Dorries MP is under fire for turning back on her promise to lay a wreath in her constituency in favour of joining the I'm A Celebrity television show.

9. CLEGG TO EXTEND FLEXIBLE HOURS RIGHTS

Nick Clegg is to hand all employees the right to ask for flexible working hours, in the hope it will attract more women back to work. Currently, only those with children aged 17 and under, and some carers, have the right to request flexible hours. In a keynote speech, the deputy prime minister will extend the right to all.

10. HERNANDEZ LEADS UNITED FIGHTBACK

Manchester United recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Villa Park. Half-time substitute Javier Hernandez scored twice, including the winner, to grab three points for United. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta missed the chance to earn Arsenal a much-needed victory when he missed a last-minute penalty against Fulham. The tie ended 3-3.

Javier Hernandez leads Man U comeback for 3-2 win at Villa