Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 1 Dec 2012

1. 25,000 BRITS 'UNAWARE THEY HAVE HIV'

Some 25,000 people in the UK are carrying the HIV virus but do not know it, according to The Health Protection Agency. Figures, released on World Aids Day, also showed that more than 6,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with HIV last year. David Cameron said: "Above all, people need to know that it's never been quicker or simpler to get tested."

2. CUT PRICE DEAL BOOSTS HOMES MARKET

The lowest ever two-year fixed rate mortgage deal has been offered to home owners, prompting the first price war since the financial crisis began in 2008. Experts say the 1.99 per cent deal, launched by HSBC yesterday, will soon lead to other lenders offering cut-price deals. Rates on popular mortgage loans have fallen by a third since the summer.

3. ROWLING FEELS 'DUPED' BY CAMERON

JK Rowling says she feels "duped and angry" by David Cameron's rejection of the Leveson inquiry's call for statutory underpinning of a new independent press regulator. Writing in The Guardian, she said she said if the government ignores the recommendation she cannot understand why it spent " so much public money" on the inquiry.

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4. FARAGE: UKIP IS 'BRITAIN'S THIRD PARTY'

Nigel Farage says UKIP is now Britain’s “third” party after it finished in second place in two by-elections. Farage, whose party finished second in Middlesbrough and Rotherham, said UKIP is "connecting more and more with people". The Liberal Democrats finished in eighth place in Rotherham, polling just 451 votes and losing its deposit.

5. WAR ON TERROR 'NEARLY OVER'

The US is heading for a "tipping point" after which the "military pursuit of al-Qaeda should end", says one of the Obama administration's senior lawyers. US defence department general counsel Jeh Johnson said al-Qaeda is now so weakened that responsibility for tackling it can soon be handed to law enforcement agencies.

6. IMMIGRANT HOMES 'THREATEN COUNTRYSIDE'

Large areas of British countryside will need to be concreted over to build the 100,000 new homes needed for immigrants each year, David Cameron has been warned by one of his ministers. Planning minister Nick Boles said: "We can’t go on like this. We need to have less immigration and more house-building and we might then have a civilised country."

7. WHITE HOUSE SLAMS SETTLEMENT MOVE

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned Israel's decision to authorise the construction of 3,000 more housing units in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. She said that "these activities set back the cause of a negotiated peace". The White House also criticised Israel's move, describing it as "counter-productive".

8. FLINTOFF WINS FIRST BOXING BOUT

Former cricketer Freddie Flintoff has won his debut boxing match, winning a points decision against American Richard Dawson. "You talk about the Ashes and things but as a personal achievement, this is the best," said Flintoff after the fight. However, the ex-Lancashire all-rounder is undecided over whether to box again. "We'll see how we go," he said.

9. EUROVISION DROP OUTS RISE

The Eurovision song contest could be a thinner affair next year after four countries contemplated withdrawing. Portugal and Poland have dropped out, with Greece and Cyprus indicating they are almost certain to follow suit. Greece said it would be "distasteful" to participate given the country's economic woes, while Cyprus felt its involvement would be "possibly provocative".

10. BECKHAM TARGETS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

David Beckham is eyeing one more crack at the Champions League, as he prepares for his final match as a Los Angeles Galaxy player. "I still miss playing in [the Champions League], they are the games you love playing in," he said. "So of course I’d want to play in it again. We’ll see where I go next. If it’s a team that’s in the Champions League then it will be nice to be back.”