Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 29 Oct 2013

1. THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER AFTER STORM

More than 61,000 homes were still without electricity today after the St Jude’s day storm cut off power to around 600,000 homes overnight. Most rail services returned to normal today after more than 100 trees fell on lines. Four people are known to have died in yesterday’s storm - two crushed by trees and two in a gas explosion.

Storm St Jude in pictures

2. SEX OFFENDER BBC DRIVER FOUND DEAD

David Smith, a prolific sex offender with 22 convictions against young boys who was facing another trial as a result of the inquiry triggered by Jimmy Savile’s death, has been found dead at home after failing to turn up in court. Smith, the first person to be charged under operation Yewtree, was a BBC chauffeur in the 1980s.

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David Smith, former BBC driver, dead on eve of sex abuse trial

3. PAYOUT FOR BABY P SOCIAL WORK BOSS

Sharon Shoesmith, the former head of child protection at Haringey council, is in line for a six-figure settlement for unfair dismissal. She was removed from her job by Ed Balls, then the education secretary, in 2008 after outcry over the death of Peter Connelly (‘Baby P’), abused by his mother, her lover and their lodger.

Baby P £600k sacking: blame Ed Balls, not Sharon Shoesmith

4. BIG SIX ENERGY FIRMS 'INSULT' MPS

The Big Six energy firms have been accused of "turning their noses up" at their customers after sending relatively junior executives to answer questions about price rises posed by MPs. Only E.ON sent its chief executive - Tony Cocker – while the other five firms sent more junior executives to face the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee today.

Energy bills: how to save money on gas and electricity

5. IMMIGRATION STAFF FIRED FOR DETAINEE SEX

Two staff members at Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire have been fired after engaging in “sexual activity” with a female detainee. A third has been sacked for not reporting them. Police had been investigating claims a 23-year-old Roma woman was subjected to inappropriate behaviour by guards.

6. FIVE CHARGED WITH TERROR IN SCOTLAND

Five men have been charged with terrorism offences and conspiracy to murder after arrests at several locations in Scotland last week in an operation involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the security services. Police Scotland said last week it had focused on “individuals sympathetic to dissident Republicanism”.

7. HUNT: NO POWER TO MAKE LEWISHAM CUTS

Jeremy Hunt did not have the power to make cuts at Lewisham Hospital in south-east London, the Court of Appeal has ruled. The Health Secretary wanted to close the hospital's A&E department and reduce its maternity department to help solve the financial problems of the neighbouring but unconnected South London Healthcare Trust.

Jeremy Hunt in 'humiliating' Lewisham Hospital defeat

8. HS2: GOVT REVISES RAIL LINE'S VALUE

The estimated economic benefit of the £42 billion HS2 high-speed rail project has been cut after the Department for Transport was forced to recalculate its value to the economy. A Government report out today said that the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for the full two-phase project is now estimated at 2.3 compared with a figure of 2.5 given in August last year.

HS2: Value to economy has fallen, says report

9. MAN KILLED OVER FALSE ABUSE CLAIM

A Bristol man falsely accused by neighbours of being a paedophile was beaten to death and his body set on fire. Neighbours began spreading rumours about Bajan Ebrahimi when he took pictures of children outside his council flat. But it is thought he photographed the youths because they damaged flowers outside his home.

Bristol man falsely accused of paedophilia killed and burned

10. HOT TICKET: DAUMIER AT ROYAL ACADEMY

A new exhibition of the work of 19th century French satirical artist Honore Daumier has opened at the Royal Academy. Daumier: Visions of Paris presents 130 works by the artist, including rare paintings, drawings, watercolours and sculptures of Parisian life and politics. "Unmissable," says The Guardian. Until 26 January 2014.

Reviews: Royal Academy's Daumier Visions of Paris