Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 30 Oct 2013

1. NEWSPAPERS FAIL TO GET INJUNCTION

Newspaper and magazine publishers have lost their High Court battle to stop Government ministers going to the Privy Council today to seek the Queen's approval for a new royal charter to regulate the press. The Press Standards Board of Finance (Pressbof) argued that the Privy Council failed to consult the newspaper industry properly or consider alternatives properly.

Press regulation Q&A: legal bid to block Royal Charter fails

2. ISRAEL RETURNS 26 PALESTINE PRISONERS

Israel has released a second group of prisoners as part of a deal for peace talks to resume. The 26 men freed were all convicted murderers and had been in prison for between 19 and 28 years. Twenty-one were sent to the West Bank and the other five were released to Gaza. Palestinians see them as political prisoners.

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

3. TREASURY’S PENSION FEES ‘ASSAULT’ PLAN

The Treasury has unveiled plans to impose a cap on the fees pensions providers charge clients, limiting them at between 0.75% and 1%. Some older schemes have been found to charge as much as 2.3% in management fees. Pensions minister Steve Webb said yesterday he would mount a “full frontal assault” on the charges.

Pension fee cap to 'save people tens of thousands of pounds'

4. DNA TEST PROVES MAN IS NOT BEN NEEDHAM

A young man in Cyprus, spotted on the internet as resembling reconstructions of how Ben Needham might now look, has been proved by a DNA test not to be him. Sheffield-born Needham went missing on Kos 22 years ago as a toddler. His family say they remain “strong” after hearing the news on Ben’s 24th birthday.

5. SAINSBURY’S TO TAKE TESCO TO COURT

Supermarket Sainsbury’s may take Tesco to court over the latter’s price comparison promotion. Tesco offers customers vouchers if they find comparable goods cheaper elsewhere - but Sainsbury’s says the campaign compares products unfairly, including pairing Sainsbury’s fair trade tea with ordinary Tesco tea.

Sainsbury's v Tesco: price comparison spat goes to court

6. POLICE COMMISSIONER WANTS ‘DRUG ROOMS’

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) in England, Ron Hogg, has called for his county to trial “shooting gallery” drug use rooms where addicts will be able to safely inject NHS-provided heroin. Hogg, one of the first PCCs to be elected after the government abolished police authorities, is a former top policeman.

7. US DEFENDS SPYING ON WORLD LEADERS

US intelligence boss James Clapper has told a House of Representatives committee that monitoring the communications of world leaders is “a basic tenet” of intelligence service work, while NSA director Gen Keith Alexander said reports the US had gathered data on millions of EU phone calls were “completely false”.

Europeans gave us phone data NSA director tells Congress

8. BREAST CANCER TEST GIVES NEW HOPE

A new test which can identify seven types of breast cancer offers new hope to women, doctors say. The tumour sample test could be available for clinical use within two years and will help doctors tailor therapy plans to suit patients better. The work to develop the test was funded by the Breast Cancer Campaign.

9. MAN BUYS FLAT WITH FORGOTTEN BITCOINS

A Norwegian man who bought £15-worth of the virtual currency Bitcoin in 2009 on a whim, and then forgot about it for four years, found it had appreciated to a value of £430,000. After spending a full day trying to remember his password, Kristoffer Koch cashed in £116,000 to pay for the deposit and restoration of an Oslo flat.

10. HOT TICKET: OFFICE SLAPSTICK BLAM!

Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Blam! has transferred to the Peacock Theatre in the West End. Danish physical theatre company Neander use dance, parkour, mime and stunts in a wordless comedy performance about four office workers trying to escape boredom through fantasy. "Stunningly funny," says the Financial Times. Until 16 November.

Reviews: 'jaw-dropping' physical comedy hit Blam!