Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 3 Nov 2013

1. MPS IN ENERGY EXPENSES ROW

Hundreds of MPs are claiming expenses for heating their second homes, says the Sunday Mirror. One MP, the millionaire Conservative Nadhim Zahawi, claimed £5,822 in 12 months to power and heat his £1m home. Minister Alan Duncan, who described Ed Miliband's proposed fuel price freeze as “stupid”, claimed £4,000 for energy bills.

2. AL-QAEDA CONVICT IN EURO RIGHTS BID

One of Britain's most dangerous terrorists is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights, in the hope of having his conviction overturned on human rights grounds. The Sunday Telegraph reports that Abdulla Ahmed Ali, the ringleader of a suicide plot which could have killed 10,000 people, claims the jury that convicted him had been prejudiced by media coverage.

3. CBI: ECONOMIC RECOVERY 'STEADY'

The economy is recovering at a "slow and steady" pace, says the CBI. The lobby group predicts growth this year of 1.4%, up from the 1.2% forecast in August, following a strong third quarter. It expects the same growth rate of 1.4% again in 2014. "The UK is now set fair for growth with confidence returning to Britain's entrepreneurs," said director-general John Cridland.

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4. COPS FACE NEW PLEBGATE PROBES

Police officers accused of giving misleading accounts of the incident that sparked 'plebgate' are to face a new inquiry. They will be probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which said there were “procedural irregularities” in an earlier investigation. The officers are also to be called back before the Home Affairs Select Committee.

5. NATO GAME ALMOST SPARKED NUCLEAR WAR

A Nato war games exercise in 1983 almost sparked a real-life nuclear war, according to newly released cabinet papers. The exercise was so realistic that the Soviets believed a western nuclear attack was imminent. In response, the Soviets put nuclear submarines and aircraft on standby. “This, in my view, was far more serious than the Cuban missile crisis,” said an anti-nuclear campaigner.

6. CORGIS BECOME ENDANGERED BREED

The Queen’s favourite dog is set to be classed as an endangered breed in Britain for the first time. Just 241 Pembroke Welsh corgis have been registered this year, which means the breed is officially placed in the “danger zone” by the Kennel Club, which oversees pedigree dog registrations. The group said an “astronomical increase” in foreign breeds is putting native breeds at risk.

7. BBC 'BIASED TO THE LEFT' FINDS POLL

Almost twice as many people think the BBC has a leftwing bias as believe it favours the right, according to a poll in The Observer. Some 41% think the BBC is biased. Of those, 27% said it is biased towards the left with 14% saying it is biased towards the right. Among Tories, 44% believe the BBC has a leftwing bias, whereas just 19% of Labour voters think it has a rightwing bias.

8. TUTANKHAMUN DEATH RIDDLE SOLVED?

Tutankhamun may have died as the first ever “boy racer”, says the Independent On Sunday. The world's most famous pharaoh's death, in 1323BC, has been surrounded in mystery for thousands of years but British experts now believe that injuries on his body show he died in a chariot accident and that his mummification was botched.

9. EBAY SORRY FOR HOLOCAUST SOUVENIRS

The auction website eBay has faced criticism after it was revealed to be selling Holocaust souvenirs, reports the Mail On Sunday. Among the items on offer was a striped uniform, thought to have belonged to a Polish baker who died in Auschwitz, which was on sale for £11,200. The site has removed the items from sale, apologised, and vowed to donate £25,000 to a relevant charity.

10. GLORIOUS GUNNERS GO FIVE CLEAR

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points with a confident 2-0 victory over Liverpool. The goals came from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey. Earlier, Manchester City had thrashed Norwich 7-0, moving them up to fourth in the table. Manchester United won 3-1 at Fulham, scoring three goals in 13 minutes.