Daily Briefing

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 2 Dec 2012

The Week’s super-quick catch-up on the main news talking points, available from 8am daily

1. LEVESON REFORM 'ILLEGAL' SAYS ADVISER
Lord Leveson's proposed compulsory press regulation is in breach of the Human Rights Act, says one of his key advisers. Shami Chakrabarti, of civil rights group Liberty, writes in The Mail On Sunday: "A compulsory statute to regulate media ethics in the way the report suggests would violate the act, and I cannot support it."
2. OSBORNE: AUSTERITY COULD TAKE LONGER
Chancellor George Osborne says it may take longer than expected to reduce the deficit and has urged Britain to "have the courage to stay the course". Osborne will deliver his autumn statement on Wednesday. The Observer reports that he has dropped plans to end housing benefit for the under-25s after pressure from the Liberal Democrats.
3. ASSAD 'MAY USE POISON GAS'
A Syrian army defector and former lifelong friend of Bashar al-Assad says the president may resort to using chemical weapons to prevent his downfall. Brigadier-General Manaf Tlass tells The Sunday Times that the Syrian leader is “a war criminal, detached from reality”. Of Assad's arsenal of chemical weapons, Tlass says: "He may use them when the end comes".
4. CALLS FOR PROBE INTO CLEGG CHARITY CLAIM
Nick Clegg may face an investigation after The Mail On Sunday claimed he personally intervened to help a charity linked to his wife obtain £12m of taxpayer funding. Leaked emails show that one Clegg's key aides lobbied for the Booktrust charity to be given the grant. Clegg denies impropriety and says the claims are "smears and innuendo".
5. COUPLE SUES FOR IVF 'AGE DISCRIMINATION'
A childless couple who were refused IVF treatment are suing health secretary Jeremy Hunt for age discrimination. The NHS Berkshire East Primary Care trust turned the couple down because the woman is 37 years of age, and the trust's policy is to only fund treatment for women between the ages of 30 and 34.
6. SUICIDE ATTACK ON US AFGHAN BASE
Taliban suicide bombers have attacked a joint US-Afghan airbase in eastern Afghanistan. A member of the Afghan security forces was killed in the attack, as were all seven suicide bombers. The first four attackers arrived in cars laden with explosives, while the other three arrived on foot. The BBC describes the attack as "coordinated and complex".
7. ENGLAND STUN THE ALL BLACKS
England pulled off a stunning victory against the All Blacks at Twickenham yesterday. The inexperienced England side beat the All Blacks, who were unbeaten in 20 matches, 38-21. It was England's first win over the world champions for nine years. Second-half tries from Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi were key.
8. NFL STAR KILLS HIMSELF AT STADIUM
An American football star has killed himself in front of team officials outside his team's stadium after shooting his girlfriend five miles away. Police had been called to the stadium where they saw Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher in a car, holding a gun to his head as he spoke to two club officials.
9. STARS BACK DRUG LAW REFORM FILM
Sting, Yoko Ono and Sir Richard Branson are among the names backing a documentary that calls for drugs to be decriminalised. Breaking The Taboo will feature contributions from former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Actress Kate Winslet appeared on YouTube promoting the documentary, but dropped out after The Mail On Sunday quizzed her on her views.
10. BENITEZ AND WENGER BOTH LOSE
Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger are both under renewed pressure after Chelsea and Arsenal both lost yesterday. The Blues lost 3-1 at West Ham, while the Gunners lost 2-0 at home to Swansea, consigning them to 10th place in the table. Elsewhere, Manchester United remain top after beating Reading 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller in Berkshire.