Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 25 Jan 2012

1. UK SLIDES CLOSER TO RECESSION

The UK economy shrunk by 0.2 per cent in the last quarter of 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics. The contraction is worse than the 0.1 per cent that had been expected by analysts and means Britain could already be in a double-dip recession.

UK heads towards recession: how bad is it?

2. KIM DOTCOM APPEALS 'NO BAIL' RULING

A New Zealand judge has ordered Kim Dotcom, the Megaupload founder wanted by the US on racketeering and copy infringement charges, to remain in custody until an extradition hearing on 22 February. Lawyers for Dotcom – real name Schmitz – have launched an immediate appeal, arguing that he is not a "flight risk".

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Megaupload megamaniac: the mad, mad world of Kim Dotcom

3. OBAMA CALLS FOR ECONOMIC FAIRNESS

President Obama used last night's State of the Union speech to attack income inequality. "We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share."

Yawn of the union: Romney's tax returns tell us far more

4. NAVY SEALS RESCUE HOSTAGES IN SOMALIA

The US Navy Seal unit that assassinated Osama Bin Laden last year has been in action once again, this time rescuing two kidnapped aid workers from Somalian pirates as President Obama prepared to give his State of the Union address. An American and a Dane were whisked to safety by helicopter after nine pirates were killed.

US Seals who killed Bin Laden rescue hostages in Somalia

5. SCOTS REFERENDUM QUESTION UNVEILED

Alex Salmond has launched a consultation on Scotland's independence referendum. The question the First Minister intends Scots to vote on is: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" There is a possibility that a second question will ask voters if they want to opt for 'devo max', which would give Scotland fiscal independence.

6. O2 REVEALS USERS' PHONE NUMBERS

O2 customers are up in arms after it was reported that the mobile phone provider is revealing the phone numbers of smartphone users every time they use 3G to visit a website. O2 said they will investigate, but there are claims that the flaw has been known about for two years.

O2 phone number leak: experts spotted flaw two years ago

7. SEXISM: TODAY PROG UNDER FIRE

Eight out of ten guests and presenters on the BBC Radio 'Today' programme are men, and culture minister Ed Vaizey is seeking a meeting with the BBC to ask why women are under-respresented. He told MPs that one morning last summer Today went for two hours without a female contributor being heard.

Radio 4 Today prog and tabloids in deep water over sexism

8. JAGGER PULLS OUT OF DAVOS TEA PARTY

Mick Jagger has pulled out of a 'tea party' at Davos, complaining that he was being used as a "political football". The Rolling Stones frontman was due to appear alongside David Cameron to promote Britain to potential investors, but became irritated by suggestions he was a "closet Tory".

Mick Jagger becomes latest rock star to reject Cameron

9. FRENCH REVOLUTION BOOK WINS COSTA

Andrew Miller's historical novel 'Pure', set on the eve of the French Revolution, won the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year Award last night. Chairman of the judges Geordie Greig admitted it had been a toss-up between Miller's "brilliant novel of death and superstition" and Matthew Hollis's 'Now All Roads Lead to France'.

10. HOT TICKET: MADNESS OF GEORGE III

Theatre Royal Bath's revival of Alan Bennett's acclaimed tragic-comic play has opened in London's West End. David Haig takes on the title role of the Hanoverian monarch afflicted with porphyria, a role made famous by the late Nigel Hawthorne. The Times calls the production "flawless". Until 31 March at the Apollo.