Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 24 Oct 2013

1. UNION 'EMBRACES' GRANGEMOUTH OFFER

Union leaders have offered concessions to the owners of the Grangemouth refinery near Edinburgh and said they are optimistic that a deal can be reached. Inios, the owner of the plant, yesterday announced the closure of the petrochemical works after about half of the 800 staff voted against cost-cutting measures.

Grangemouth Q&A: can the petrochemical plant be saved?

2. MERKEL ASKS OBAMA ‘DID YOU BUG ME?’

German chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Barack Obama to demand an explanation for credible evidence German intelligence has uncovered which suggests the US tapped her mobile phone. Obama told Merkel he was not bugging her calls and would not in the future - but made no comment on past tapping.

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Angry Merkel calls Obama over reports NSA tapped her phone

3. MILIBAND: CAMERON HAS ‘LOST CONTROL’

Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to say today that David Cameron has “lost control” of his government after the PM promised to review green taxes in an effort to reduce energy bills, a move hailed as a “panicky U-turn” by his Lib Dem coalition partners. Miliband will accuse Cameron of making up a policy in a “panic”.

Energy bills: how to save money on gas and electricity

4. DUBLIN: DNA TESTS PROVE GIRL IS ROMA

A girl of seven has been returned to her Roma parents in Dublin after being taken into care for two nights because she was blonde and did not resemble them. DNA tests proved the child was indeed the daughter of the un-named couple. The inquiry into Maria, the child found living with a Roma couple in Greece, continues.

Irish Roma children returned to parents after DNA tests

5. US HEALTHCARE BOSS TO LEAD NHS

The newly-appointed head of NHS England is a senior executive at a private healthcare firm in America. Simon Stevens, who will take over in April from Sir David Nicholson, is global health president of United Healthcare. He has previously worked as an NHS manager, however, and advised Labour on health.

Simon Stevens: Will new NHS chief push 'US style' health?

6. SCULPTOR SIR ANTHONY CARO DIES

The British abstract sculptor Sir Anthony Caro has died at the age of 89. In the early 1950s Caro worked as an assistant to Henry Moore before becoming well known for his bolted and welded steel sculptures. His most notable work was Early One Morning (1962).

7. PORTUGAL REOPENS MCCANN CASE

Portuguese police are reportedly re-opening the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, five years after they gave up their search for the toddler. The case was dropped in 2008, but British detectives have since announced a series of new leads after a two-year review of the original investigation.

What happened to Madeleine McCann? A timeline of the case

8. ONE HOSPITAL IN FOUR RATED HIGH RISK

A quarter of hospitals are at raised risk of providing poor care, according to an assessment by the Care Quality Commission. The study was based on a wide array of data, including death rates, clinical errors and responses to patient surveys about the quality of care they had received.

Which NHS hospital trusts pose a 'high risk' of poor care?

9. SCOTTISH POWER PUTS UP PRICES

Scottish Power has announced big prices rises of 8.5 per cent for gas and 9 per cent for electricity prices. Four of the six big UK power suppliers have now put up their prices, prompting a political row about how best to respond to rising energy costs.

Energy bills: how to save money on gas and electricity

10. HOT TICKET: POP ART DESIGN AT BARBICAN

A new exhibition of Pop art and design has opened at the Barbican. Pop Art Design reveals the connection between artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein and their designer contemporaries by presenting around 200 artworks and domestic objects from the era. "Superbly staged," says Metro. Until 9 February.

Barbican's 'superbly staged' Pop Art Design show - reviews