Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 10 Feb 2014

1. THAMES AT HIGHEST LEVEL IN DECADES

Several water gauges on the river Thames are registering the highest levels since they were installed in the 1980s and 90s, with the river still rising - and likely to do so for days. Fourteen severe flood warnings - meaning danger to life - are in force in Staines, Egham, Chertsey and Datchet, with 2,500 homes at risk.

UK floods: ministers to quiz insurers over claims

2. FLOODS: DISRUPTION ON RAILWAYS

Commuters have been warned to check with train operators before travelling as floods have caused severe disruption to routes across the south and southwest of England. There are problems between Oxford and Didcot Parkway; Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside; Bridgwater and Taunton - and at Dawlish.

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3. OFGEM TO PROBE BIG SIX FIRMS ON GAS PRICES

Energy secretary Ed Davey has asked regulator Ofgem to look at the prices the ‘Big Six’ energy firms charge for gas, saying he believes every household in the UK would save £40 a year if profit margins were brought in line with those for electricity. In some cases, profit margins are five times higher for household gas.

Energy bills: how to save money on gas and electricity

4. ILLEGAL CLEANER WAS PAID FOR ON EXPENSES

Immigration minister Mark Harper, who resigned at the weekend after admitting he had employed an illegal immigrant from Colombia as his cleaning lady, was claiming Commons expenses to pay her. The Daily Telegraph reports that he claimed for £22 of the £30 he gave her each week for cleaning and ironing.

Dustergate: five unanswered questions for Mark Harper

5. BBC UNDER FIRE OVER OLYMPIC COVERAGE

Snowboarder and former chalet girl Jenny Jones described winning Britain’s first medal of the Sochi winter Olympics, a bronze in slopestyle, as a "fantastic experience". However, hundreds of people have complained to the BBC over its "inane" and "hysterical" commentary during the event. The corporation "acknowledged" the issue.

Jenny Jones: BBC reacts to 'inane' commentary charge

6. TALKS TO AVERT TUBE STRIKE RESUME

Talks aimed at preventing a second Tube strike in London this week have resumed at the conciliation service Acas. Representatives from the RMT and TSSA unions are meeting London Underground bosses ahead of a proposed walkout on Tuesday evening. Unions are angry over proposed ticket office closure and staged a 48-hour strike last week.

Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action

7. DAVINA MCCALL PULLED FROM LAKE

TV presenter Davina McCall was pulled from Lake Windermere after appearing to collapse after a marathon swim in the icy lake in aid of Sport Relief. The 46-year-old had to be dragged from the water and carried indoors after the 1.5 mile swim. McCall is aiming to run, swim and cycle 500 miles from Edinburgh to London in one week.

8. DENNEHY: MEN GUILTY OF AIDING KILLER

Two men have been found guilty of helping serial killer Joanna Dennehy, who murdered three men and tried to kill two more during a 12-day rampage. Gary Stretch was convicted of preventing the lawful burial of three men and one count of attempted murder. Leslie Layton was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Joanne Dennehy: what makes a female serial killer tick

9. FLAPPY BIRD MAN KILLS OWN CREATION

Vietnamese game maker Dong Nguyen has withdrawn his own creation, Flappy Bird, saying he could no longer take the pressure of its massive success. The notoriously-difficult game, in which users had to steer a bird through pipes, can no longer be bought. Handsets with it installed are selling at high prices.

Flappy Bird game app goes the way of the dodo

10. HOT TICKET: WOLF AMONG US RETURNS

The second episode of comic-book murder mystery videogame The Wolf Among Us has been released in the UK. Smoke and Mirrors follows sheriff Bigby Wolf as he tries to track down a serial killer targeting the mythical creatures of Fabletown. "A great second act," says IGN.

Wolf Among Us Episode 2 Smoke and Mirrors - reviews