Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 20 Nov 2014

1. 1,000 DEAD SINCE UKRAINE CEASEFIRE

Almost 1,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since a ceasefire between Kiev and separatist rebels was agreed in September. The UN says both sides of the conflict are to blame. It says there has been a complete breakdown of law and order in rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia has been accused of covertly funding the separatists.

2. MORE SNOW HEADED FOR NEW YORK STATE

Another three feet of snow is expected for parts of the northern USA including New York State, where five feet fell on Wednesday, causing at least seven deaths and leaving drivers stranded in their cars. New York governor Andrew Cuomo has called Wednesday’s apocalyptic snowstorm a “historic event”.

3. OBESITY COSTS MORE THAN WAR OR TERROR

The government has been criticised for its handling of obesity after a report by McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) found the crisis in people’s weight costs the UK more than it spends on armed violence, war and terrorism combined. It accuses the government of a “fragmented” and ineffective response.

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Obesity 'costs UK more than war and terrorism'

4. INEOS TO INVEST £640M IN UK FRACKING

Chemicals firm Ineos, which owns the loss-making Grangemouth refinery, plans to invest £640m in shale gas exploration and extraction in the UK (known as ‘fracking’), the BBC claims. The company plans to use the gas as a raw material for its plants. Many fear fracking causes environmental damage.

Friends of the Earth rebuked for anti-fracking leaflet

5. SWEDEN UPHOLDS ASSANGE ARREST WARRANT

A court in Sweden has upheld an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who faces sexual assault allegations there. Assange has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June 2012 in order to avoid being deported to Sweden, from where he fears he will be extradited to the US and charged with leaking government documents.

6. FILM DIRECTOR MIKE NICHOLS DIES AGED 83

Film director Mike Nichols has died at the age of 83. He was best known for directing the 1967 film The Graduate, for which he won an Oscar. His film career, which span six decades, began with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966. Other dredits include Silkwood, Working Girl and Charlie Wilson's War. He was also a successful theatre director.

Mike Nichols films: his top 5 hits – and an expensive flop

7. UK ASKS RUSSIA TO CLOSE WEBCAM SITE

The UK information commissioner has asked the Russian authorities to ban a site which streams live images from British webcams including people’s baby monitors and gym CCTV. Christopher Graham urged webcam ‘owners’ to change their passwords and said he was “very concerned”.

Webcam hack uncovered: how you can protect yourself

8. NORTH KOREA MAKES NUCLEAR TEST THREAT

North Korea has threatened to carry out another nuclear test, in response to a UN committee which recommended the hermit state be taken to the International Criminal Court over human rights abuses. In a statement, the country’s defence ministry accused America of orchestrating the UN resolution.

Kim Jong Nam death: murder trial begins in Malaysia

9. THREE MEN FACE TERROR CHARGES

Three men charged who allegedly planned to behead a member of the public have been charged with preparing acts of terrorism and remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court today. Nadir Ali Sayed, 21, and Haseeb Hamayoon, 27, of west London and Yousaf Shah Syed, 19, from High Wycombe were held on 6 November.

10. HOT TICKET: HARE'S BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS

David Hare's stage adaptation of Behind the Beautiful Forevers has opened at the National Theatre, London. The play, based on Katherine Boo's bestseller, follows the lives of various Mumbai slum-dwellers from garbage pickers to prostitutes. "A widescreen epic," says The Hollywood Reporter. Until 13 April.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers - reviews of 'epic' stage show