Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 9 Dec 2014

1. SECURITY FEARS IN US OVER TORTURE REPORT

The US has increased security at its embassies and military bases around the world as a report by a Senate committee into harsh interrogation techniques, which Barack Obama has acknowledged were torture, used by the CIA. The report is expected to say that the techniques did not lead to useful intelligence.

2. UKIP’S BIRD DENIES HARASSMENT CLAIM

The general secretary of Ukip, Roger Bird, has denied he sexually harassed a 35-year-old party activist who had defected from Labour. Bird, who has been suspended on full pay by his party while the claim is investigated, insists he had a “relationship” with Natasha Bolter - but she says this is untrue.

3. WILLIAM AND KATE MEET JAY-Z AND BEYONCE

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met New York royalty yesterday, introduced to Jay-Z and Beyonce at a basketball game. They also met double Olympian LeBron James before he took to the court to play. A group picketed the venue protesting about the deaths of black men at the hands of police.

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4. MADELEINE MCCANN: POLICE QUESTION 11

British police are in Portugal to watch local officers question 11 people over the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Among those interviewed - though not as a suspect - will be Robert Murat and his wife. Murat was a suspect in the original investigation and was libelled by UK newspapers.

5. TESCO ISSUES FULL-YEAR PROFIT WARNING

Tesco has warned that its full-year profits will be substantially lower than the market had hoped, not exceeding £1.4bn, instead of the expected £1.8bn to £2.2bn. Earlier this year, the retail giant admitted it had mis-stated profits by £263m. A new chief executive, Dave Lewis, took over in September.

6. MALARIA DEATHS HALVED GLOBALLY

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is celebrating the news that the number of deaths globally from malaria each year has been halved since 2001, thanks to increased access to nets, better diagnostic testing and elimination programmes. In 2013 in Africa, 528,000 died - a fall of 54% since 2000.

7. INVESTIGATION OVER CANDY CRUSH MP FILM

A video emerged yesterday showing Tory MP Nigel Mills playing the Candy Crush puzzle game on his iPad during a Work and Pensions Committee session. Now the House of Commons is to investigate - not Mills, but whoever filmed him. The filming is said to have been in breach of parliamentary rules.

8. JUDGE TO RULE ON PISTORIUS APPEAL

A judge in South Africa is to rule today on whether prosecutors seeking a longer jail sentence for paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, can appeal the “shockingly light” five-year term he received. They also want to appeal against his acquittal of murder charges.

9. FREEZING GALES ON THE WAY THIS WEEK

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings as forecasts predict freezing gales of up to 80mph for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales, peaking on Wednesday. The south of the country is braced for a second storm due to roll in from the Atlantic on Thursday night.

10. HOT TICKET: SIRENS IN SOHO

An experimental theatre piece about sexism, Sirens has transferred to Soho Theatre, London, from the Edinburgh Festival. Belgian company Ontroerend Goed use soundscape, wordplay and humour to explore the experiences and expectations of women today. "Riveting," says Time Out. Until 4 January.