Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 5 Feb 2015

1. FRESH PUSH FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

US secretary of state John Kerry is in Kiev today for talks with Ukraine’s prime minister and president. The US is said to be considering supplying Ukraine with "defensive" weapons in their fight against pro-Russian rebels. Meanwhile, President Hollande of France and Germany's Chancellor Merkel are due to discuss the conflict with Russia's President Putin on Friday.

Ukraine crisis: peace talks begin in Moscow to prevent 'total war'

2. GREECE FACES TOUGH APPROACH FROM ECB

The European Central Bank has toughened its approach to Greece, announcing it will no longer accept Greek government bonds as collateral in return for lending money to Greek banks. The newly-elected radical Greek government insisted the suspension would have “no adverse impact” on financial services, however the Greek stock market plunged on Thursday.

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Varoufakis vs Schauble: Greece and Germany slog it out

3. TESCO INVESTIGATED FOR ‘BULLYING’ FIRMS

Troubled supermarket giant Tesco is to be probed by a new UK regulator which says there is a “reasonable suspicion” it has breached rules of fair practice in its dealings with suppliers. The firm has been accused in the past of bullying - now the Groceries Code Adjudicator will spend nine months investigating.

Tesco ends sale of 5p single-use carrier bags

4. MPS: UK SHOULD DO MORE TO FIGHT I.S

The Commons Defence Select Committee has warned that the UK could and should do more to help fight IS (Islamic State), the fundamentalist Sunni fighters based in Syria and Iraq. A report finds the UK is contributing less than its Nato partners and lacks a military strategy for defeating the armed group.

UK 'should play greater role' in fight against Islamic State

5. ANTI-SEMITISM AT RECORD LEVEL IN UK

A Jewish community watchdog has warned that there were more anti-Semitic incidents reported last year than any year since 1984 when it began monitoring. The Community Security Trust said the number - 1,168 - was double 2013’s tally. Half of offenders made reference to Gaza or Palestinians.

UK anti-Semitic incidents at a high, says report

6. TWITTER 'SUCKS' AT DEALING WITH TROLLS

The chief executive of Twitter has admitted that the company "sucks" at dealing with abuse and "trolling" on the social network. In a leaked memo to staff Dick Costolo said: "We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day." He promised tougher action to deal with bullies.

7. TAIWAN PLANE CRASH BODIES SOUGHT

Divers are searching the Keelung River in Taipei, Taiwan, for another 12 people who remain unaccounted for but are believed dead after a TransAsia domestic flight came down yesterday morning. The plane was filmed as its wing clipped a bridge over the river. Fifteen people survived, including a boy of two.

Taiwan crash pilot: 'wow, pulled back wrong throttle'

8. BT CREATES COMMS GIANT WITH EE DEAL

Telecoms company BT has purchased mobile operator EE in a deal worth £12.5m. The takeover marks the return of BT to the mainstream mobile market for the first time since it sold O2 in 2001 and creates a company that offers mobile, fixed line, broadband and TV. Rivals including TalkTalk and Vodafone have called on the competition authorities to investigate.

BT to buy mobile company EE in £12.5 billion deal

9. GLITTER GUILTY OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES

Former pop star Gary Glitter has been found guilty of historical sex offences against young girls. The 70-year-old, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was convicted of attempted rape, four indecent assaults and a count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. He was acquitted of three other charges at Southwark Crown Court and remanded in custody.

10. BRIEFING: IS KATY PERRY ILLUMINATI?

A fringe of the internet now believes Katy Perry is a member of the Illuminati and placed hidden messages in her Super Bowl show last week. So who are the Illuminati and is Perry a member? Conspiracy theorists say the Illuminati is a group of world leaders, and other prominent people, dedicated to establishing a single, totalitarian world government. Katy Perry denies being involved but admitted she was flattered: "I guess you've kind of made it when they think you're in the Illuminati!"

Who are the Illuminati - and what do they control?