Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 9 Feb 2015

1. MERKEL IN US FOR TALKS ON UKRAINE

German chancellor Angela Merkel is in Washington today to share a plan to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine, devised by Germany and France, with Barack Obama. Under pressure to get tough, the US is considering sending arms to the Ukraine government. More peace talks will be held in Belarus later this week.

Obama: Vladimir Putin trying to 'recreate Soviet empire'

2. FILES SHOW HSBC HELPED TAX DODGERS

A cache of computer files obtained by French newspaper Le Monde and shared with the BBC and The Guardian reveal how the Swiss wing of Britain’s biggest bank, HSBC, helped wealthy clients avoid paying millions of pounds of tax in the UK. The files were leaked in 2007 but have only just reached the media.

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HSBC to close UK taxpayers' Jersey accounts

3. LABOUR TO DOUBLE PATERNITY LEAVE

Ed Miliband says he would double the amount of paid paternity leave offered to UK fathers to four weeks, if elected. He also said the statutory pay would increase from £120 a week to £260 because 55 per cent of fathers do not take up the offer because the rate is so low. He called the current system “outdated”.

4. EGYPT: 30 DEAD AT FOOTBALL MATCH

At least 30 people have been killed after crowd trouble at a football match in Cairo. Police opened fire with teargas and shotgun pellets on supporters of Zamelek SC as they queued to enter a stadium. The government insisted the deaths were caused by a stampede after fans tried to break in to the ground.

Egypt: many dead after clashes between police and football fans

5. SAM SMITH WINS FOUR GRAMMY AWARDS

British soul singer Sam Smith was the big winner at last night’s Grammy Awards in LA, taking four awards: best newcomer, best song, best record and best pop vocal album. He thanked a nameless ex-lover for “breaking my heart … because you got me four Grammys”. Beck surprised by taking best album.

UK soul singer Sam Smith takes home four Grammys

6. EDDIE REDMAYNE’S HAWKING BAFTA WIN

Eddie Redmayne took the Bafta award for best actor last night for playing physicist Stephen Hawking, while Julianne Moore took best actress for a role as an Alzheimer’s sufferer. Richard Linklater’s Boyhood was named best film - but Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel which took the most honours.

Baftas wrap - winners, losers, but few surprises

7. ISLAMIC STATE CHIEF KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

A former Taliban commander in Afghanistan who switched allegiance to Islamic State has been killed in a Nato drone strike. Officials in Helmand say Abdul Rauf was one of six people in a car loaded with ammunition that was hit while travelling through the desert. Rauf spent six years in Guantanamo Bay after being captured in 2001.

8. SMART TVS 'LISTEN' TO CONVERSATIONS

Samsung smart TVs are 'listening in' on their owners' conversations and sharing details with third parties. A warning in Samsung's privacy policy has come to light that states "personal or other sensitive information" discussed in front of the TV could "be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party". The warning only applies to people who use voice controls.

'Orwellian' Samsung TV captures and transmits private conversations

9. TEEN ARRESTED 'ON WAY TO KILL SOLDIER'

A teenager who idolised the killers of Lee Rigby was arrested while carrying a 12in knife and a hammer in east London while on his way to try and behead a British soldier, the Old Bailey has heard. Brusthom Ziamani, 19, from Camberwell in south-east London was converted to Islam in early 2014 and was arrested in August. He is charged with preparing an act of terrorism.

10. BRIEFING: HOW COMMON ARE PIRANHA ATTACKS?

A six-year-old girl found dead in Brazil last week had been partly eaten by piranhas, reports say. But how common are piranha attacks? Normally, attacks on humans are rare, fatal attacks even more so. They usually happen when the rivers are low in the dry season – and children are at particular risk as their splashing can attract the fish. However, only a handful of fatal attacks have been recorded in the past few years.

Girl 'eaten by piranhas': How common are piranha attacks?