Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 20 Feb 2015

1. VITAL GREECE TALKS AFTER GERMAN SNUB

Eurozone finance ministers are preparing for a vital third meeting in Brussels to try to solve the Greece crisis - but Germany has already snubbed the Greek plan for a half-year deal which would effectively replace the bail-out. Germany said the plan “does not meet the criteria” already laid out by eurozone ministers.

Greece finally reaches deal to release €12bn bailout funds

2. PARIS RACISM: FANS SUSPENDED BY CHELSEA

Chelsea football club has suspended three fans from its ground - and they may be banned for life if its investigation concludes they were involved in an incident at the weekend on the Paris Metro when a black man, Sylla Souleymane, was pushed off a train amid chants of: “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Chelsea racist chanting: The Sun names witness

3. US: IRAQ TO HIT MOSUL IN APRIL OR MAY

In an unusual move, the US has revealed the timing of a planned assault on Islamic State (IS) by Iraqi and Kurdish troops, possibly with support from a small number of American ‘military advisers’ on the ground and air strikes. It says a force of 20,000 to 25,000 will aim to seize the city of Mosul in April or May.

4. TELEGRAPH OWNERS’ £250M HSBC LOAN

The Guardian says the Barclay Brothers, owners of the Daily Telegraph, secured a £250m loan from the loss-making HSBC for one of their businesses shortly before the paper’s reporters were allegedly “discouraged” from covering tax avoidance at the bank. Senior writer Peter Oborne has since quit in disgust.

5. US AND UK ‘HACKED SIM CARD FIRM’

British and American spies illegally hacked a Sim card firm to steal codes and make it easier to eavesdrop on mobile phones, according to whistle-blower Edward Snowden, says one US news website. The Intercept site says the hack took place in 2010. Sim card firm Gemalto says it takes the claims “very seriously”.

US and British spies 'hacked world's largest sim card maker'

6. MI5 AGENT GIVES EVIDENCE IN LONG WIG

An MI5 operative, Agent 1603, has given evidence in the trial of a man accused of a transatlantic terror plot in a New York court wearing a shoulder-length wig and glasses. Agents were told they could wear wigs and make-up to protect their identity. Abid Naseer, 28, is accused of an al-Qaeda conspiracy.

7. PRIVATE PARKING FINES ‘MAY BE ILLEGAL’

The RAC believes millions of pounds in parking fines charged every year may have to be returned to drivers because privately-enforced fees may be illegal. Fines for overstaying are often much higher than the actual loss the company has suffered, which one barrister told the RAC makes them unenforceable.

'Illegal' parking fines may be repaid to motorists

8. LORDS: GOVERNMENT MISREAD RUSSIA

The House of Lords EU committee has accused the government of “sleep-walking” into a “catastrophic misreading” of Russia in the run-up to the Ukraine crisis. The Lords blamed a decline in expertise on Russia and said the government had not been as “active or visible” as it should have been.

Europe 'sleep-walked' into Ukraine crisis, say peers

9. WORLD CUP: ENGLAND HUMILITATED BY NZ

England suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat by New Zealand, putting its chances of qualifying for the world cup in doubt. NZ’s Tim Southee became only the fourth player to take seven wickets in a World Cup match as England were thrashed for 123, with the last seven wickets falling for 19 runs.

England bottom of the group after New Zealand thrashing

10. BRIEFING: ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS EASED

The European Union has announced that it will resume sending aid to Zimbabwe, but travel bans for Robert Mugabe and his wife will remain in effect. The move comes as concern grows that the country is facing a new economic and political crisis.

Zimbabwe: why the EU is easing sanctions