Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 17 Mar 2015

1. CYRIL SMITH: ABUSE PROBE ‘COVER-UP’

An undercover police investigation into alleged child abuse by the late Liberal MP Cyril Smith was scrapped shortly after he was arrested, the BBC’s Newsnight programme claims. A hidden camera had been installed to gather evidence which was never used because of a “cover-up”, said MP John Mann.

2. TIGHT RACE EXPECTED AS ISRAEL POLLS OPEN

Voters in Israel decide today whether to re-elect Benjamin Netanyahu, or switch to the centre-left alliance headed by Yitzhak Herzog. His Zionist Union has promised to “repair” relations with the Palestinians and the rest of the world. The vote is expected to be close, with neither front-runner polling more than 25%.

3. MINIMUM WAGE TO RISE BY 20P PER HOUR

The government has announced the minimum wage will rise by 20p per hour from October, with separate increases for young people and apprentices. More than 1.4m workers will benefit from the 3% change, after which the hourly minimum will be £6.70. Apprentices can expect a 20% rise; young people 3%.

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4. OSBORNE PLANS £1M INHERITANCE TAX RISE

George Osborne plans to allow parents to leave a main property worth up to £1m to their children without paying inheritance tax, according to “sensitive papers” seen by The Guardian. The move, which the Treasury says will benefit “high income” households, will be a pre-election pledge, not part of the budget

5. NIGERIA CLAIMS BOKO HARAM VICTORY

The Nigerian army says it has ousted terror group Boko Haram from Bama - but admits that a “mopping-up” operation continues in the north-eastern town. The military also says it has now completely expelled the Islamists from the province of Yobe. More than 13,000 have died in the conflict since 2009.

6. ‘JIHADI BRIDE’ DENIES LURING LONDON GIRLS

A woman from Glasgow dubbed a “jihadi bride” because she went to Syria in 2013 and married a fighter from IS (Islamic State) has denied she ‘recruited’ three east London girls believed to have travelled there via Turkey. Aqsa Mahmood is alleged to have spoken to the girls online but says she did not.

7. VANUATU: CYCLONE PAM DEATH TOLL RISES

At least 24 people in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu have been killed by Cyclone Pam, with 3,300 displaced and the death toll likely to rise further still. The UN warns that food supplies are running low in some areas. Deaths have included a one-week-old baby and four non-residents who sought shelter on boats.

8. HARRY LEAVES ARMY FOR ‘GAP YEAR’

Prince Harry says he is excited about making the “really tough decision” to leave the army in June. The prince will spend the summer in Africa working with conservation groups. The Daily Mail dubs the break Harry’s “gap year at 30” and warns that his uncle, Prince Andrew, floundered after leaving the navy in 2001.

9. CHINA: PAY-OUT FOR WILD PANDA BITE

A farmer in north-west China has been awarded £54,000 compensation after he was bitten by a wild panda chased onto his land by local officials who were trying to capture the animal for veterinary treatment. Guan Quanzhi, in his late 60s, had several hours of surgery on his leg - and may need further operations.

10. BRIEFING: HISTORY OF ST PATRICK'S DAY

St Patrick's day is renowned the world over for parades, drinking and the colour green – and yet in past centuries Ireland's patron saint has traditionally been depicted wearing blue robes. What's more, Irish pubs were closed on 17 March and the first St Patrick's Day parade took place in New York.

St Patrick's Day myths and legends busted