Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 1 Feb 2016

1. 'Crucial' day for Cameron's EU negotiations

David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk have been locked in talks today about the UK's renegotiated membership of the European Union. Earlier, Tusk said the next 24 hours would be "crucial". A Downing Street source said there had been a "breakthrough" in the Prime Minister's plan to restrict benefits to migrants from the EU but "more work" was needed.

Brexit: what are the pros and cons of leaving the EU?

2. Britain braced for high winds from Storm Henry

The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for Scotland, where high winds are expected today, and less severe yellow warnings for England as far south as the Humber, all Northern Ireland and the north of Wales. Gusts of 90mph are possible in exposed areas. Heavy rain is forecast for much of Scotland.

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

3. Iowa voters prepare to choose candidates

Republican and Democratic candidates are making their final pitches to voters in Iowa, who make their choice of White House candidate today. For the Republicans, polls give Donald Trump a narrow lead over Ted Cruz in Iowa, with both far ahead of the pack. Democrat Hillary Clinton also has a slim lead over nearest rival Bernie Sanders.

What is Hillary Clinton doing now?

4. Stricken cargo ship drifting to French coast

A 538ft cargo ship carrying timber and diggers is drifting towards the north coast of France, listing at between 40 and 50 degrees. An attempt is to be made to tow the Panama-registered Modern Express to safety and stop it spilling its 300 tonnes of fuel on the shore. The 22 crew have been airlifted to safety.

Modern Express: last-ditch attempt to rescue listing cargo ship

5. Scientists get green light to 'edit' embryos

British scientists have been given permission to genetically modify human embryos for the first time. The experiments will be subject to tight controls - "edited" embryos, donated by couples with a surplus after IVF treatment, must all be destroyed after two weeks. Some scientists have called for a halt on genetic modification of embryos over fears of a public backlash.

UK scientists win right to genetically modify human embryos

6. Black employees suffer 23 per cent pay gap

Research by the TUC suggests black workers earn on average 23 per cent less than similarly qualified white people. The "pay gap" holds true at all levels of education but is worst for the most-qualified. The TUC said the government "can't afford to ignore these figures and must now take genuine action to tackle pay discrimination".

7. Manchester City confirm Guardiola as manager

Pep Guardiola will take over from Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager from next season. The former Barcelona boss, now in charge of Bayern Munich, is the most successful coach in world football. Although he had been expected to join City, the confirmation still overshadowed other moves on Deadline Day as the January transfer window started to close.

Pep Guardiola heads to Man City with a 'tarnished' reputation

8. Switzerland: 'world's best chef' found dead

Benoit Violier, the chef whose restaurant was named the best in the world in December, has been found dead at his home after an apparent suicide. The 44-year-old French-Swiss cook ran the Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier, near Lausanne, which boasts three Michelin stars. A keen hunter, he was known for using game in his dishes.

Benoit Violier: 'world's best chef' found dead in Switzerland

9. Books of condolences open for Wogan

Books of condolences are to be opened for Sir Terry Wogan, who has died of cancer at the age of 77, in his home town of Limerick. The city's mayor said the Irishman was a "true son of Limerick" and a "broadcasting institution". Sir Terry's last broadcast was a Radio 2 show at the beginning of November, before his short illness.

Sir Terry Wogan's best life advice

10. Briefing: How pensions changes may affect you

The past year has seen some huge changes to rules governing private pensions, but the government hasn't finished yet. When the new tax year dawns in April there will be even more new rules to get your head around - and the amount of tax relief you can claim on money you pay into your pension pot is being reduced.

How pensions are changing - and how it affects you