Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 3 Feb 2016

1. First Zika case in US 'was transmitted sexually'

Doctors in Texas say the first known case of the Zika virus being transmitted within the US happened through sexual contact, thought to be extremely rare with the virus, which is usually spread by mosquitoes. A person who had recently travelled to Venezuela passed the infection to their partner, who had not accompanied them.

Zika virus: tests support links to birth defects and paralysis

2. Cameron defends EU reforms to MPs

David Cameron has defended his planned reforms to Britain's membership of the European Union, which he says mean the country should stay in, despite criticism from Eurosceptics. A draft deal was published by European Council President Donald Tusk yesterday, after months of discussions, and includes an "emergency break" to restrict benefits for working EU migrants.

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Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

3. Migrant crisis: a third of refugees are children, says UN

Women and children now make up the majority of people fleeing from the Middle East and Africa to Europe, the United Nations has announced. One third of refugees making sea crossings are children while 60 per cent of those travelling through Macedonia are women or children. This marks a shift from last summer, when 73 per cent were adult males.

4. Japan deploys warships for North Korea 'missile'

Japan's has deployed warships and onshore interceptors and threatened to shoot down any missile from North Korea it feels to be a threat. The action came after North Korea claimed it will soon launch a satellite, which would inevitably involve a long-range rocket of the type the United Nations has banned it from developing or using.

North Korea detains another US citizen

5. RMT union recommends Night Tube pay offer

The RMT union has recommended a pay and conditions deal that could allow the Night Tube to start running in London later this year. Members will start voting on the offer, which includes above-inflation pay rises, next week. Other unions are still considering the package. Strikes planned over job losses are still scheduled for this weekend.

Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action

6. 'Plebgate' officer cleared of misconduct

A police officer has been cleared of misconduct after the Andrew Mitchell "plebgate" affair. A tribunal heard that Detective Sergeant Stuart Hinton had praised the Conservative MP for his "candour" at a meeting following the incident before telling the BBC he had been evasive. The panel said the on-air comments did not amount to dishonesty, discreditable conduct or a breach of integrity.

7. Lord Lucan declared dead 41 years after he disappeared

Lord Lucan has been declared dead, 41 years after he disappeared following the murder of his children's nanny. The case has become a cause celebre since the peer vanished in 1974, with sightings reported around the world. But the High Court in London today issued a death certificate which finally allows his son, George Bingham, to inherit the title.

8. Petition to ban of 'pro-rape pick-up artist' Valizadeh

More than 50,000 people have signed a petition asking the Scottish government to ban events organised by a "pick-up" artist who has argued that rape should be legal in certain circumstances. Daryush Valizadeh, also known as Roosh V, later said his article was "satire". The 36-year old American describes himself as a "neo-masculinist".

Roosh V: calls for 'pro-rape' blogger's meetings to be banned

9. 'Burning man' sucked from aeroplane after blast

One person is thought to have died after being sucked out of an aeroplane in Somalia follwing an explosion, believed to have been caused by a bomb. Witnesses reported seeing a burning man fall from the Daallo Airlines plane after a hole appeared in the fuselage shortly after take-off. The pilot was able to turn the flight, destined for Djibouti, around and land safely in Mogadishu.

Somali plane bomb: Turkey 'was intended target'

10. Briefing: Corbyn's team prepare for leadership challenge

Jeremy Corbyn's allies are preparing for a possible leadership challenge if Labour underperforms in the London mayoral and local elections in May. "We have got to be in a position to be able to run another leadership campaign," party activist Jon Lansman told a meeting of Momentum, the pro-Corbyn campaign group. He added that the London mayoral contest would prove to be "crucial" to the party's future - Labour candidate Sadiq Khan is currently the bookmakers' favourite to replace Boris Johnson.

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking