Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 13 Feb 2017

1. California: 130,000 to evacuate as dam fails

More than 180,000 people have been told to leave their homes in California over fears the US's tallest dam may be about to collapse, creating a 30ft wall of water. Heavy rains have caused waters to rise at the Oroville Dam north of Sacramento, flooding an emergency spillway. The spillway is said to be severely corroded.

2. Undercover reporter uncovers 'lack of control' at prison

An undercover reporter at HMP Northumberland found "widespread drug use, a lack of control, door alarms that did not go off in one block and a hole in an internal security fence", says the BBC. The Ministry of Justice is investigating the footage, which was filmed for the BBC's Panorama.

Subscribe to The Week

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

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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

Prisons in need of 'profound' shift to prevent suicides

3. Emma Stone honoured as La La Land wins five Baftas

La La Land won five of the 11 awards for which it was nominated at last night's Baftas in London, including best actress for Emma Stone. Veteran director Ken Loach won the outstanding British film award for I, Daniel Blake and used his acceptance speech to criticise the government's child refugee policy.

Baftas 2017: La La Land leads the 2017 winners' list

4. Centre-left Steinmeier elected president of Germany

Centre-left politician Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been elected president of Germany. In his acceptance speech, the 61-year-old, who once called US President Donald Trump a "hate preacher", said his country should be an "anchor of hope" for democracy. The role of president is largely ceremonial.

5. Four dead in avalanche in French Alps

At least four skiers have died in an avalanche at the ski resort of Tignes in the French Alps. As many as nine people were swept away in an off-piste area on Monday morning. The 400-metre wide avalanche occurred at an altitude of 2,100 metres, and was apparently triggered by skiers further up the slope.

6. Adele: Beyonce deserves my best album Grammy

Adele dominated last night's Grammys in Los Angeles, taking home five awards, including best record and best song for her single Hello. However, the British singer appeared to refuse the best album prize, saying Beyonce's Lemonade deserved it more. She said: "Beyonce is the artist of my life."

7. Jazz singer Al Jarreau dies at 76

Singer and composer Al Jarreau has died in Los Angeles at the age of 76. He was being treated for exhaustion in hospital, but the cause of death is not known. Jarreau won seven Grammys during his career, taking awards in jazz, pop and R&B categories. He announced his retirement from touring earlier this month, after 50 years on the road.

8. Bell ringer rescued after being trapped in ropes

A bell ringer was rescued from Worcester Cathedral yesterday after becoming trapped in the rope and lifted high into the air. Ian Bowman caught his heel in the rope and was carried around 80ft up the bell tower before he crashed to the ground, fracturing a bone in his back and cutting his head. Fire crews winched him to safety.

9. New Zealand to bury 300 dead whales

The bodies of around 300 pilot whales which died in a mass stranding in New Zealand will be buried in an area not open to the public, authorities say. The carcasses will be moved to sand dunes further up Farewell Spit, South Island. Around 600 animals beached themselves last week, although rescuers managed to refloat several hundred.

10. Briefing: The world's most luxurious tree houses

There was a time when the idea of sleeping among the trees would have conjured images of musty canvas tents and bland meals heated over a gas burner. But today, hotels and resorts are catering for a more discerning breed of traveller, bringing nostalgic fantasies to life and combining the serenity of the forest with the amenities of a five-star bolthole.

The most luxurious tree houses around the world to stay in

Explore More