Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 2 May 2019

1. Sacked Williamson swears innocence ‘on my kids’ lives’

Gavin Williamson yesterday swore on his childrens’ lives that he was not behind the Huawei leak that led to his sacking as defence minister. Williamson was kicked out of Theresa May’s cabinet after being linked to the disclosure of information from a National Security Council meeting. He has been replaced by Penny Mordaunt, who was international development secretary, a role that now goes to Rory Stewart.

2. Boy killed in double stabbing in London

A boy of 15 was killed, and another aged 16 injured, in a double stabbing in east London last night. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead in Somerford Grove, Hackney, at 9.50pm. Police said the second teenager’s injuries were not life-threatening. A temporary order allowing officers to stop and question anyone was subsequently imposed for the whole of Hackney.

3. UK ‘should cut emissions to zero by 2050’

A new report by Government’s advisory panel on global warming says the UK aim to cut emissions to nearly zero by the year 2050. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says that if other nations also set this target, there is a 50-50 chance of staying below the recommended 1.5C temperature rise by 2100.

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4. Trump-Russia: Barr denies Mueller claims

US Attorney General William Barr yesterday denied that his summary of an investigation into links between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia was partisan, after investigator Robert Mueller complained that Barr had “sown public confusion”. Barr said he was “not in the business of determining when lies are told” to Americans.

5. NZ media agree to mosque massacre restrictions

New Zealand media outlets have agreed to restrict their reporting of the trial of Brenton Tarrant, the 28-year-old Australian accuse of killing 50 people in terror attacks on Christchurch mosques. Newspapers and broadcasters have committed to avoid repeating statements of “white supremacist or terrorist ideology”.

6. Man charged over bodies found in freezer

A 34-year-old man has been charged with “preventing decent burial”, after two women’s bodies were found in a freezer at a flat in east London. Zarhid Younis, of Canning Town, was arrested following the discovery in a neighbouring property on the street where he lives. A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday but has been released as police continue investigations to identify the dead women.

7. India: mass evacuations as cyclone looms

Hundreds of thousands of people are being evacuated from their homes along the east coast of India as a life-threatening storm approaches. Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in the state of Orissa on Friday, with current wind speeds reaching 127mph. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states are also on high alert.

8. Driving points MP fired by constituents

English constituents have ousted an MP from office in a historic first. Under rules set up in 2015, Fiona Onasanya is no longer MP for Peterborough after more than 25% of her constituents signed a recall petition. Onasanya served four weeks in jail earlier this year for conspiring to avoid driving licence points.

9. Local council elections: voters go to polls

People are voting for their local council candidates in England and Northern Ireland today. Elections are being held for 248 English councils and six mayors – and for all 11 local councils in NI. Polls opened at 7.30am and will close at 10pm. More than 8,400 seats are being contested in England, and another 462 in NI.

10. What was the Falklands War about?

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the sinking of the General Belgrano - one of the most controversial acts in modern British military history.

What was the Falklands War about?