Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 6 May 2019

1. Joseph McCann arrested over London rapes

Police have arrested Joseph McCann, a 34-year-old man wanted in connection with the rape of three women in London and the abduction of another two women in Cheshire. McCann was found hiding up a tree after fleeing on foot from a car crash in Congleton, leaving behind two women he had abducted. They are said to be “extremely shaken”.

2. Russia: 41 dead after plane catches fire

Forty-one people have been killed after a Russian jet carrying 78 people burst into flames shortly after take-off from a Moscow airport. Two children are among the dead. Video shows the plane landing with flames and smoke billowing from is rear. Passengers claimed it had been struck by lightning but this has not been confirmed.

3. Trump sends aircraft carrier to ‘warn’ Iran

The US has deployed an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, saying it will “send a clear and unmistakeable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force”. US national security head John Bolton said there were “troubling” signs of Iran escalating tensions.

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4. Reports of cease-fire after Gaza violence

There is said to be a lull this morning in hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza after violence over the weekend. Hundreds of missiles were fired into Israel and air and artillery strikes hit Gaza. At least 23 Palestinians and four Israelis were killed. Israel has not confirmed that a cease-fire is officially taking place, however.

5. UN warns nature at worst point in history

A major new report from the United Nations warns that nature is in crisis, with the environment under worse threat than it has been in all of human history. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) says species are going extinct tens or hundreds of times faster than ever before.

6. Markets fall after Trump resumes trade war

Stocks in China fell by almost 6% today, with futures trading indicating that Wall Street would drop 2% when it opened, as investors reacted to US President Donald Trump’s shock announcement that he will raise tariffs on $200bn (£152bn) of Chinese goods from 10% to 25% on Friday. Trump said he was frustrated by the pace of trade talks.

7. Labour MPs ‘won’t back deal without vote’

The Guardian says senior sources in the Labour Party believe that two-thirds of its MPs will refuse to back any Brexit deal thrashed out with the Conservatives unless it includes the promise of a second referendum on leaving the EU. Theresa May is preparing to make concessions to satisfy Labour including a temporary customs union.

8. Belfast marathon was 0.3 miles too long

The organisers of yesterday’s Belfast marathon have apologised after admitting the course was 0.3 miles – or 505 yards – too long. They said the lead car twice diverted from the official route and blamed “human error”. Despite the extra distance, Kenya’s Caroline Jepchirchir set the fastest ever women’s time for the Belfast race – 2:36:38.

9. Grave of ‘Elephant Man’ Joseph Merrick found

An author and researcher has tracked down a grave where some of Joseph Merrick’s remains were buried after he died in April 1890. Known as the ‘Elephant Man’, Merrick became a celebrity for his unusual appearance after being exhibited in freak shows. After death his skeleton was preserved but the grave contains his soft tissues.

10. What was the Falklands War about?

Last week was 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?