Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 14 Dec 2019

1. Johnson claims NHS will be his top priority in government

Boris Johnson said the NHS would be the top priority in his new government. “I have heard it loud and clear from every corner of the country – that the overwhelming priority of the British people now is that we should focus above all on the NHS,” he said. Meanwhile, NHS bosses have said the health service was “on its knees” even before winter had begun.

2. Could the China and US trade war be nearing its end?

Statements from Beijing and Washington suggest that China and the US have reached an initial deal to resolve the trade war between the two countries. China’s vice-commerce minister, Wang Shouwen, said that the US had agreed to cancel some of its tariffs on Chinese goods, while Donald Trump tweeted that the two countries had agreed to a “very large Phase One Deal”.

3. Corbyn says he did everything he could for Labour

Jeremy Corbyn says he did “everything he could” to get Labour elected and said he will not “walk away” until a new leader is chosen. Corbyn said he was “obviously very sad” but also had “pride” in the manifesto. The party attracted 33% of the vote, down around eight points on the 2017 general election and lower than that managed by Neil Kinnock in 1992.

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4. Pakistani police hope to arrest prime minister's nephew

Police in Pakistan hope to arrest Prime Minister Imran Khan's nephew for taking part in a protest at a hospital in which three patients died. After officers in Lahore raided Hassan Niazi's residence they concluded he may now be in hiding. Niazi was one of hundreds lawyers who raided a hospital in a dispute with doctors. Riot police had to be called in to restore order during the violent protest.

5. Diving searches to resume in New Zealand after volcano

Divers in New Zealand have resumed searching the waters near the White Island volcano in efforts to retrieve two remaining bodies. Police say the team faced “unique and challenging conditions” as they searched for a corpse spotted in the water. Fourteen deaths have been confirmed from Monday's volcano eruption. Around 20 people remain in intensive care with severe burns.

6. Michelle Obama offers support to Thunberg after Trump attack

Michelle Obama has sent a message of support to the climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg, after the 16-year-old was mocked on Twitter by President Donald Trump. “Don't let anyone dim your light,” wrote the former first lady on Twitter. “Like the girls I've met in Vietnam and all over the world, you have so much to offer us all.” She told the teenager to “ignore the doubters”.

7. Love Island's Flack arrested after reports of assault

The broadcaster Caroline Flack has been charged with assault following an incident at her north London home. Police were called to the 40-year-old's home in Islington, where she lives with her partner, tennis player Lewis Burton, early on Thursday morning, after reports of a man being assaulted. The Love Island host will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on 23 December.

8. Supreme Court to consider releasing Trump's tax records

The US supreme court says it will hear Donald Trump’s pleas to keep his tax and financial records private. The decision means that next June, in the midst of the race for the White House, the court could rule against the president and force the swift release of personal financial information that Trump has sought strenuously to keep private.

9. Will Australia experience hottest ever day next week?

Australia could endure its hottest day on record next week with temperatures likely to exceed 40C in many areas from Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology says. In Perth, temperatures are forecast to remain high over the weekend, reaching 41C on Sunday. Next week, temperatures in Adelaide could reach 42C. Further inland, the all-time record of 50.7C could be broken.

10. Tributes paid after soap matriarch dies at 100

There have been tributes after former Emmerdale star Sheila Mercier died at the age of 100. An Emmerdale spokeswoman said: “It's always sad to hear of the death of an actor who played a significant part in Emmerdale's success. Even more so when that actor was in the very first episode and around whose family the show was built.” Mercier played Annie Sugden, a legendary soap matriarch.