Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 19 May 2014

1. MILIBAND TO 'STRETCH' MINIMUM WAGE

A Labour government would set a statutory minimum wage target linked to average earnings, says Ed Miliband. Although Labour will not announce the exact figure until nearer the general election, a party source has told the BBC it would be a "stretching target". Any major increase to the minimum wage is likely to be opposed by business groups.

2. RELATIVE CRITICISES MH370 BOOK

A book about the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has been criticised by the relative of two passengers. The book, entitled Flight MH370: The Mystery, is published less than three months after the plane’s disappearance. "Nobody knows what happened so why would anyone want to put out a book at this stage?" said Irene Burrows, whose son and daughter-in-law were on the flight.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

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3. BANK FEAR AT RECORD HOUSE PRICES

House prices jumped £10,000 between April and May, prompting the Bank of England to threaten to cap mortgages. The average property is now on sale at a new record high of £272,003. London leads the way with a 16.3% year-on-year increase, compared with a more modest 4.9% in the rest of the country. Last week, Mark Carney expressed concern over the housing market.

4. FARAGE BACKTRACKS ON ROMANIANS

Nigel Farage has backtracked on his remarks that “fair-minded people” would have the right to be concerned to have Romanian neighbours. The Ukip leader now says he “could have been clearer”. He adds: “I regret the fact that I was completely tired out. I didn’t use the form of words that I would have liked to have used.”

Disbelief as Miliband wriggles out of calling Farage racist

5. CALLS FOR ATLANTIC YACHT HUNT TO RESUME

The families of four British yachtsmen missing in the Atlantic have urged the US Coastguard to resume its search for them. Nothing has been heard of the men since Friday when their 40ft yacht, Cheeki Rafiki, heading to the UK fron Antigua, started taking on water. The search was called off on Sunday, but the families believe the men escaped in a life raft.

6. BROADCHURCH WINS THREE BAFTAS

Broadchurch has won three Baftas - for best drama, best actress for Olivia Colman and best supporting actor for David Bradley. Colman, who stars in the ITV drama, cried on stage, saying that working with co-star David Tennant is “a joy and a treat”. Among the other winners on the night were Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and The IT Crowd.

TV Baftas 2014: Broadchurch is big winner but BBC misses out

7. RUGBY LEGEND WILKINSON TO RETIRE

England rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson has confirmed that he is to retire at the end of the season. The 34-year-old Toulon fly half, who scored the winning drop goal in the 2003 World Cup final, will end his 17-year career after the Heineken Cup final against Saracens on Saturday and the French Top 14 final against Castres a week later.

8. ASTRAZENECA REJECTS PFIZER OFFER

British drugs firm AstraZeneca has rejected a takeover offer from American rival Pfizer, which had proposed a deal of £55 a share, valuing the company at £69bn. AstraZeneca firmly rejected Pfizer's "final offer" claiming it "failed to make a compelling strategic, business or value case". Pzier has rejected a hostile takeover and a deal now looks unlikely.

AstraZeneca rejects 'final' £69bn offer from Pfizer

9. VAN GAAL IS MAN UNITED MANAGER

Louis Van Gaal has been named as the new manager of Manchester United, with Ryan Giggs as his assistant. The 62-year-old Dutchman has signed a three-year contract and said he wanted to "make history" with United. He will be United's first non-British manager. Giggs also announced his retirement as a player after 963 appearances for the club.

10. HOT TICKET: LILY COLE DEBUT IN TROY

Supermodel-turned-actress Lily Cole is starring in Simon Armitage's stage adaptation of Homer's The Iliad, The Last Days of Troy, at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Cole is Helen in the final days of the Greek's siege of Troy. "Vivid," says The Independent. Until 7 June, Shakespeare's Globe from 10 June.

The Last Days of Troy – reviews of 'vivid' Homer play