Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 5 Jun 2014

1. FEED FIRM ‘SADDENED’ BY BABY DEATH

A company which makes drip feed for hospitals has said it is “saddened” by the death of a baby, and illness of 14 others, to which its products have been “strongly linked” by Public Health England. ITH Pharma supplied food to six hospitals where babies developed septicaemia, including St Thomas’s.

One baby dead and 14 critically ill after drip contamination

2. D-DAY VETERAN MAKES PARACHUTE JUMP

Jock Hutton, an 89-year-old war veteran who parachuted into France on D-Day in 1944, repeated the jump today, strapped to a serving soldier and watched by Prince Charles, as part of commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of France. Veterans have been taking part in events on both sides of the English channel.

Subscribe to The Week

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

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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

D-Day veteran of 89 repeats parachute jump into France

3. CANADA: SHOOTING SUSPECT HUNTED

A Canadian city has been placed under lockdown, with shops closed and residents told to stay indoors, as police hunt a marksman who shot dead three police officers and wounded two others. Police in Moncton released a picture of 24-year-old suspect Justin Bourque carrying guns and wearing camouflage.

Canada shooting: suspect held after shouting 'I'm done'

4. PUPILS 'UNPROTECTED FROM EXTREMISM'

Pupils at one of the Birmingham schools at the centre of an inquiry into radical Islam were not protected from extremist ideology, according to a leaked Ofsted report. Golden Hillock School in Sparkhill was branded inadequate in the unpublished report and placed in special measures. The row over Muslim influence sparked a row between Theresa May and Michael Gove.

5. BOWE BERGDAHL WELCOME CANCELLED

The Idaho hometown of US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, released on Saturday after five years as a Taleban prisoner, has cancelled a planned welcoming party after claims he was captured after deserting his post. Organisers said the event was dropped because of safety fears because too many people were coming.

Bowe Bergdahl: just a deserter, or did he try to join Taliban?

6. G7 LEADERS WARN RUSSIA OVER UKRAINE

Leaders of the G7 group of industrialised nations, who have been meeting in Brussels, have warned Russia that it could face more sanctions over its annexation of Crimea and unrest in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin was urged to recognise Ukraine's new president, Petro Poroshenko, who has the backing of the other G7 nations.

G7 leaders threaten Russia with new Ukraine sanctions

7. WORLD CUP FITNESS RACE FOR OX

England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after a scan confirmed that he damaged knee ligaments during England's warm-up match against Ecuador in Miami on Wednesday. The Arsenal player is likely to be out for between one and three weeks, putting his participation in the tournament at risk.

World Cup injury update: Italy defender out, Ronaldo on ice

8. NEWARK BY-ELECTION POLLS OPEN

Voters have been going to the polls in Newark today for a by-election triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, who quit after it was alleged he had taken cash for asking questions in Parliament. Mercer took the seat from Labour in 2010 with a 16,000-vote majority. Today's ballot was due to close at 10pm.

Tories set to hold Newark: has Ukip run out of steam?

9. ECB INTEREST RATE CUT TO LESS THAN ZERO

The European Central Bank has taken the unprecedented step of cutting interest rates to below zero in an attempt to stimulate growth in Europe. It has cut its deposit rate to -0.1%, meaning banks must now pay to lodge their money with the central bank, encouraging them to lend rather than save. The ECB's benchmark rate has been cut from 0.25% to 0.15%.

10. HOT TICKET: ROYAL BALLET TRIPLE BILL

The Royal Ballet's final mixed bill of the season has opened in Covent Garden. It features revivals of Frederick Ashton's The Dream, Jerome Robbins's The Concert, and a premiere of Alastair Marriott's ballet about neuroscience, Connectome. "Effervescently playful," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 13 June.

Royal Ballet – reviews of 'playful' new triple bill