Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 17 Apr 2015

1. MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ALPS CRASH DEAD

A memorial service for the 150 victims of last month’s Germanwings plane crash in the French Alps has been held today at Cologne cathedral. Around 500 relatives of the dead were among the 1,400-strong congregation, along with German leader Angela Merkel and figures from France and Spain. Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz is believed to have crashed the plane deliberately.

2. MILIBAND: I WON’T DO DEAL WITH SNP

Ed Miliband yesterday rejected the offer of a coalition made by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, saying it would “put at risk the unity of the United Kingdom”. The Labour leader met Sturgeon in the final pre-election party leaders’ TV debate, in which the Conservatives’ David Cameron had decline to take part.

Should Theresa May call an early general election?

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

3. SADDAM HENCHMAN 'KILLED IN IRAQ'

Iraqi fugutive Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, one of Saddam Hussein's right-hand men and a leading figure in the rise of Islamic State, has reportedly been killed during fighting with Iraqi government troops near Tikrit. Al-Douri was the King of Clubs in the infamous US 'pack of cards' issued after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

4. DROWNED MIGRANTS: TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED

Italian police have arrested 10 people alleged to have been the traffickers who organised yet another illegal crossing from Africa to Europe for would-be migrants this week, one which ended with at least 400 deaths. Also held are 15 African Muslims, claimed by witnesses to have thrown Christians over the side.

Hundreds feared dead after migrant boat capsizes near Libya

5. KAREN BUCKLEY: MAN APPEARS IN COURT

A man has appeared in court in Glasgow charged with the murder of student Karen Buckley, whose body was discovered at a farm north of Glasgow on Thursday. She went missing after a night out in the city centre Saturday. Alexander Pacteau, 21, made no plea and was remanded in custody.

6. HAN SOLO APPEARS IN NEW STAR WARS TRAIL

A new trailer for JJ Abrams’s Star Wars re-boot shows Harrison Ford reprising his role as Han Solo for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The promo for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the second trailer released, also features close-ups of new characters including Finn and Kylo Ren.

Star Wars: Carrie Fisher claims she had affair with Harrison Ford

7. BALOTELLI SENT 4,000 RACIST MESSAGES

Liverpool footballer Mario Balotelli has been subjected to 4,000 racist messages on social media since the start of the current football season, according to research by anti-discrimination group Kick It Out. In total 134,000 football-related posts containing racist, homophobic or other abusive language have been sent this season, with 39,000 directed at Premier League players.

Balotelli Twitter hate campaign is 'depressing but no surprise'

8. JOBLESS TOTAL IS LOWEST SINCE 2008

Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the financial crisis according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics. Unemployment now stands at 5.6% after the number of jobless fell by 76,000 to 1.84 million in the three months to February, the lowest number since July 2008. Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, rose by 1.7% compared with the same period a year earlier.

9. XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Attacks on foreign-owned shops and businesses have continued in Johannesburg. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, who reportedly said foreigners should "go back to their countries", has been blamed for sparking the latest outbreak of violence, but he says his comments have been distorted. There have been marches against xenophobia elsewhere in South Africa.

South African xenophobia: why is there so much hatred of foreigners?

10. BRIEFING: WHAT EACH PARTY SAYS ON TAX

The five main parties fielding candidates across the UK have all now launched their manifestos and revealed what they plan to do about tax rates. Inheritance tax changes have grabbed the headlines, but decisions about other taxes will affect far more of the population. Our briefing breaks down what each party says it will do with various income, property and business taxes.

General Election 2015: what the parties say about tax