Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 11 May 2015

1. CAMERON ANNOUNCES NEW CABINET

David Cameron has unveiled his all-Conservative cabinet after last week's election win. Most senior positions remain unchanged, but Michael Gove becomes Justice Secretary, Sajid Javid replaces Vince Cable as Business Secretary and John Whittingdale becomes Culture Secretary. Boris Johnson has been given an non departmental brief.

Queen's Speech: Cameron reveals radical agenda

2. UK TO OPPOSE EU REFUGEE QUOTA PLAN

The home office has said it will oppose controversial plans by the European Commission to make EU states take in a quota of refugees, in an attempt to deal with the crisis in which 1,500 migrants have drowned this year. Sky News says the UK might have to double its 30,000 annual intake under the plans.

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Britain vows to fight proposed refugee quotas from Brussels

3. ASSANGE ARREST WARRANT APPEAL FAILS

A court in Sweden has rejected an appeal by Julian Assange against his arrest warrant, issued in 2010 after two allegations of sexual assault against him. The Wikileaks founder fears that if he returns to Sweden he will be extradited to the US. He has been living at the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012.

4. GALLOWAY DEFEAT: EX-MP TO GO TO COURT

George Galloway, controversial former MP for Bradford West, is to take legal action against Labour’s Naz Shah, who unseated him, saying her team affected the outcome of the election by lying about him. Police are already investigating alleged smearing, online abuse and election law violations in the constituency.

5. FARAGE REMAINS AS LEADER OF UKIP

Nigel Farage remains leader of Ukip after the party's National Executive Committee rejected his resignation. Farage, who tendered his resignation after failing to win South Thanet in the general election, has now agreed to continue as leader after the party secured four million votes in the general election.

6. LONDON: BODY FOUND IN SUITCASE IN CANAL

Police are investigating a suspicious death after a body was found in a suitcase in a west London canal. Officers were called to the Grand Union Canal near Delamere Terrace in Maida Vale at 2.30pm on Sunday. The deceased's identity is not yet known and no arrests have been made. A post mortem will be held.

Woman's body discovered in suitcase in London canal

7. ANT AND DEC WIN AT BAFTA TV AWARDS

Presenters Ant and Dec have won two prizes at the Bafta Television Awards for the second year running, picking up best entertainmet show and performance for ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Coronation Street, which has been on air for 60 years, won best soap and BBC drama Sherlock took the Radio Times award.

Baftas 2017: La La Land leads the 2017 winners' list

8. REFUGEES STRANDED AT SEA OFF THAILAND

As many as 8,000 refugees from Bangladesh and Burma are thought to be stranded at sea off the coast of Thailand after a recent police crackdown left people smugglers unwilling to land there. More than 2,000 refugees have arrived in Malaysia or Indonesia in the last two days after being rescued.

9. PARCEL FIRM WHISTL SUSPENDS DELIVERIES

Parcel service Whistl has suspended its door-to-door delivery service in London, Liverpool and Manchester leaving 2,000 employees facing the prospect of redundancy. The move comes after private equity company LDC chose not to invest in the company, formerly known as TNT Post. Royal Mail shares rose on the news.

10. WILL SNP CALL FOR NEW REFERENDUM?

The Scottish National Party's historic landslide victory in the general election has set the stage for a potential second battle over independence. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon repeatedly said the 2015 election was not "about independence", but she has refused to rule out a second referendum after the Scottish elections in 2016.

Scottish independence: Is IndyRef2 'dead' after election losses?

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