Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 22 May 2015

1. CAMERON 'CONFIDENT' OF EU REFORM

David Cameron is "confident" of getting a better deal for the UK in Europe as he begins talks with EU leaders at a summit in Latvia. The summit is intended to address the relations of former Soviet states to Russia but the PM says he will begin pushing his agenda there. He admitted the negotiations "won't be easy".

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

2. I.S SEIZES LAST SYRIA-IRAQ BORDER CROSSING

Islamic State (IS) fighters have taken the last border crossing between Syria and Iraq which had still been under control of the Syrian government, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. Syrian forces withdrew from al-Tanf, known as al-Waleed in Iraq as IS advanced. The group now controls 50% of Syria.

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3. CARMICHAEL ADMITS STURGEON MEMO LEAK

Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael was behind a leaked memo that claimed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had told the French Ambassador that she wanted David Cameron to remain prime minister. A cabinet office inquiry found that former special adviser Euan Roddin leaked the memo to the Daily Telegraph - with Carmichael's knowledge.

4. KENT EARTHQUAKE SHAKES BUILDINGS

One of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the UK for years shook buildings and woke sleepers in Kent at 3am this morning. The quake measured 4.3 magnitude and was recorded at a depth of 9.5 miles, 1.4 miles to the west of Ramsgate in Thanet. Police were inundated by calls from concerned residents.

Kent earthquake: why does Britain have so few quakes?

5. IRELAND VOTES ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

The Republic of Ireland’s 3.2 million voters go to the polls today for a referendum asking if they want to change the country’s constitution to make same-sex marriage possible. Voting runs from 7am until 9pm and the count starts tomorrow morning. Homosexuality remained illegal in Ireland until 1993.

Gay marriage referendum: Ireland goes to the polls in historic vote

6. POLICE APOLOGISE TO TEENAGE RAPE VICTIM

Hampshire police have apologised and paid £20,000 in an out-of-court settlement to a woman who was raped at the age of 17. They failed to properly investigate her claims at the time, instead telling her she could be prosecuted for lying. Her attacker was eventually convicted and jailed for five years in 2013

Police to pay rape victim £20,000 for wrongful arrest

7. WEMBLEY WW2 BOMB ‘PUTS LIVES AT RISK’

Army bomb disposal experts have been drafted in to defuse a 50kg WW2 bomb unearthed by builders near Wembley Stadium which they say “could cause significant damage to property and poses a genuine risk to human life”. Homes and businesses in a 400-metre radius, including a TV studio, have been evacuated.

8. NHS TRUSTS REPORT £822M DEFICIT

NHS Trusts in England reported deficits of £822m in the 2014-15 financial year, a sevenfold increase on the previous year. Foundation Trusts had a deficit of £349m, while other trusts were £473m in the red. The overall deficit was £115m in 2013-14. The situation is likely to worsen this year, says health regulator Monitor.

9. CAB DRIVER JAILED OVER IRAQ BOMB

A cab driver from London has been jailed for life for the murder of a US soldier in a roadside bombing in Iraq in 2007. Anis Sardar, 38, became a bomb builder after he travelled to Iraq to take part in a Sunni insurgency. The judge said he had targeted US troops as well as Shia Muslims, and must serve at least 38 years.

10. BRIEFING: BURMA'S ROHINGYA BOAT PEOPLE

The Rohingya – widely acknowledged as the world's most persecuted community – have returned to international attention after boats packed with starving migrants were reported stranded at sea. Who are these desperate people, why are they fleeing their home, and what's going to happen next?

The Rohingya boat crisis: why refugees are fleeing Burma