Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 9 Mar 2016

1. 'Fifth Beatle' George Martin dies aged 90

Sir George Martin, the record producer dubbed the "Fifth Beatle", has died at the age of 90. Tributes have been led by the band's drummer, Ringo Starr. Martin signed the Beatles to Parlophone in 1962, after other labels had turned them down, and stayed with them for all but one album.

2. Palace insists Queen is neutral on EU exit

Buckingham Palace has said the Queen is "politically neutral" on the issue of Britain's membership of the European Union after The Sun claimed she backed Brexit. The paper quoted an anonymous source who claimed to have witnessed a "bust-up" between the monarch and former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in which she criticised the EU.

3. Junior doctors start third 48-hour strike

Junior doctors began their third 48-hour strike at 8am this morning as part of their ongoing opposition to new contracts which they say will leave them underpaid and could endanger patients. More than 5,000 routine operations are expected to be cancelled in the next two days. Outpatient clinics are also likely to be affected.

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

4. Kim Jong-un announces 'miniaturised nukes'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced that the country has successfully miniaturised nuclear warheads for mounting on ballistic missiles and called on his military to be ready for pre-emptive nuclear strikes on South Korea and the US. Many observers feel the announcement is unlikely to be true.

5. SNP 'flip-flop' threatens Sunday trading change

The government is facing defeat in its plans to liberalise Sunday trading in England and Wales after the SNP announced its MPs would vote against the measure, even though it does not directly affect Scotland. The Guardian says Whitehall sources accused the Scottish party of a "flip-flop" after the party had previously promised it would abstain.

6. MP reads out list of women killed in a year

Labour MP Jess Phillips marked International Women's Day in the Commons yesterday by reading out a list of the 120 women killed by men within the past year. The list came from the Counting Dead Women project which publishes harrowing stories, says The Guardian. Phillips was applauded by MPs after finishing.

7. Sanders rocks Clinton and Trump tightens grip

In US primary elections last night, Bernie Sanders scored a surprise victory over Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton while Donald Trump tightened his grip on the Republican nomination. Sanders's consistent opposition to free trade deals impressed Michigan voters - and he has growing support among African-Americans.

8. Rocky Horror and Python producer White dies

Michael White, the British film producer whose successes included The Rocky Horror Picture Show film and the stage musical Monty Python and the Holy Grail, has died at the age of 80 in California. His former girlfriend Lyndall Hobbs said he had suffered heart failure after heart surgery.

9. Matrix director Wachowski comes out as transgender

The co-director of The Matrix, Lilly Wachowski, formerly known as Andy, has announced she is transgender, saying she made the news public after the Daily Mail threatened to "out" her. Her sister, Lana, made a similar transition in 2012. Wachowski issued a statement with the headline: "Sex change shocker – Wachowski brothers now sisters!!!"

10. Briefing: the Hinkley Point power station

Plans to build an £18bn nuclear plant in Somerset look set to go ahead,

despite opposition mounting at home and abroad. The Hinkley Point deal is

expected to be finalised in April after being delayed for several years,

most recently since October, while the reactor's builder, EDF, deliberated

over its funding position. The resignation of the EDF finance chief Thomas

Piquemal at the weekend has further undermined the case for building the

reactor

Hinkley Point 'will cost public double the amount it should'