Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 11 May 2016

1. Queen's unguarded comments on China filmed

The Queen has been caught on camera saying that Chinese officials were "very rude" during president Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK last year. Meeting police officer Lucy D'Orsi at a garden party yesterday, the Queen was told the Metropolitan commander had been in charge of policing for the trip and responded by saying: "Oh, bad luck."

Queen caught criticising 'rude' Chinese officials

2. Life bans for fans who attacked Man United bus

West Ham has said it will issue life bans to the fans who attacked Manchester United's team bus as it arrived at Upton Park in east London. A window was smashed as bottles were thrown and police held the troublemakers back. Kick-off was delayed 45 minutes because of the trouble. West Ham won the game 3-2.

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West Ham win thriller, but violence mars Boleyn farewell

3. Gordon Brown: Quitting the EU 'not British'

Former prime minister Gordon Brown says leaving the EU would not be "British". Speaking for the Remain campaign, Brown said it would not be "British or in tune with the Churchillian spirit to simply disengage" when Ukraine is in turmoil and there is a "common fight against illegal immigration and terrorism".

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

4. Benefit sanctions hitting low-paid families

Research by the University of York suggests that the extension of benefit sanctions to low-paid workers claiming universal credit is leading to increased debt and eviction threats, says The Guardian, which says the system is now penalising the kind of "hardworking families" the government has long been at pains to praise.

5. Sanders beats Clinton in West Virginia

Democrat Bernie Sanders has beaten Hillary Clinton in the West Virginia primary. He still trails far behind the former secretary of state but the win keeps his hope of victory alive. For the Republicans, meanwhile, Donald Trump was declared winner after all his rivals dropped out of the race.

What is Hillary Clinton doing now?

6. Scores dead in Islamic State car bomb attack in Iraq

At least 64 people have been killed and scores more injured in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the blast, which happened at a market in the Shia Muslim district of Sadr City during rush hour. Two later car bombings in the city killed at least another 18 people.

Deadly rush hour car bomb kills at least 64 in Baghdad

7. First class provision on trains may be cut

A proposal has been made to reduce the amount of space set aside for first class seating on trains on the West Coast Main Line, in order to reduce overcrowding. The idea, from a government consultation document, also suggests providing passengers with better information on which services are likely to be particularly full.

8. Northern Ireland terror threat now 'substantial'

There is "a strong possibility" of a Northern Ireland-related terror attack in Great Britain after MI5 raised the threat level from moderate to substantial. In Northern Ireland itself the threat level remains severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely". The warning comes amid renewed fears about the threat posed by dissident republican group the New IRA.

9. Kepler telescope 'finds 1,300 new planets'

Nasa's Kepler space telescope has discovered 1,284 new planets, more than double the number it had previously found. After studying 150,000 stars for four years it has identified 4,302 potential exoplanets, of which 1,284 are more than 99 per cent certain to exist. The findings take the total number of known alien planets to 3,200, of which 2,325 have been discovered by Kepler.

Nasa's Kepler telescope discovers 1,284 new planets

10. Briefing: Red squirrels face a new threat - leprosy

Researchers are conducting a study into a little-known form of leprosy affecting the UK's red squirrel population. The strain, which causes fur loss and swelling, is thought to have existed for centuries and does not present a risk to humans. Wildlife experts from the University of Edinburgh will study the red squirrel population on Brownsea Island, one of the few remaining colonies in England, in order to find out more about the disease.

Red squirrel leprosy threat investigated by wildlife experts