Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 21 May 2016

1. 'Smoke alerts' in EgyptAir passenger jet

Smoke was detected inside the cabin of the EgyptAir passenger plane before it crashed in the Mediterranean last week, according to reports. The smoke alerts were set off just minutes before the signal was lost, says the air industry website the Aviation Herald. Flight MS804 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people on board.

2. Hospitals to lose emergency units due to record deficits

As many as 50 hospitals face losing emergency or specialist units after running up record deficits, health chiefs are warning. Hospital leaders say A&E departments may have to close because it is no longer safe to keep them open without enough staff to cope with the rising number of patients. Data has revealed that more than four fifths of hospitals ended 2015-16 in the red.

3. Britain 'could be at war with Russian within months'

Britain could go to war with Russia within a year, claims British general Sir Richard Shirreff, who was Nato's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe. Writing in the Daily Mail, he argues: “I believe that Russia is now our strategic adversary and has set itself on a collision course with the West. The Kremlin… has thrown away the rulebook.”

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4. Festivals cancel Eagles of Death Metal after Muslim comments

French rock festivals have cancelled shows by Eagles of Death Metal, the band whose show in Paris was attacked by terrorists, after the frontman made remarks critical of Muslims. Jesse Hughes had claimed: “I saw Muslims celebrating in the street during the attack. I saw it with my own eyes. In real time! How did they know what was going on? There must have been coordination.”

5. Osborne claims a Brexit would cut house prices by 18%

George Osborne has claimed that a UK vote to leave the European Union would cause an "immediate economic shock" that could slow house price growth. Speaking to the BBC, the chancellor said in the event of a Brexit, by 2018, houses could be worth up to 18% less than if the UK voted to remain. A Vote Leave spokeswoman said Osborne's claim was "extraordinary".

6. Prince Harry wins battle over false Pippa Middleton claims

A report that Prince Harry secretly dated Pippa Middleton was completely untrue, the Press watchdog has ruled. Harry forced the Daily Star to retract claims after the Independent Press Standards Organisation upheld his complaint. The newspaper had repeated untrue claims made in a US magazine that the Prince and Middleton had "snogged" at the Royal wedding in 2011.

7. David Cameron to meet Trump once he is nominated

David Cameron will meet Donald Trump in UK once he becomes the official Republican nominee, says The Guardian. The stance is a shift in tone from December, when the prime minister said of Trump: “If he came to visit our country, I think he would unite us all against him”. On Friday, Trump said: “He would like me now to visit 10 Downing Street.”

8. Woman charged after dog bites 11 children

A woman has been charged after a dog bit 11 children playing in a Northumberland park. Nine of the victims were taken to hospital after the attack on Wednesday. Claire Neale was held on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control. She will appear at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court later on Saturday.

9. How top BBC actors will keep their salaries secret

The BBC's highest paid actors will avoid having their salaries revealed due to a loophole that has reportedly caused anger among some of the corporation's best-known presenters. The Daily Telegraph says stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston will avoid having to disclose their fees even if they breach the £450,000 threshold set out by ministers as they are not considered full-time staff.

10. Man Utd prepare to face Palace in FA Cup final

Manchester United take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final this afternoon. Louis van Gaal believes winning the FA Cup will be more memorable for his Man Utd players than qualifying for the Champions League. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew wants to win the FA Cup to improve the reputation of English managers.