Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 18 Jun 2016

1. Man charged with murder of Jo Cox MP

A man has been charged with the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. Thomas Mair, 52, has been charged in connection with the murder of the 41-year-old, who was shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on Thursday. He is is suspected of longstanding links to far-right groups after police found extremist propaganda during a search of his house.

2. Tim Peake's capsule separates from Space Station

Tim Peake was on his way back to Earth on Saturday morning after the spacecraft he is in undocked from the International Space Station. The Soyuz capsule carrying Major Peake and two other crew members is due to land in Kazakhstan at 10:15 BST on Saturday. Peake made the first spacewalk by a UK astronaut during his journey.

3. FTSE and sterling rise on EU campaign pause

The FTSE 100 and the pound rose on Friday morning as the EU referendum campaigns were suspended after the killing of Jo Cox. Following a week of heavy losses, the FTSE 100 climbed to 6,030.16 in morning trade, after breaching the 6,000 mark on June 14 as polls suggested the Brexit campaign was gaining ground.

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4. Climate change emergency is here, say experts

A series of spectacularly broken records mean climate change is an emergency right now, say scientists. Experts say unprecedented temperature levels mean more heatwaves, flooding, wildfires and hurricanes. May was the 13th month in a row to break temperature records according to figures published this week. Scientists describe this year’s data as a bombshell.

5. Vladimir Putin says Russian athletes ban is unfair

Vladimir Putin says it is unfair that Russian athletes remain banned from international competition, including the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio. The International Association of Athletics Federation decided not to lift the suspension, imposed after allegations of state-sponsored doping. However, individual athletes can compete as neutrals if they prove they are clean.

6. Pregnant woman latest victim of honour killing

A young expectant mother has been murdered by her parents in Pakistan for marrying against their wishes, the latest in a recent series of honour killings in the country. Muqaddas Bibi, 22, was held down and had her throat cut by her mother, father and brother during a visit home. Earlier this week, a senior group of Pakistani clerics issued a fatwa denouncing the practice.

7. London parents warned of string of abduction attempts

London parents have been warned to stay alert after police received reports of multiple attempted child abductions in the past week. Detectives told parents in the Merton area to “be aware on school runs” after three incidents took place in Wimbledon and Raynes Park. A man, described as in his 40s or 50s, white, fat and bald, approached a girl in Sutton.

8. Time running out for giraffes, says Attenborough

Giraffes are facing a “silent extinction” with just 90,000 still on the African plains, warns Sir David Attenborough. Numbers have slumped by 40% over the past 15 years because of habitat loss and poaching. “Giraffes have already become extinct in seven countries,” he said. “They are killed for their meat and their habitats are being destroyed. Time is running out.”

9. Sadiq Khan says referendum campaign is 'poisonous'

Sadiq Khan says the EU referendum has become "poisonous" and "we should all reflect on the way the referendum campaign has been conducted”. The London mayor said: "Some of the posters unveiled, some of the language used... that's not the best of politics”. He added that he was "heartbroken" about his friend Jo Cox’s death.

10. Meat Loaf collapses on stage in Canada

Meat Loaf collapsed on stage during a concert in Canada on Thursday night. The rock singer leant heavily to his right, dropped his microphone stand and fell to the floor during his signature song I Would Do Anything for Love. The 68-year-old then appeared to lose consciousness as his band mates put down their instruments and rushed to his aid.

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