Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 12 Dec 2016

1. Donald Trump hints he may scrap 'One China' policy

President-elect Donald Trump has hinted that the US may abandon its "One China" policy, a key to relations between the two countries for decades that sees Washington view Taiwan as part of China. Trump says he doesn’t want Beijing "dictating" to him.

2. Theresa May set to back sharp rises in council tax bills

Theresa May will support steep rises to council tax bills this week in a bid to plug a gaping hole in social care funding. Concern over an "absolute crisis" in the sector have prompted the PM to drop her opposition to increases, as the government struggles to prove it is able to meet the soaring costs of caring for the UK's ageing population.

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Council tax could rise £100 a year to deal with care crisis

3. 'Elderly white men' holding back football, says Dyke

The Football Association is ''out of balance'', dominated by ''elderly white men'' and must be reformed, say five former executives of the body. David Davies, Greg Dyke, David Bernstein, Alex Horne and David Triesman said those in charge of the FA are "collectively unrepresentative of English society" and "under-qualified" for modern football.

4. Bomb attack on Egypt cathedral kills dozens

At least 25 people died and dozens more were injured in a bomb blast in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in Cairo. A cathedral worker said: "I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews." President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has declared three days of national mourning.

Cairo Coptic church bombing kills at least 25

5. Britons could 'sit in the dark' as new energy crisis looms

The UK is facing an unprecedented supply crisis due to its growing dependence on "intermittent" renewable energy, says a senior Ofgem executive. Andrew Wright warned households could be forced to pay extra to keep their lights on while neighbours "sit in the dark" because "not everyone will be able to use as much as electricity as they want".

'Urgent' energy price cap extension considered

6. Moors murderer Ian Brady claims he is dying

Moors Murderer Ian Brady says he is dying of a lung and chest condition, according to reports. The serial killer wrote to a Channel 5 journalist saying he is "bedridden" and suffering from a terminal illness. Brady, 78, murdered five children in the 1960s with girlfriend Myra Hindley.

7. Six arrested in anti-terror raids

Six people have been arrested after terror raids in Derby, Burton upon Trent and London. The five men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism. Six properties are being searched. It is thought the group were plotting an attack but that it was not imminent, although the police operation was described as "significant".

8. Crewe's Dario Gradi suspended pending FA inquiry

Crewe Alexandra director Dario Gradi has been suspended pending an FA investigation into claims he "smoothed over" a complaint of sexual abuse against a Chelsea scout in the 1970s. A former youth player at the London club, where Gradi was assistant manager, says he was assaulted by Eddie Heath when he was 15. Gradi denies any wrongdoing.

9. Home Secretary slams 'unacceptable' rail strike plans

Amber Rudd says the rail strike that will this week completely shut down one of the country’s busiest commuter routes for the first time is "unacceptable". The Home Secretary plans by the Aslef union for a drivers’ strike that will stop all Southern Rail services, hitting as many as 500,000 passengers every day.

10. Don't expect the UK's growth to continue, warns the BCC

The UK 's current GDP growth rate won't last, warns the British Chambers of Commerce. The respected business body expects 2.1% GDP growth this year, up from the 1.8% it forecast at the beginning of autumn. However, it warned that uncertainty over Brexit will "dampen medium term growth". It expects UK GDP to grow 1.1% next year, and 1.4% in 2018.

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