Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 27 Dec 2016

1. George Michael's 'quiet philanthropy'

Stories have emerged of George Michael, who died on Sunday, giving "millions" to charities privately, says Sky News. Childline founder Esther Rantzen said Michael was determined nobody outside the charity should know how much he gave. The singer's partner, Fadi Fawaz, found him dead in bed on Christmas morning.

2. Russian plane crash: black box found

The first 'black box' flight data recorder from the Russian military plane which crashed into the Black Sea on Christmas Day with 64 members of a famous army band on board, bound for Syria to entertain troops, has been located. Russia has said pilot error or a technical fault are the probable reason for the crash. No survivors have been found.

3. Japan PM to visit Pearl Harbour today

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will today visit the site of the WW2 attack on the US military base of Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, along with US President Barack Obama. Abe has said he will not apologise for the 1941 surprise attack, which drew the US into the war, but instead will seek to "console the souls" of those who died.

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4. Kuenssberg: Queen backed Leave campaign

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has claimed that a senior source told her the Queen backed the Leave camp in the Brexit debate. Kuenssberg said she heard the story nine months ago during the campaign but decided not to report it because she only had one source for the claim. The Sun ran with the same story.

5. Actor Liz Smith dies at age of 95

Bafta-winning actor Liz Smith has died at the age of 95, after suffering a series of strokes in 2009. Smith will be best remembered for playing the grandmother in TV sitcom the Royle Family. A former dressmaker, she met director Mike Leigh in the early 1970s while she was working in a toyshop and broke into theatre and film.

6. Corbyn reacts to Obama 'disintegration' claim

A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has denied the claim made by US president Barack Obama that the UK's official Opposition has moved away from "fact and reality" and is "disintegrating". Obama had been asked if he feared for the future of the Democrats after Hillary Clinton lost the US presidency to Donald Trump.

7. Korean air 'to use more force' on troublemakers

Korean airlines has said it will allow staff to use more force on unruly passengers after it was criticised by US singer Richard Marx who had to help restrain a man on a flight and complained that air crew were "ill-trained" and "ill-equipped". The airline has also now said it will look into giving Taser stun guns to its cabin crew.

8. Sony sorry for 'Britney is dead' tweet

Sony Music has apologised to singer Britney Spears after its official Twitter account stated that she was dead, saying that the account had been "compromised". The 35-year-old did not react to the messages on the micro-blogging site but her manager said she was "fine and well". A group of hackers, OurMine, claimed responsibility.

9. Hammond under fire for 'homophobia'

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has provoked angry reactions for saying in an episode of motoring show The Grand Tour, co-presented with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, that he doesn't eat ice cream because he is heterosexual. One review had already accused the show of going from "nought to racist in less than ten minutes".

10. Briefing: Best books of 2016

Critics are enjoying a bumper year for books, with a string of new releases from established authors and talented newcomers. From Swing Time by Zadie Smith to Shtum by Jem Lester, here are our 24 suggestions for a winter read.

Best books of 2017: 24 stand-out novels