Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 3 Feb 2017

1. Fallon: Russian hacking 'weaponising misinformation'

Russia is "routinely lying" and "weaponising misinformation" as it seeks to destabilise the west with hacking and other cyber attacks, MP Michael Fallon said yesterday. The Defence Secretary called on Nato to do more to counter attacks on member states such as Germany, Bulgaria and the US.

Russia using cyber hacks to 'disable' western democracy

2. Cancer rate to rise six times faster for women

Cancer cases among women are due to rise six times faster than among men, Cancer Research UK says. The increase is expected to be driven by the rise of unhealthy lifestyles and obesity. Although smoking is declining, women who took up the habit in recent decades are now being diagnosed with lung cancer.

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Women's cancer rates to rise six times faster than men

3. US warns North Korea against nuclear attack

US Defence Secretary James Mattis has warned North Korea that any use of nuclear weapons will be met with an "effective and overwhelming" response. Speaking in Seoul in his first overseas trip, he also stressed the US's commitment to protecting the area was "ironclad". Mattis has now flown to Japan for talks.

North Korea detains another US citizen

4. Lettuce rationed in Tesco and Morrisons

UK shoppers are being hit with vegetable rationing after shortages caused by bad weather in Spain and other suppliers. Sales of iceberg lettuces are limited to three per customer in Tesco and Morrisons, which is also rationing broccoli, in an attempt to stop restaurants from buying all their stock.

Shoppers face lettuce rationing amid 'vegetable crisis'

5. Romanian protests against corruption laws continue

Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Romania for a third night yesterday, after Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu refused to repeal a decree relaxing corruption laws. One cabinet minister has resigned over the political crisis. President Klaus Iohannis says he will try to have the decree overturned by a constitutional court.

Why are Romanians protesting in the streets?

6. Trump adviser uses fictional massacre to justify travel ban

Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway has come under attack for citing a fictional massacre to defend the US travel ban. Speaking on TV, she said "most people don't know" that Barack Obama blocked refugees from Iraq after the "Bowling Green massacre". There was no massacre and the ban did not stop refugees entering the country.

The first two weeks of President Donald Trump

7. Uber boss quits Trump advisory board

Travis Kalanick, the chief executive of ride-sharing app Uber, has stepped down from a position advising Donald Trump on economic matters because of a backlash from customers and commentators. Kalanick said his decision to act as an adviser had not meant endorsing the US President, but his position had been "misinterpreted".

Uber boss leaves Trump advisory role after boycott

8. London Underground strike called off

The RMT union has suspended a Tube strike that was expected to cause major disruption in the capital next week. Staff were due to walk out on Sunday in a row over staffing levels. RMT leader Mick Cash said Tube bosses had agreed to reinstate nearly 60% of jobs that were due to be cut. Earlier this week train drivers' union Aslef agreed a deal with Southern rail.

Government refuses to sack Southern Rail operator

9. Machete attacker shot at the Louvre

French soldiers have shot a man armed with a machete at the Louvre in Paris. The man allegedly attacked a security patrol at the museum shouting "Allahu Akbar" before he was shot. The incident took place on Friday morning when he was stopped by soldiers who were patrolling the area. One soldier was injured and the museum was evacuated and closed after the attack.

Louvre attack: Man shot after wounding soldier with machete

10. Briefing: The Brexit white paper

The government has laid out its official negotiating strategy for withdrawing from the European Union. Its white paper, demanded by Labour and some Tory rebels, lists the 12 principles announced by Theresa May in her Brexit speech last month. They include leaving the the single market, a bespoke customs deal and continued cooperation on intelligence.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver