Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 10 Feb 2017

1. Trump vows to continue fight over travel ban

A US appeals court has unanimously voted against restoring Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries. They also upheld the suspension of the 120-day freeze on all refugees entering the US. Trump responded on Twitter, writing: "SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!"

2. 'No excuses' for NHS crisis says Jeremy Hunt

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says there are "no excuses" for the "completely unacceptable" crisis in the NHS. It emerged this week that record numbers of patients have had to wait more than four-hours to be seen in A&E, the number of people waiting 12 hours or more for a hospital bed doubled in 2016 and thousands of cancer patients have waited two months or more for treatment.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Pros and cons of privatising the NHS

3. Snow expected on 'particularly cold' Friday

Snow is forecast for the Midlands, London and eastern parts of Britain in what is expected to be a "particularly cold" for the country, with temperatures predicted to dip below -10C in higher parts of Scotland tonight. However, the Met Office says the snow will only settle in mountainous areas.

4. 'Imminent' terror attack in France averted

An "imminent" terrorist attack in France has been averted after three men and a 16-year-old girl were arrested in Montpelier. They were reportedly found with bomb-making materials by anti-terrorist police in a raid on a flat. In Paris an 8.2ft bulletproof glass wall is to be erected around the Eiffel Tower to protect it from terrorist attacks.

5. Universal Music to release Prince's 'private' recordings

Universal Music has agreed a deal with the estate of the late musician Prince to release much of his huge vault of "private" material, which were recorded and kept under lock and key at his house. The value of the deal has not been made public, but it is rumoured to have cost the company $35m (£29m).

6. EU 'to demand £48bn divorce deal from UK'

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, will ask the UK to pay a €57bn (£48bn) "divorce settlement" to leave the bloc, reports Sky News. The figure is said to have been agreed at a meeting on Monday. France and Germany reportedly pushed for a higher sum of €70bn (£59bn).

Brexit: Lords force Theresa May to give MPs single market vote

7. Hundreds of whales die on New Zealand beach

Hundreds of whales have died on a New Zealand beach in the biggest mass stranding for decades. More than 70 per cent of the 416 pilot whales had died by first light this morning, while volunteers and staff struggled to refloat the remaining 100. Locals have been asked to leave their work and help the rescue efforts.

Hundreds of whales die in mass stranding on New Zealand beach

8. Independent Scotland 'would have to apply to join EU'

A senior EU official has repeated the claim that Scotland would not automatically be entitled to membership of the bloc if it broke away from the UK and became an independent state. Jacqueline Minor said Holyrood would need to formally apply to join, but might be fast-tracked.

9. Cocaine worth £50m washed up in Norfolk

Cocaine with a street value of £50m has been washed up on two Norfolk beaches. Several holdalls full of the drug were recovered after police were called to Hopton beach near Great Yarmouth by a member of the public. More packages were discovered on a beach ten miles further north near Caister-on-Sea. The total haul weighs in at around £60kg.

10. Briefing: What happens next to the Brexit bill?

The House of Commons has given the government its overwhelming backing to begin the process of leaving the European Union, passing the Brexit bill by 494 votes to 122. The draft legislation, which survived its passage through the Commons without a single amendment, now moves to the House of Lords.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

Explore More