Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 26 Feb 2017

1. Corbyn says he's 'determined' to stay on as Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn says he accepts his "share of responsibility" for the Labour Party's by-election loss in Copeland, but is "determined" to stay on as leader. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Corbyn said the party could "turn back the Tory tide" if members worked together. Deputy party leader Tom Watson said yesterday that it is "not the time" for a leadership contest.

2. Terror chief says UK faces biggest threat since 1970s

Britain is facing a level of threat from terrorism not seen since the IRA bombings of the Seventies, the new terror watchdog has warned. Max Hill said Islamic State was planning "indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians" on a scale similar to those perpetrated by the IRA 40 years ago. He said that there is an "enormous on-going risk which none of us can ignore".

3. Donald Trump will boycott the Correspondents' dinner

Donald Trump has announced he will not attend the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April. US presidents traditionally attend the event which also attracts celebrities, journalists and politicians. But Trump said he would not show up, as relations between the White House and some media outlets continue to deteriorate. He has frequently described negative news coverage as "fake".

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4. Athletics coach 'gave Mo Farah dangerous drugs'

Mo Farah’s coach abused prescription medicines and used prohibited drug infusions to boost testosterone levels and the performance of his runners at a training project in Oregon, claims The Sunday Times. Paperwork reportedly shows that Farah and other athletes coached by Alberto Salazar were given secret infusions of a research supplement based on the chemical L-carnitine. Farah has refused to comment.

5. Actor says the next Dr Who should be black or female

The actor David Harewood has said the next Doctor Who should be black or female. The Homeland star is among the actors whose names have been suggested to replace Peter Capaldi. “It's nice to be in the running," he told the BBC. "It needs to do something different, so I think it's either going to be a black person or a woman. It would just bring a different flavour to it."

6. American billionaire funded the Brexit campaign

A US billionaire who bankrolled Donald Trump’s election bid also played a pivotal role in the campaign for Britain to leave the EU, reports The Observer. Robert Mercer, a hedge-fund billionaire and friend of Nigel Farage, directed his data analytics firm to provide advice to the Leave campaign on how to target swing voters online. The donation of services was not declared to the electoral commission.

7. 'Sneaky' Waterstones accused of misleading shoppers

Waterstones has been accused of dishonesty after opening unbranded, old-fashioned book stores that appear to be independent. Critics say the book giant is trying to sneakily bypass the backlash against the homogenisation of Britain’s high streets. Southwold Books in Suffolk is one of three such stores to have opened. James Daunt, managing director of Waterstones, said: "The idea that this is some type of subterfuge is ridiculous."

8. Cambridge college drops 'Jamaican stew' after protests

A wealthy Cambridge college is to rethink its menu after students complained that culinary offerings such as Jamaican stew and Tunisian rice are "cultural misrepresentations" as they do not exist in their purported native countries. The bursar said Pembroke college was taking the complaints seriously and caterers were being urged to take note of the students’ views by updating the menu.

9. Palestinians in raptures as their man wins Arab Idol

Palestinians have partied on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza to celebrate the victory of Yaqoub Shaheen in the Arab Idol television series. The final, filmed in Lebanon, was between a Yemeni, Ammar Mohammed, and two Palestinian competitors, Shaheen from Bethlehem and Ameer Dandan. After being crowned winner, Shaheen wore the Palestinian flag on his shoulders and vowed: "My pledge and my oath, my blood is Palestinian."

10. Sky News throws hat into the 10pm battle zone

Sky News is returning to the head-to-head ratings war, as it launches its first 'appointment-to-view' News at 10 in nearly two decades in the space temporarily vacated by ITV. Staff at the satellite broadcaster have been told of a new show, described as "smart, polished and precise", set to launch on Monday night. It will be the first bespoke half-hour 10pm show on the channel since 1999.