Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 19 Apr 2017

1. May asks MPs to support snap election

Theresa May yesterday announced a surprise general election on 8 June. Today, because of fixed-term parliament rules, she must persuade two-thirds of MPs to back the idea. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has said he welcomes the election, suggesting that Labour MPs will back the proposal, so the vote is expected to go May's way.

2. Police seek Ferne McCann's boyfriend over acid attack

The Only Way is Essex star Ferne McCann has called for her boyfriend to turn himself into police for questioning over an acid attack in a London nightclub on Monday. Police have released CCTV images of Arthur Collins, 25, on the night of the attack, in which 20 people suffered burns when a corrosive liquid was sprayed over clubbers during an argument. McCann was not present.

3. May rules out appearance in TV debates

Theresa May has ruled out taking part in TV debates ahead of the snap general election on 8 June. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged May to "show some leadership" and take part, while his Lib Dem counterpart Tim Farron urged broadcasters to go ahead with the discussions and leave an "empty chair" for the Prime Minister.

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4. Hammond: RBS shares to sell at loss to taxpayer

Philip Hammond has admitted that taxpayer-owned shares in the bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland may be sold at a loss. The Treasury paid 502p per share in 2008, investing a total of £45bn, but they are now worth less than half that amount at just 223p each. "We have to live in the real world," the Chancellor said yesterday.

5. US gunman 'motivated by hatred of whites'

A gunman who killed three men and wounded another in Fresno, California, yesterday had said on social media he hated white people, police say. Kori Ali Muhammad, 39, was arrested at the scene. His father told the LA Times Muhammad believed he was fighting a race war between blacks and whites and had said a "battle" was starting.

6. US 'armada' not sailing towards North Korea

The US Navy has admitted that an aircraft carrier said to be heading towards North Korea is not actually on the way. Earlier this month, navy officials claimed the USS Carl Vinson and other ships were sailing to the Korean peninsula, while Donald Trump said he was sending an "armada". It has now emerged the ships actually sailed south and are now in the Indian Ocean.

7. George HW Bush back in hospital with pneumonia

Former US president George HW Bush is being treated for pneumonia in Houston again, after a similar scare in January. Bush, now 92, was commander-in-chief from 1989 to 1993 and took the US into the first Gulf War. He is the father of former president George W and ex-presidential hopeful Jeb.

8. Adidas apologises for Boston Marathon email

Adidas has apologised for sending out a marketing email with the subject line: "Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!" Customers reacted angrily, with many feeling the line was in bad taste given the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013, in which 260 were injured and three were killed. At least two survivors ran this year.

9. New Zealand restricts work visas to put 'Kiwis first'

New Zealand is to make it more difficult for migrants to get skilled worker visas in a "Kiwis-first" approach. Seasonal workers at low-skilled jobs such as fruit picking will be given shorter leave to remain. Around 70,000 people migrated to New Zealand last year, prompting concerns about housing.

10. Briefing: Why did May call a general election?

Theresa May has confirmed she intends to call a snap general election on 8 June, despite previously saying she would not go to the polls before 2020.

The Prime Minister framed her apparent U-turn as an attempt to end "political gameplaying" and guarantee the UK a strong government for Brexit negotiations.

"At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division," she said.

Election 2017: Why did Theresa May call a general election and what happens next?