Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 21 Apr 2017

1. Paris attack 'could strengthen Marine Le Pen'

An attack on police in central Paris last night, in which a gunman was shot dead after killing one officer and wounding two others, could sway undecided voters on Sunday's presidential election first round, say reports. Michelle Clifford of Sky News says the attack being treated as terrorism will "feed into the narrative" of far-right Marine Le Pen.

2. Brexit document reveals UK will have to pay costs to EU

Leaked documents outlining the tough goals of EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier reveal the bloc wants the UK to pay off obligations to Brussels for several years after 2019, stay under the control of the European courts and allow relatives of EU immigrants to join them in the UK. There is no total "divorce bill" figure given.

3. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn focuses campaign on class sizes

Jeremy Corbyn began Labour's election campaign with a focus on education yesterday, saying that 40,000 primary children in England were taught in classes of 36 or more last year because of "broken promises" by the Conservatives. The Tories said this was a "massive own goal" as Labour-led Wales has introduced increases in class sizes.

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4. EU 'will welcome UK back if voters change their minds'

The EU would welcome the UK back if voters changed their minds at the 8 June general election, said the President of the European Parliament last night. Antonio Tajani also said the departure process could easily be reversed, despite Theresa May's claim that there is "no turning back" after triggering Article 50.

5. NHS could ban sugary drinks from hospital shops

Sugary drinks could be banned from shops at hospitals in England if retailers do not voluntarily reduce sales in the next 12 months, warn health officials. WHSmith, Marks & Spencer, Greggs and others have all agreed to cut the proportion they sell to 10% of total sales. NHS England will ask retailers to provide figures to check on progress.

6. Police arrest Borussia Dortmund bomb suspect

German police have arrested a man over the bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund football team bus this month, in which one player was injured. Germany's attorney general said he believed the 28-year-old German-Russian national hoped to game the stock market with the attack.

7. First prison unit for extremists this summer

Frankland high-security prison in County Durham will open the UK's first specialist unit to hold extremists this summer with the aim to stop inmates from "poisoning the minds of others". The block will have its own facilities and be able to hold up to 28 people, said the Ministry of Justice. Two similar units in other high-security jails will follow.

8. Astronomers draw a blank in search for aliens

A search for signs of life elsewhere in the universe has drawn a blank in its first year of operation. The Breakthrough Listen project in West Virginia, the most ambitious search yet for signs of alien life, hunted for signals coming from 692 nearby stars, but could only detect interference from the likes of mobile phones and satellites.

9. Fund for Donington Park crash victim reaches £600,000

A fund set up to raise money for a 17-year-old racing driver who has had part of both legs amputated after a crash at Donington Park has reached £600,000 in a few days. Billy Monger was airlifted to hospital after he crashed while competing in the Formula 4 British Championship. F1 driver Max Verstappen donated £15,000.

10. Briefing: Tactical voting at the general election

Gina Miller, the investment manager whose recent legal challenge forced the government to seek parliamentary approval for invoking Article 50, has announced she is planning to launch a tactical voting initiative to support candidates who are opposed to a hard Brexit.

A crowdfunding page titled 'Do What's Best For Britain!' set up immediately after the announcement of the snap election exceeded its initial financial target within 48 hours.

General Election 2019: What is tactical voting?