Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 2 May 2017

1. US Thaad anti-missile system in South Korea

Donald Trump said he would be "honoured" to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, despite the US announcing its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) anti-missile system was now operational in South Korea and ready to shoot down North Korean missiles. Pyongyang has already warned of mounting a "physical response" to Thaad.

North Korea detains another US citizen

2. Scottish surfer found alive after 32 hours

A Scottish surfer has been rescued after 32 hours at sea off the coast of Argyll. Coastguards said Mathew Bryce, 22, was "extremely lucky" to be found as "hope was fading". Bryce was picked up 13 miles off the Northern Irish coast and taken to hospital in Belfast suffering from hypothermia. His condition is said to be stable.

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3. Jeremy Corbyn promises more 'bobbies on beat'

Jeremy Corbyn has promised a Labour government will put 10,000 more police on the streets. The party says it will reverse Tory cuts on capital gains tax to pay for the extra "bobbies on the beat". The Conservatives condemned the plan as "nonsensical" and said Labour has already committed those savings to other plans in earlier promises.

The truth behind Labour's policing pledge

4. Fears of a Brexit 'briefing war' on the rise

After reports of clashes between Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at a Downing Street dinner, Tory sources say they will not become involved in a "briefing war" over Brexit. There have been claims in Europe that the UK "ignorance" about how Brussels works could undermine the chances of a good deal for the country.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

5. 'Bank of Mum and Dad' to lend £6.5bn this year

Parents will lend their first-time buyer children a total of £6.5bn to get on the property ladder this year, a 30% increase on 2016, says insurance giant Legal & General. It estimates the "Bank of Mum and Dad" will be involved in 25% more house sales year-on-year and that millennials are the biggest recipients, with 79% of the cash going to the under-30s.

6. Angela Merkel presses Vladimir Putin on gay rights

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi, Russia, the first bilateral talks between the countries for two years. The civil wars in Syria and Ukraine were discussed by the two leaders, amd Merkel pressed Putin on the issue of gay rights, after reports that gay people had been arrested and tortured in Chechnya.

7. Fyre Festival organisers face $100m lawsuit

Organisers of a failed music festival in the Bahamas are facing a $100m (£78m) lawsuit after the event was cancelled. The Fyre Festival, which was promoted by hundreds of online personalities, was called off after attracting global headlines for its squalid conditions. Attendee Daniel Jung is suing the organisers over their "outrageous failure to prepare".

Fyre Festival goes down in flames after being hit with $100m lawsuit

8. Police and courts 'failing to protect cyclists'

Police and the courts are not doing enough to protect cyclists and failing to prosecute motorists who commit offences, MPs and peers said yesterday. They added that the the number of driving bans has fallen 62% in ten years and said police should be more open to video evidence from cyclists' cameras.

9. Indonesian man dies 'at the age of 146'

A man who claimed to be 146 years old has died at his home in Indonesia, say reports. Mbah Gotho said he was born in December 1870, although as this pre-dates the registration of births in Indonesia, it cannot be independently verified. He told the BBC last year his long life was "because I have people that love me looking after me".

10. Briefing: Why are pensions such a political hot potato?

The last few days have been filled with speculation over whether the Prime Minister will renew the "triple lock" pledge on pensions in order to appeal to pensioners.

There has been talk of a backlash among Tories if she fails to do so. Scottish National Party leader Angus Robertson drew a stumbling response at the final Prime Minister's Questions before the election, after directing both of his questions at the issue.

The policy may well end up in the Conservative manifesto, but so far May is refusing to commit to it.

What's the pensions triple lock and why is it such a political hot potato?