Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 5 May 2017

1. Tories make gains in local elections

The Tories have made substantial gains in yesterday's local elections, winning control of ten new councils, including Derbyshire Labour and the Lib Dems have lost seats and Ukip have been virtually wiped out, an electoral disaster for a party some analysts believe has run its course. our MP Andy Burnham has been elected mayor of Manchester.

Local elections 2017: What this could mean for the general election

2. Goldman boss warns of Brexit risk to City

Goldman Sachs' chief executive has warned that London's financial services sector will "stall" if a close deal is not struck with the EU over Brexit. Lloyd Blankfein said the world's second-largest investment bank, which employs 6,500 people in the UK, has contingency plans to move staff out of the country.

Subscribe to The Week

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

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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

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

3. Syria opposition walk out of peace talks

Syrian rebels stormed out of the latest round of peace talks yesterday as Russia and Iran signed a plan to impose "safe zones" in the country, with Turkey acting as guarantor. The US has also expressed concern about the involvement of Iran, which it says has "only contributed to the violence, not stopped it".

4. Terror suspect arrested as he lands at Heathrow

Counter-terrorism police arrested a 30-year-old man at Heathrow Airport yesterday after he arrived in the UK on a flight from Istanbul. He was detained on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training and remains in custody at a south London police station.

5. North Korea accuses CIA of plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un

North Korea has accused the CIA of plotting to assassinate leader Kim Jong-un with a "biochemical substance" and vowed to "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" responsible. State media said the US intelligence agency, working with South Korean agents, had "corrupted and bribed" a North Korean national to help carry out the plan.

North Korea detains another US citizen

6. Tusk tells May: 'Don't let emotions get out of hand'

European Council President Donald Tusk warned that Brexit negotiations will be "impossible" if emotions run unchecked. Responding to Theresa May's claim that EU leaders are trying to interfere in the general election, he added the talks were "hard enough" already without "arguing before they begin".

7. Trump declares Obamacare 'dead' after vote

US President Donald Trump declared Obamacare "dead" after the House of Representatives narrowly voted to repeal major potions of it. Trump's American Health Care Act will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to have a rockier road. The US President hailed yesterday's decision as a "wonderful vote".

Donald Trump sued by two states over business links

8. Macron files lawsuit over offshore fortune claim

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has filed a lawsuit over online rumours saying he has a secret bank account in the Caribbean, something his rival Marine Le Pen referred to during their TV debate this week. The two politicians enter the last day of campaigning today before this weekend's second-round vote, with centrist Macron ahead in the polls.

9. Swearing makes you stronger, study finds

Swearing before exercising can help improve muscle strength and stamina, according to a study led by the University of Keele. Researchers asked 29 volunteers to pedal hard on an exercise bike for 30 seconds while repeating either a swearword or a neutral word and found those swearing increased their peak power by an average of 24 watts.

Swearing helps make you stronger, says study

10. Briefing: Why vets want Scottish fold cats banned

A popular breed of 'designer' cat should be banned because it's prone to a number of genetic defects that make its life a misery, says a leading veterinary organisation.

The Scottish fold cat, whose celebrity following includes singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, is notable for its overturned floppy ears. First bred in the 1960s, the breed has surged in popularity with pet owners in recent years.

But Gudrun Ravetz, president of the British Veterinary Association, says the breed's "cute" appearance is the result of serious genetic abnormalities.

Breeding of 'designer' Scottish fold cats is 'cruel'