Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 7 May 2017

1. Labour: no tax increase for 95% of earners

Labour has vowed not to raise income tax for 95% of earners. In a "personal tax guarantee" for those earning less than £80,000 a year, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has also ruled out rises in VAT and employee national insurance rates for low and middle earners. He says the top 5% of earners will pay more to fund public services.

2. French go to the polls in presidential second round

The polls have opened as French voters choose their next president. Following a bitter and unpredictable campaign that has divided the country, the second round contest sees centrist Emmanuel Macron face off against the far-right’s Marine Le Pen. The results will be seen as hugely significant for all of Europe, ahead of Brexit and elections in Germany and the UK.

3. Nuclear codes to be housed in Trump Tower

The "nuclear football", which contains the top secret launch codes the US President needs to order a nuclear attack, will be housed in a Trump Tower apartment, reports The Observer. The Pentagon is putting the finishing touches to a lease on a privately owned apartment in the property for the use of the White House Military Office. It is claimed that the lease will not benefit Trump or his business.

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4. Boko Haram releases 82 girls in swap deal

Boko Haram has released 82 schoolgirls from a group of 276 they abducted in north-eastern Nigeria three years ago. They were exchanged for a number of Islamist fighters held by the authorities after "lengthy negotiations" brokered by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The girls were among 220 kidnapped in the northern town of Chibok in 2014.

5. Super-rich 'carried on making billions' in 2016

The UK's super-rich "kept calm and carried on making billions" despite uncertainty over Brexit, says The Sunday Times. The wealth of the UK’s 1,000 richest people rose by 14% to a record £658bn, according to the paper’s annual Rich List. At the top of the pile are brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja, whose investments in property, healthcare and oil and gas have seen their fortune reach £16.2bn.

6. The €100bn 'is un-enforceable' says Commission

The European Commission’s own lawyers have admitted that the €100bn Brexit bill is "legally impossible" to enforce, claims the Sunday Telegraph. According to minutes of internal meetings, the Brussels negotiating team warned against chasing London for extra payments. However, member states appear to have ignored the advice and continue to demand €100bn from Whitehall - a significant hike in the original demand of €60bn.

7. Pope criticises 'mother' title for massive bomb

Pope Francis says he was "ashamed" when he learned that the American military's largest non-nuclear missile has been named "the mother of all bombs". Speaking to an audience of students at the Vatican, he said: "A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is going on?" Last month, the US dropped one of the bombs in Afghanistan.

8. Around 3,000 migrants rescued, says Italian coast guard

Italy’s coast guard says around 3,000 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean yesterday as they tried to reach Europe. The International Organisation for Migration says that so far this year 43,490 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea. More than 1,000 have died or are missing. Meanwhile, politicians in Italy are calling for stiffer measures to tackle people smuggling.

9. Parliament considers using attack dogs for security

Attack dogs may be used to protect the Houses of Parliament, reports The Sunday Times. Following the terror attack on the building in March, dogs could be stationed with police handlers at the gates of the site. Sir Paul Beresford, former chairman of the Commons administration committee, said dogs were being "seriously considered" in a review of perimeter security.

10. Stephen Fry 'investigated for blasphemy in Ireland'

Broadcaster Stephen Fry is under police investigation for blasphemy after describing God as an "utter maniac". The Irish Independent says police opened the inquiry after a complaint over a 2015 interview Fry gave to national broadcaster RTE. During the interview Fry said: "Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?"