Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 13 May 2017
- 1. IT experts scrambling to restore NHS computer systems
- 2. Blair says Brexit makes united Ireland more likely
- 3. Donald Trump warns Comey about private conversation
- 4. WHO says Ebola outbreak 'of international importance'
- 5. Millions of Brits told to cut down on water use
- 6. Watson says Labour could suffer 'Thatcher landslide'
- 7. Prince William named 'straight ally of the year'
- 8. Theresa May promises 'right to innocence' online policy
- 9. Michelle Obama slams Trump's attack on her legacy
- 10. Antonio Conte's Chelsea grab the title at West Brom
1. IT experts scrambling to restore NHS computer systems
Technology experts say they are "working round the clock" to restore the NHS computer systems hit by yesterday’s ransomware attack. The chief of the UK's cyber security agency said it was doing "everything in our power" to get "vital services" back up and running. The NHS is bracing for a weekend of disruption after at least 30 health service organisations in England and Scotland were affected by the attack.
2. Blair says Brexit makes united Ireland more likely
Britain’s exit from the European Union will make the prospect of a united Ireland more likely, Tony Blair has predicted. The former PM said that Brexit would leave Britain and Ireland out of step with each other for the first time since partition. The Good Friday agreement dictates that Westminster must call a referendum if polls signalled that a majority of voters in Northern Ireland favoured reunification.
3. Donald Trump warns Comey about private conversation
Donald Trump has warned James Comey that he "better hope" that a private conversation between the two men had not been recorded. The President wrote on Twitter: "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" Sources close to the former FBI chief told The New York Times that Trump had asked him for a pledge of personal loyalty during a private dinner.
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4. WHO says Ebola outbreak 'of international importance'
The World Health Organisation says it is taking the situation "very seriously" after an Ebola outbreak was declared in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It described the outbreak as "a public health crisis of international importance". More than 11,000 people died in an Ebola outbreak in West Africa during 2014 and 2015, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
5. Millions of Brits told to cut down on water use
Around 3.6m customers in the south-east of England have been told to save water, as a lack of rainfall means many rivers in the region are low on water. Affinity Water, which supplies parts of the home counties, north London and Kent, says that since last summer, the region had received just over 50% of its average rainfall.
6. Watson says Labour could suffer 'Thatcher landslide'
Tom Watson has warned of a "Margaret Thatcher-style landslide" for the Tories if Labour fails to up its game. Labour's deputy leader said the party had a "mountain to climb" to catch up with the Tories before next month’s general election. Speaking to The Guardian he said: "It is going be very, very difficult... but we are determined to do it."
7. Prince William named 'straight ally of the year'
Prince William said "nobody should be bullied for their sexuality", as he accepted the "straight ally of the year" gong at the British LGBT Awards. Speaking via a video message, he told the gala event: "It's so important to be proud of the person you are." Organiser Sarah Garrett praised William for speaking out against homophobic bullying.
8. Theresa May promises 'right to innocence' online policy
Social networks will be forced to let people delete any posts they made before they were 18, the Prime Minister has pledged. Theresa May’s "right to innocence" plan is one of the Tory’s "new protections against internet harms" if they win the election. Labour said Theresa May is "cynically trotting out tough talk that we know will be ultimately meaningless".
9. Michelle Obama slams Trump's attack on her legacy
Michelle Obama has attacked Donald Trump's reversal of her regulations to improve school lunches. After Trump scrapped her guidelines that would cut sodium and increase whole grains served in school meals, she told a health conference: "Think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap." To cheers and applause she added: "This is where you really have to look at motives, you know."
10. Antonio Conte's Chelsea grab the title at West Brom
Chelsea clinched the Premier League championship last night as Michy Batshuayi's goal saw them secure the title at West Brom. Antonio Conte's side were forced to wait until late in the tie as their resilient hosts put up a fine defensive effort. But substitute Batshuayi grabbed the winner in the 82nd minute. Conte said Chelsea must win the FA Cup to turn a "great season" into a "fantastic" one.
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