Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 16 May 2017
- 1. Trump 'shared secret information with Russia'
- 2. Moors Murderer Ian Brady dies aged 79
- 3. Labour lays out spending pledges
- 4. Pacific island covered in 37m pieces of plastic
- 5. World War II bomb discovery closes part of M6
- 6. Syrian regime 'built crematorium' at prison
- 7. France's Macron calls for 'reconstruction' of Europe
- 8. Stormzy donates £9k to student's Harvard fund
- 9. Hackers hold Pirates of the Caribbean sequel to ransom
- 10. Briefing: The challenges that lie in wait for Macron
1. Trump 'shared secret information with Russia'
Donald Trump allegedly revealed secret intelligence about Islamic State with Russian officials during a meeting at the White House last week. According to the Washington Post, the US President revealed information meant only for Washington and its allies. US security adviser HR McMaster has denied the claim, telling reporters: "I was in the room. It didn’t happen."
Donald Trump sued by two states over business links
2. Moors Murderer Ian Brady dies aged 79
Serial killer Ian Brady has died of cancer at a secure psychiatric hospital on Merseyside. He was 79. Brady was jailed in 1966 alongside girlfriend Myra Hindley for the murder of three children on Saddleworth Moor, Greater Manchester, and later admitted to another two killings. He died without revealing where he had buried the body of victim Keith Bennett, 12.
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Moors Murderer Ian Brady dies aged 79
3. Labour lays out spending pledges
Labour has launched its election manifesto today, almost a week after the leak of a draft version. It contains plans for increased spending on schools and the NHS and an expansion of free childcare. The spening pledges are expected to cost almost £50bn - money Labour says it will recoup through taxes.
Labour says 'Robin Hood tax' would raise £26bn
4. Pacific island covered in 37m pieces of plastic
One of the most remote islands in the world has been contaminated with an estimated 37.7 million pieces of plastic, marine scientists say. Australian researchers say the pristine beaches of Henderson Island in the South Pacific, part of the Pitcairn group, are contaminated with litter, despite being 3,100 miles away from the nearest major population.
5. World War II bomb discovery closes part of M6
Every slip road to Junction 6 of the M6 was closed early this morning after the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb yesterday. Hundreds of homes and businesses within a third of a mile area around the site were evacuated and trains between Birmingham New St and Lichfield were cancelled.
6. Syrian regime 'built crematorium' at prison
The US claimed yesterday that the Syrian regime has constructed a secret crematorium at a military prison outside Damascus where human rights groups believe thousands have been tortured and executed. "We believe that the building of a crematorium is an effort to cover up the extent of mass murders taking place in Sednaya prison," said Stuart Jones of the State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
Syria 'built crematorium to hide killings', says US
7. France's Macron calls for 'reconstruction' of Europe
President Emmanuel Macron of France called for a "historic reconstruction" of Europe to fight populism during his visit to Berlin yesterday, the first full day of his term in office. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to work together on defence, the euro and cutting red tape. Merkel said they had a "joint conviction" that they needed to "deepen the European Union".
8. Stormzy donates £9k to student's Harvard fund
Grime musician Stormzy donated £9,000 to a crowdfunding campaign to help an Oxford University student to study in the US for a year. Fiona Asiedu hoped to raise £12,000 in four weeks to get to Harvard but made her target in less than a day. Stormzy learned of the crowdfunding when he was asked to retweet a link to the campaign.
9. Hackers hold Pirates of the Caribbean sequel to ransom
Hackers have reportedly stolen the upcoming fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film and are threatening to release it unless a ransom is paid. Johnny Depp's latest outing as Captain Jack Sparrow is due for release on 26 May, but parts could be released online unless producers Disney pay up, reports Deadline. Insiders say the studio is refusing to pay.
Hackers 'hold next Pirates of the Caribbean film to ransom'
10. Briefing: The challenges that lie in wait for Macron
"I know the French people are expecting a lot from me," Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday, in his first formal address as France's 25th president. It could have been the understatement of the year.
After rocketing from political obscurity to the Elysee Palace, the 39-year-old politician has been portrayed as everything from the "accidental president" to the "saviour of the Republic" and "the EU's antidote to nationalism and populism", says Sky News Europe correspondent Mark Stone.
But one of the "most astonishing features" of Macron's meteoric rise to the presidency is that he "does not have any obvious political allies at all," says the Daily Telegraph.
Emmanuel Macron's first day: Challenges ahead for 'young pretender'
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