Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 17 May 2017

1. Trump denies asking FBI chief to drop Flynn inquiry

Donald Trump has denied asking then FBI director James Comey to drop an inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's links to Russia. According to a memo written by Comey after a meeting in February, the US President said: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go." The White House said yesterday: "The President has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn."

Donald Trump sued by two states over business links

2. Brady's ashes 'must not be scattered on moor'

Ian Brady's ashes must not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor, where the 1960s killer buried at least four of his victims, a coroner ruled yesterday. Brady died in a secure hospital on Merseyside on Monday night at the age of 79 after 51 years behind bars for the murder of five young people. The body of one of his victims, Keith Bennett, 12, has never been found and is believed to lie on the moors.

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Moors Murderer Ian Brady dies aged 79

3. Lib Dems unveil manifesto with Brexit vote pledge

The Liberal Democrats have published their election manifesto today and it includes a promise to hold a second referendum on Brexit. The party also pledges to give young people a "bright future", restoring housing benefit to 18- to 21-year-olds and creating a "rent-to-own" scheme to help first-time buyers own a home.

Lib Dem manifesto to include rent-to-own policy

4. Hillary Clinton launches Onward Together

Hillary Clinton has returned to politics six months after losing the US presidential election to Donald Trump, launching a grassroots movement called Onward Together. The group is dedicated to "advancing the vision that earned nearly 66 million votes in the last election", says its website, and aims to encourage political participation from people in all walks of life.

What is Hillary Clinton doing now?

5. 'Fat but fit' is not possible, researchers say

The idea that it is possible to be "fat but fit" is a myth, according to researchers at the University of Birmingham. A study of 3.5 million people over a 20-year period concluded that people who were obese but appeared healthy were still around 50% more likely to suffer heart disease than those of normal weight.

Fat but fit: Experts debunk obesity myth

6. Greens promise to end 'period poverty'

The Green Party has promised to end "period poverty" by supplying sanitary towels and tampons free to secondary school pupils and women in financial need. It says it would fund the plan by adding VAT to some products currently exempt from the tax, such as aircraft repairs and the sale of airships.

7. Hedges 'better for air pollution than trees'

Cities need more hedges, not more trees, according to researchers at Surrey University after a study found lower-level plants were better for absorbing pollutants from vehicle exhaust pipes. Trees perform better in less built-up areas, they added. Professor Prashant Kumar suggested councils plant hedges between pavements and the street.

8. Chelsea Manning released from prison

Chelsea Manning has been released from military prison after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and military files to WikiLeaks. Her sentence was commuted by president Barack Obama before he left office in January. The 29-year-old was born Bradley Manning and was deployed in Iraq as an intelligence analyst.

Who is Chelsea Manning - and what did she do?

9. US sitcom Roseanne to return to screens

US sitcom Roseanne is to be revived for an eight-episode run, 20 years after the show's last episode was filmed. The award-winning show was praised for providing a realistic portrayal of a blue-collar American family. Roseanne Barr is to return along with her screen "husband" John Goodman, even though his character died in the last series.

10. Briefing: Are you a Re-Leaver?

They call themselves the "48 per cent", but anti-Brexit activists may be more alone than they realise, according to new data, which suggests almost half of Remain voters back Brexit.

A study by polling firm YouGov found that 23 per cent of former Remain voters believe the government has a duty to carry out the will of the people - even if many still believe leaving the EU is the wrong decision - while only 22 per cent still want to see Brexit halted.

Combined with the 45 per cent of respondents who voted Leave and are still confident in their decision, the survey indicates that more than two-thirds of the electorate favour leaving the EU, even though some think it is a mistake to do so.

Brexit tribes: Are you a Re-Leaver?