Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 18 May 2017
- 1. Former FBI boss to investigate Trump-Russia
- 2. GP service 'near collapse', doctors warn
- 3. Tories to tackle rising cost of social care
- 4. Macron reveals equal-gender cabinet
- 5. Former Welsh leader Rhodri Morgan dead at 77
- 6. Girl Guides ponders badges for 'vlogging' and web design
- 7. Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell dead at 52
- 8. Dutch king reveals he is a pilot with KLM
- 9. Jay Z and Beyonce now a 'billionaire couple'
- 10. Briefing: Hillary Clinton launches Onward Together
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1. Former FBI boss to investigate Trump-Russia
Robert Mueller, who ran the FBI for most of Barack Obama's eight years as US president, has been appointed as a special counsel to investigate claims of links between Donald Trump's election campaign team and Russia. He will also examine claims Russia interfered in the election online. Mueller has been given sweeping powers to investigate.
2. GP service 'near collapse', doctors warn
The head of the British Medical Association's general practice branch says the GP service in England is on the "brink of collapse", with practices understaffed to the point of being "frighteningly vulnerable". Dr Chaad Nagpaul says the NHS has been "paralysed" since the Brexit vote, with a deep freeze on spending, not more funding.
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3. Tories to tackle rising cost of social care
Theresa May will reveal the Tories plans for paying for care for the elderly today when she reveals her party's manifesto. It includes a pledge that no one will have to sell their home to pay for social care, although costs will be taken from their estate if it is worth more than £100,000 after they die. Former government adviser Sir Andrew Dilnot told the BBC it was "very disappointing" for those anxious about the issue.
Conservative manifesto 2017: Property-rich elderly to pay for care
4. Macron reveals equal-gender cabinet
Half the 22 key positions in French President Emmanuel Macron's first cabinet have been filled by women. Sylvie Goulard, former armed services minister, is the new defence minister while Olympic fencer Laura Flessel will handle sport. Economy, home affairs and justice have all gone to men, however, leaving Goulard the only woman with a top job.
Emmanuel Macron unveils gender-balanced cabinet
5. Former Welsh leader Rhodri Morgan dead at 77
Wales's former first minister Rhodri Morgan has died at the age of 77. The Cardiff-born MP, who led the Welsh Assembly from 2000 to 2009, was a "father figure" for the country, said his successor Carwyn Jones. He added: "I owe him a great deal, just as we all do in Wales." Welsh Labour, Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and UKIP have suspended election campaigning today in tribute to Morgan.
6. Girl Guides ponders badges for 'vlogging' and web design
Girlguiding is set to replace its traditional badges with new ones for modern disciplines including vlogging and web app design. In an attempt to make the organisation "more relevant" to the lives of its members today, the organisation is asking for suggestions for new badges to replace the likes of "hostess" and "homemaking" merits. More than 15,000 people have so far put forward ideas.
Girl Guides badges updated for 21st century
7. Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell dead at 52
Chris Cornell, singer with the American rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, has died. The 52-year-old's death, after a Soundgarden concert in Detroit on Wednesday was "sudden and unexpected" said his representatives and is being treated by police as a possible suicide. Cornell was found dead in the bathroom of his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel, after Cornell’s wife asked a family friend to check up on him.
8. Dutch king reveals he is a pilot with KLM
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has revealed that he has been secretly flying passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flights for more than two decades. The avid aviator said he found flying "simply fantastic" and has co-piloted KLM planes twice a month for 21 years without his passengers realising. The king said flying helped him escape the pressure of his royal duties.
Dutch king reveals double life as airline pilot
9. Jay Z and Beyonce now a 'billionaire couple'
US music power couple Jay Z and Beyonce have a combined fortune in excess of $1bn, Forbes magazine says. They are believed to have assets worth $1.16bn (£894m), most of it invested in Jay Z's companies, which include music streaming service Tidal. The couple have a five-year-old daughter and are expecting twins.
10. Briefing: Hillary Clinton launches Onward Together
Hillary Clinton has made a return to politics six months after losing the US presidential election to Donald Trump.
The former Democrat nominee has launched Onward Together, a grassroots movement dedicated to "advancing the vision that earned nearly 66 million votes in the last election".
The group will take its place alongside numerous "resistance" movements aimed at building up a progressive consensus, says Bloomberg.
What is Hillary Clinton doing now?
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