Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 10 Oct 2017

1. Future of NHS ‘precarious’, says regulator

England’s NHS regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is warning that the future of the service is “precarious”, with staff shortages and rising demand meaning it is “straining at the seams”. The CQC says staff vacancy rates have risen by 16% in two years. In response, the Government insisted that new funding is adequate.

2. National race survey is ‘uncomfortable reading’

The first national survey on racial inequality, commissioned by Theresa May, has revealed huge disparities between ethnic minority groups and white people in Britain – and is “uncomfortable reading”, according to campaigner Simon Woolley. May will say today there is now “nowhere to hide” for the Government on racial inequality.

3. Condom-detecting fingerprint test ready

A new type of fingerprinting that can detect whether the person tested is male or female – or has handled a condom, drunk alcohol or taken drugs recently – will soon be admissible as evidence in British courts. The technique uses a type of mass spectrometry to “see” traces of various substances hidden in the ridges on fingers.

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4. California: ten dead as thousands flee fires

At least ten people have died in 14 major fires in California’s wine country region. Around 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes on Sunday night – but many found their escape routes blocked. At least 1,500 homes have been destroyed in the blazes, which have burnt a combined total of 49,000 acres in eight Californian counties.

5. British actor Garai felt ‘violated’ by Weinstein

British actor Romola Garai says she once had to audition for producer Harvey Weinstein – who has just lost his job after admitting mistreating women in the industry – while he was wearing only a dressing gown, in his Savoy hotel room. Garai was only 18 at the time and says she felt humiliated and “violated” by his “abuse of power”.

6. ‘Mobile zoos’ to require licences

The Government is to require so-called ‘mobile zoos’ to be licenced and to meet welfare standards. There are thought to be about 200 groups or individuals in the UK offering the service of bringing exotic animals to children’s parties or other events. Typical animals include snakes, tarantulas, meerkats, raccoons, skunks and monkeys.

7. Six robbers flee jeweller on one moped

A group of six robbers who targeted a high-end jeweller on Regent Street, in central London, yesterday evening arrived on three mopeds – but escaped on just one after abandoning another at the scene and crashing the third nearby. Staff at the Mapping and Webb shop were threatened with a machete and hammer during the smash-and-grab raid.

8. Gordon Ramsay: cocaine use ‘rife’ in restaurants

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay says cocaine use is so widespread in the restaurant industry that when he tested the toilets in his 31 restaurants for the drug, he found traces in all but one. Ramsay lost one of his head chefs to cocaine use, David Dempsey, who died in 2003. Ramsay has now made a TV documentary about the drug.

9. Star Wars trailer features late Carrie Fisher

The next instalment of space opera Star Wars will reach British cinemas on 14 December – and tickets are now on sale. A new trailer for The Last Jedi has just been released and features the late Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. Also featured are Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac.

10. Briefing: delays could derail Crossrail 2

Crossrail 2 could be delayed by up to a decade after a row broke out over who will fund its £45bn price tag.

The cross-London line, which would run North-South from Hertfordshire through to the Surrey commuter belt, was originally scheduled to be fully operational by 2033 but may not now open until the mid-2040s. It has yet to receive the go-ahead from the Government and its latest setback comes after a fight broke out between the mayor’s office at City Hall and Transport for London (TfL).

Crossrail 2: what's the route and when will it open?