Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 19 Nov 2017

1. US nuclear general would resist 'illegal' Trump order

The general in charge of US nuclear forces says that he would resist any "illegal" order from Donald Trump. "We think about these things a lot. When you have this responsibility, how do you not think about it?" general John Hyten told a forum in response to a question on the matter. "If it’s illegal... I’m gonna say, 'Mr President, that’s illegal.'"

2. Philip Hammond to 'give green light' to driverless cars

Tests of driverless cars on UK roads are expected to be given the green light in Wednesday's Budget. Writing in The Sun, chancellor Philip Hammond said he would announce regulation changes to allow developers to apply to test the vehicles. Hammond said investment would "prepare the ground" for the cars to be on roads by 2021. Meanwhile, broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson said he made "a huge mistake" in a driverless car "which could have resulted in death".

3. Gaia Pope's family 'devastated' as a body is discovered

Relatives of Gaia Pope have said they are "absolutely devastated" after police searching for the missing 19-year-old found a body. Dorset Police said it is "confident" that the body is that of the teenager. The discovery on land near Swanage was made yesterday afternoon by specialist search teams. Gaia's sister, Clara Pope, described her as the "light of my life".

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4. Crunch talks today as pressure tightens on Mugabe

Zimbabwean army generals are to intensify pressure on President Robert Mugabe to resign after tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to celebrate the apparent end of his 37-year regime. Mugabe is facing enormous opposition from army generals, the majority of the Zimbabwean public and even from within his once-loyal party, ZANU-PF. Army chiefs plan crunch talks with Mugabe today.

5. Harvey Weinstein's secret 'hit list' discovered

Harvey Weinstein had a hit list of almost 100 high-profile individuals who he targeted to discover what they knew about sexual misconduct claims against him. The list, revealed in The Observer, contains 91 actors, publicists, producers, financiers and others working in the movie industry. It was distributed to a team hired by the producer to suppress claims that he had sexually harassed or assaulted numerous women.

6. Angela Merkel's future in doubt as coalition talks drag on

Angela Merkel efforts to form Germany’s new coalition government are "faltering", says the Financial Times, after the parties involved missed a self-imposed deadline to reach an agreement following 15 hours of talks. The Telegraph says the German chancellor’s political future is hanging in the balance. If Merkel cannot reach an agreement in the coming days, Germany could face new elections.

7. Gerry Adams to step down from Sinn Fein leadership

Gerry Adams has announced he will stand down as member of the Irish Parliament and Sinn Fein party leader next year. Speaking at the party conference in Dublin, Adams said: "Leadership means knowing when it's time for change and that time is now." The 69-year-old, who has been party president since 1983, persuaded the IRA to call a ceasefire and eventually decommission its weapons during the peace process.

8. Presenter Aled Jones suspended after 'sexual harassment' claim

Songs of Praise host Aled Jones has been suspended by the BBC over claims he sexually harassed a female colleague over a decade ago. The former choirboy, whose Christmas cover of Walking In The Air was a smash hit in the 1980s, is accused of sending inappropriate messages to a female member of staff at the BBC. The married father-of-two has apologised for his behaviour, says The Sun.

9. Britain First deputy leader arrested over Belfast speech

The deputy leader of Britain First has been arrested in London by Police Service of Northern Ireland detectives. A colleague from the far-right group said "a large group of plainclothes police detectives from Belfast of all places jumped out of nowhere". Jayda Fransen is being questioned over a speech she gave in Belfast in August. Her speech was delivered at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally.

10. Trump warns Palestinian he may close their Washington office

The Trump administration has warned the Palestine Liberation Organization that it will close the group's office in Washington if the Palestinians don't "get serious about peace talks with Israel", reports CNN. State Department officials claim the Palestinians have broken a rarely invoked provision that calls for the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization's mission if they act against Israel in the International Criminal Court.