Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 27 Jan 2018

1. Support for second EU referendum grows

British voters support the idea of a second EU referendum by a 16-point margin, according to an ICM survey for The Guardian. The study found 47% of people would favour having a final say on Brexit once the terms of the UK’s departure are clear, while 34% oppose reopening the question. The research also found that 43% of voters are worried Brexit will have a negative effect on the UK economy.

2. Three-quarters of civilian deaths occurred under Trump

More than three-quarters of civilians killed during the four-year war against Islamic State occurred during Donald Trump's presidency, according to the US military’s own figures. A total of 831 civilians have been "unintentionally killed" over the period, with around 188 of them killed prior to Trump’s reign. However, a watchdog says the total number is closer to 6,047 civilians.

3. Paris braces for flooding as heavy rainfall swells Seine

Paris is on high alert as the River Seine threatens to overflow its banks. After heavy rainfall, the Seine is forecast to swell even further this weekend. Hundreds of people have been evacuated, tunnels and roads have been sealed off and the bottom floor of the Louvre has closed. Some basements in the city have already sprung leaks.

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4. CPS puts every UK rape case under review after trials collapse

The Crown Prosecution Service says every rape and serious sexual assault case in the country is under review following the collapse of a number of high-profile trials in recent weeks. The director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, says the review, which comes after four rape trials collapsed in the space of two months, will involve every force in the country.

5. Holocaust survivors beg Israel not to expel African migrants

Holocaust survivors in Israel have asked Benjamin Netanyahu not to expel 38,000 African migrants, citing their own experiences as outcasts. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 36 signatories wrote an open letter to the PM, stating they "cannot comprehend how a Jewish government can expel refugees and asylum seekers to a journey of suffering, torment and death."

6. Less Brexit means more Corbyn, Rees-Mogg tells May

Jacob Rees-Mogg has told Theresa May: "The less of Brexit you get, the more likely you are to get Jeremy Corbyn." Heaping pressure on the Prime Minister, the newly-appointed head of a group of a 60-strong group of eurosceptic Tory MPs added: "If you get a good, clean Brexit and get the advantages from it then the chances of getting Jeremy Corbyn are much diminished."

7. Carney: interest rate rises depend on EU negotiations

The pace of rises in UK interest rate will depend on Britain’s Brexit negotiations with the EU, Mark Carney said yesterday. Speaking in Davos, the Bank of England governor said the ability of the UK economy to grow would be determined by the talks with the other 27 EU member states. He added that those negotiations would also influence the level of interest rates.

8. IMF head says Trump's tax cuts endanger global economy

Donald Trump’s tax cuts are a threat to the stability of the global economy, says the chief of the International Monetary Fund. Christine Lagarde says the reforms are one of three risks that could destabilise the current economic recovery. "While the US tax reforms certainly will have positive effects in the short term, for the US and other countries around, it might also lead to serious risks," she said.

9. Tesco joins other chains in banning energy drinks for kids

Tesco says it will stop selling energy drinks to under-16s. The retail giant said it would "introduce measures" to prevent the sale of energy drinks to children from March. The grocer is following in the footsteps of other major chains, including Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. Last month, campaigners found that typical serving sizes of energy drinks were larger than other sugar-sweetened drinks at an 'excessive' 500ml.

10. Bombardier workers relieved as firm wins case against US tariffs

Staff at Bombardier are breathing a sigh of relief after the aircraft manufacturer won its case against plans for huge tariffs on its US imports. The US International Trade Commission ruled in favour of Bombardier over American firm Boeing, which claimed its rival received unfair state subsidies from the UK and Canada. The tariff plan had put thousands of jobs at risk.

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