Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 17 Feb 2018

1. Russians charged over US 2016 election tampering

Thirteen Russians have been charged with interfering in the US 2016 election in order to help Donald Trump to victory. The charges were made by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The indictment alleges that the Russians’ operations "included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J Trump" and "disparaging" Hillary Clinton. "The Trump campaign did nothing wrong - no collusion!" tweeted the US President.

2. Put security ahead of ideology, May will tell EU

Theresa May will propose a new UK-EU treaty on intelligence and security in a speech today. The PM will argue that the European Union would put its citizens at risk if it allows ideology or rigid institutions to distract its leaders from the need to cooperate against terror threats. "Those who threaten our security would like nothing more than to see us fractured," she will say.

3. We didn't murder babies in cots, says Oxfam chief

The chief executive of Oxfam says attacks on the charity are "out of proportion to the level of culpability". Speaking to The Guardian about the charity’s sex exploitation scandal in Haiti, Mark Goldring repeated his apology but added: "The intensity and the ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?"

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4. Center Parcs pulls Daily Mail ads over column row

Family holiday firm Center Parcs has pulled its advertising from the Daily Mail after columnist Richard Littlejohn told readers not to consider same-sex parents as "the new normal". Littlejohn’s column followed news that diver Tom Daley and his film-maker husband Dustin Lance Black are expecting their first child. Center Parcs said: "We felt this placement was completely unacceptable and therefore ceased advertising with the Daily Mail with immediate effect."

5. Turkey jails journalists over 'subliminal' articles

A Turkish court has sentenced three prominent journalists to life in prison over allegations of involvement in a 2016 coup attempt. Prosecutors say the journalists sent "subliminal messages" through television appearances and newspaper columns urging the overthrow of the government. "This sets a devastating precedent for scores of other journalists charged with similarly groundless charges," said the writers’ association PEN International.

6. Palm oil halves Borneo's orang-utan population

Borneo’s orang-utan population has fallen by half due to palm oil, hunting and logging. A study found that between 70,000 and 100,000 of the endangered primates remain in the wild on the island. It concluded that the species are "highly likely" to become extinct if current trends continue. Palm oil is used in around half of supermarket products, including peanut butter and cleaning spray.

7. Embattled Ukip leader likens himself to Diana and Dodi

The leader of Ukip, Henry Bolton, says the scrutiny of his love life is similar to that faced by Diana, Princess of Wales. "I understand the scrutiny and public interest but it’s been going on for six weeks," he said. "There’s probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi." The party will hold an extraordinary general meeting today which could result in a vote of no confidence in Bolton.

8. Afghans file 1.17m allegations of war crimes

Afghans have submitted 1.17m claims of war crimes to the International Criminal Court in the past three months. Allegations are made against the Taliban and Islamic State, the Afghan Security Forces and government-affiliated warlords, the US-led coalition, and foreign and domestic intelligence agencies. "It is shocking there are so many," said Abdul Wadood Pedram of the Human Rights and Eradication of Violence Organisation.

9. Parents take kids on record number of term-time breaks

Record numbers of parents are taking their children on holiday during term-time to grab cheaper packages. A total of 3.65m days were lost in the 2015-16 academic year to holidays that were not authorised by head teachers in England - nearly 500,000 days more than the previous year. During the six-week summer break, family holidays can cost as much as 60% more as travel firms cash in on demand.

10. Youngsters flee Facebook after parents 'killed it'

More than three million under-25s in the UK and US will quit Facebook, or stop using it regularly, this year. Why? "As soon as parents got in they killed it," 24-year-old Jordan Ranford tells The Guardian. A 21-year-old adds: "I think Facebook will shut down one day; there will be a new thing soon and no-one will be on it any more". However, Facebook still has billion registered users and the exodus of the young is offset by older users joining.