Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 27 Mar 2018

1. Australia expels Russian diplomats over poisoning

Australia, Macedonia and Hungary are the latest of 23 nations to take diplomatic action against Russia in support of the UK, expelling diplomats because of the nerve agent poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on 4 March. Moscow has already ordered 23 British diplomats to leave the country.

2. Grammar schools ‘enshrine privilege’

Researchers at Durham University say the “apparent success” of grammar schools is down to their selecting more able pupils than comprehensives – and the wealth of pupils’ families – not because their teaching is better. The study suggests the Government pledge to increase access to grammar schools will be bad for social equality.

3. Kim Jong Un ‘making first foreign visit’

There is speculation that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is in Beijing, making his first foreign visit since coming to power in 2011. The rumour has been prompted by sightings of a 21-car North Korean train in the Chinese capital, similar to the one used by Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il. South Korea says it is monitoring the situation.

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4. Labour ignored anti-Semitism complaint

The Labour party brushed off a complaint about Jeremy Corbyn supporting the artist behind an allegedly anti-Semitic mural on Facebook, emails suggest. Labour supporter Sam Shemtob made a formal complaint about Corbyn’s actions in February 2017, accusing him of endorsing Nazi-style propaganda. His email was ignored.

5. Fears grow for missing UK yachtsman

There is little hope now of finding a missing British yachtsman, John Fisher, who fell overboard into the Atlantic Ocean 1,400 nautical miles west of Cape Horn during a round-the-world race. The 47-year-old was wearing survival gear when he fell into the water at 2.42pm UK time on Monday during the Volvo Ocean Race.

6. Madeleine McCann inquiry extended

The Met Police investigation into the disappearance in Portugal in 2007 of toddler Madeleine McCann has been extended, with more Government funding granted ahead of the end of the current round of budget at the end of the month. The inquiry, Operation Grange, was set up in 2011 and has cost £11m so far, with four officers involved.

7. Putin blames ‘criminal negligence’ for fire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed “criminal negligence” for the shopping mall fire in Siberia which killed 64 people, including many children. Investigators say there had been “serious violations” of safety protocols at the Winter Cherry shopping centre in Kemerovo. As many as 11 people are still unaccounted for.

8. Toxicology report on singer Prince revealed

US music star Prince had an “exceedingly high” level of the synthetic opioid Fentanyl in his system when he died, according to a newly-released confidential post-mortem report. The singer was found unresponsive in a lift at his Paisley Park home on 21 April 2016 at the age of 57. Fentanyl is some 50 times more powerful than heroin.

9. Fired waiter: ‘I’m not rude, just French’

A waiter in Vancouver who was fired for his “aggressive” and “rude” behaviour is suing his employers saying that he is not rude, just French. Guillaume Rey is making a human rights complaint against Milestones restaurant, alleging that he has been discriminated against because French culture is “more direct and expressive”.

10. Briefing: who is John Bolton?

John Bolton, a Bush-era war hawk who backs the bombing of Iran and North Korea, will soon be in charge of America’s national security policy.

In one of the most controversial cabinet appointments to date – even by Donald Trump’s standards – Bolton will replace General H.R. McMaster as the President’s national security advisor next month.

“The risks of a war with Iran or North Korea are now significantly greater than they were this morning,” New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof said after yesterday’s announcement.

John Bolton: who is Donald Trump’s hawkish new national security advisor?