Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 12 May 2018

1. Washington 'will rebuild North Korea if it scraps nukes'

The US says it will help rebuild North Korea's economy if it abandons nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says North Korea can look forward to a future of "prosperity" if it "quickly" denuclearises. Pompeo has returned from North Korea, where he says he had "good" talks with leader Kim Jong-un. During his visit, Pyongyang released three US detainees.

2. UN watchdog says UK policies are racist

Britain's policies on austerity, immigration and terrorism are racist, according to a UN inspector. Tendayi Achiume, the Special Rapporteur on Racism, said Theresa May ushered in a "hostile environment" when, as home secretary, she clamped down on illegal immigrants. Achiume said the debate around Brexit worsened the problem. Iain Duncan Smith said Achiume’s words were "politically motivated".

3. British tourists kidnapped in Congo national park

Two British tourists have been kidnapped in a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese Army are pursuing an unidentified militia group that snatched the tourists who were gorilla trekking in one of the world’s most dangerous national parks. The director of the Virunga National Park said a park ranger with the pair in a vehicle was killed.

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4. Universities could fail a generation on mental health

British universities say they are in danger of "failing a generation" unless students get better mental health care. A study found that due to a lack of co-ordination between the NHS and universities, some students risk "slipping through the gaps". The most recent data shows 146 students killed themselves in 2016. Over the past five years, 94% of universities have seen a "sharp increase" in people trying to access support services.

5. Iraqis voting but will female candidates get a fair ride?

Iraqis are going to the polls in the first parliamentary elections since the government declared victory over Islamic State last year. Around 7,000 candidates from rival coalition alliances are standing for seats in the 329-member assembly. Female candidates are guaranteed at least 25% of the seats under the country's constitution but the UN says a number of female candidates have been the target of "defamation campaigns".

6. WH Smith apologises for £7.99 hospital toothpaste price

WH Smith has come under fire after it was found selling a single tube of toothpaste at a hospital shop for £7.99. The high street chain was accused of cashing in on the sick by setting such a high price at its outlet in Pinderfields General Hospital in Wakefield. The same tube costs just 80p at nearby supermarkets. WH Smith has apologised and changed the price to £2.49.

7. Nuclear anxiety as Saudis say they will enrich uranium

Saudi Arabia is seeking to match Iran by enriching its own uranium, reports The Times. The news has sparked fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Although Riyadh insists it wants to make nuclear fuel to diversify its energy sources, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in March that if Iran developed a nuclear bomb his country would "follow suit as soon as possible".

8. BBC unit rejects complaints over 'Russian' Corbyn photo

The BBC has rejected complaints that Newsnight doctored an image of Jeremy Corbyn to make him look "more Russian". The corporation’s complaints unit ruled that the programme’s use of the picture was "impartial and fair", after the leader was depicted wearing a "Lenin-style cap" in front of a Moscow backdrop. It concluded that there were "no grounds" for regarding the contents of the item were problematic.

9. Theresa May rejects amnesty for soldiers in Ulster probe

Theresa May has rejected an amnesty for British soldiers as a public consultation investigates killings in Northern Ireland. Some cabinet colleagues, including Gavin Williamson, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox, believe that this could encourage prosecutions against "easy targets" while terrorists went free. The four-month consultation will investigate new mechanisms to investigate, document and uncover the truth around killings during the 30-year conflict.

10. Farage to start petition for Nobel Peace Prize for Trump

Nigel Farage says he will launch a petition to have Donald Trump nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The former UKIP leader said the award would lose legitimacy if the US president had a successful North Korean summit and subsequently did not receive it. Asked this week if he deserves the prize, Trump said: "Everyone thinks so, but I would never say it."