Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 26 Aug 2018

1. Senator John McCain dies at age of 81

John McCain, the Vietnam war hero turned senator and presidential candidate, has died at the age of 81. A brief statement released by his office said the senator passed away on Saturday surrounded by his family. He was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in July 2017 and had been undergoing medical treatment. He had chosen to stop treatment on Friday.

2. May arranges 'crisis summit' for cabinet over Brexit

Theresa May will hold a "cabinet crisis summit" to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, reports The Sunday Times. The PM’s move comes as fears grow that cabinet row divisions will undermine her negotiating position with Brussels. Downing Street has told ministers to clear their diaries for September 13 to work on a plan to pump fresh cash into critical areas not yet covered by disaster plans.

3. One-third of 'bobbies on the beat' have been axed

One in three 'bobbies on the beat' have been axed in just three years as violent crime has surged, reports The Sunday Times. More than 7,000 traditional neighbourhood police officers in England and Wales have been reassigned to other duties or left jobs altogether since March 2015. A village in Somerset has hired a security firm to patrol late at night because of a lack of officers.

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4. Beijing slams Trump's 'irresponsible' comments on North Korea

China says it was "irresponsible" of President Trump to suggest it was not putting sufficient pressure on North Korea over its nuclear programme. The US President had tweeted that Beijing was "not helping" because of trade tensions with Washington, but a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said this was "contrary to basic facts" and China was "seriously concerned".

5. Pope ashamed by 'repellent crimes' of sexual abuse

Pope Francis said he was ashamed of the Catholic Church's failure to adequately address the "repellent crimes" of sex abuse by clergy. Following his speech at Dublin Castle, he met eight survivors of sexual abuse, reportedly telling them he viewed clerical sex abuse as "filth". Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told the Pope to take action against clergy involved in child abuse.

6. Vince Cable paving way for non-MP Lib Dem leader

Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, plans to stand down before the next general election. The 75-year-old will also announce on September 7 that he wants to change party rules in an attempt to create a mass membership movement and allow a non-MP to replace him. Senior party sources say he will resign before the next scheduled vote in June 2022.

7. Nasrin Sotoudeh begins a new hunger strike in prison

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has begun another hunger strike in prison. Announcing her move on Saturday in a note posted on her husband’s Facebook page, she said was launching her protest over the recent arrest of a leading civil rights activist and the harassment of his and her families by the authorities. In 2012 she held a 50-day hunger strike in protest against a travel ban on her daughter.

8. Much-hyped YouTube boxing match ends in a draw

The boxing fight between rival YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul has ended in a draw. Briton KSI, who has 19.4m subscribers, took on America’s Paul, who boasts 18.m, in the much-anticipated bout at Manchester Arena. In a tight match, one ringside judge had KSI ahead by one point but the other two scored it even. The decision sparked uproar and boos in the arena.

9. Theresa May orders space race with the European Union

Theresa May has told officials to start work on a British satellite-navigation system to rival the European Union’s Galileo. The Sunday Telegraph says the move is a "show of strength" as the EU threatens to block the UK from its project. Chancellor Philip Hammond has signed off funding amounting to as much as £100m to "map out" plans for a post-Brexit UK satellite system.

10. Abramovich exploring sale of Chelsea Football Club

Roman Abramovich is planning a multibillion-pound sale of Chelsea football club after recently failing to secure a visa to work in the UK. The Russian bought the club in 2003 and, according to The Sunday Times, he has hired an investment bank specialising in sport, technology, media and telecoms to oversee a strategic review. He has also pulled the plug on a new £1bn stadium at the club’s Stamford Bridge home.