Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 1 Dec 2018

1. President Trump defends 'legal and very cool' ties with Russia

Donald Trump has defended the business relationship he had with Russia before becoming president as “very legal and very cool”. He also dubbed the current investigations a “witch hunt”. Earlier this week, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer, confessed that he lied to Congress about a Russian property he pursued on behalf of Trump.

2. Council tax to rise after government cuts weaken police

Council tax is set to rise as part of a £700m police funding boost, reports The Times. The move, which could see bills go up by as much as £24 a year for each household in England and Wales, comes in response to warnings from officers about an increase in violent crime and reductions in officer numbers across the country following the government's austerity cuts.

3. Earthquake sparks tsunami anxiety in Alaska

A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck Alaska. The earthquake was centred around seven miles (12km) north of Alaska's largest city, Anchorage. The National Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning for coastal zones of southern Alaska but it has since been cancelled. The Alaska Earthquake Center said: “The aftershocks are nerve-wracking, but we want to stress that they are what we would expect for an earthquake like this.”

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4. Science minister quits over May's Brexit deal

The minister for universities and science has resigned over Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement, describing it as “naive”. Sam Gyimah said any deal struck with Brussels will be “EU first”. The controversial MP for East Surrey MP said: “After careful consideration and reflection, I cannot support the government's deal and as such, I have tended my resignation as universities and science minister.”

5. HS2 boss 'set to be dismissed within weeks'

The chairman of HS2 faces the sack just four months after taking up the job. Sir Terry Morgan is to be dismissed over the coming weeks because of concerns over his stewardship of the troubled £56bn high-speed railway, according to sources. Sir Terry is also tipped to lose his job as the chairman of Crossrail, the £15bn east-west rail link through London, after the project ran almost £1bn over budget and almost a year late.

6. Michelle Obama breaks 2018 sales record in days

Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming has become the best-selling book released this year in the US just 15 days after publication. The former First Lady’s tome has sold more than two million copies in the US and Canada, according to NPD BookScan data. Penguin Random House says the book is also a bestseller in many other countries including Australia, the UK, France, Germany, Korea and South Africa.

7. Ineffective flu vaccine and the Beast swelled winter deaths

Last winter recorded the highest number of excess deaths since 1975-76, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. The Beast from the East weather pattern and an ineffective flu vaccine led to 50,000 additional fatalities. Caroline Abrahams, at Age UK, warned that a “cocktail of poor housing, high energy prices and ill health can make winter a dangerous time for many older people”.

8. So awkward - mic picks up Macron/Saudi exchange at G20

A microphone has picked up an awkward exchange between Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman and Emmanuel Macron. The French president is heard saying: “I do worry. I am worried … I told you”. The prince - suspected of ordering the murder of the dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi and accused of war crimes in Yemen - replies: “Yes, you told me. Thank you very much.”

9. Deaths as abusers 'still granted access to their children'

Domestic abusers are being granted access to their children by the family courts despite an alarming record of killings by violent fathers, according to the charity Women’s Aid. Since 1994 there have been 50 cases of a child being killed by a father with a recorded history of domestic abuse or violence who remained in contact. A spokeswoman said: “We are very concerned.”

10. Meghan's wedding day air freshener request

The Duchess of Sussex asked for air fresheners to be deployed before her guests arrived at St George's Chapel in Windsor on her wedding day, according to sources. She reportedly took against the “musty odour” of the 15th century chapel. But her request to use handheld devices called atomisers to spray water or perfume on her big day was rejected by the royal household.