Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 21 Feb 2019

1. More MPs ‘expected to join independents’

The eight Labour and three Tory MPs who have quit their respective parties over issues including Brexit and the handling of anti-Semitism say they expect more of their former colleagues to join their Independent Group. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve has already said that he will leave the Tories if they pursue a no-deal Brexit.

2. Trump: Isis bride banned from US

President Donald Trump has insisted that a 24-year-old woman who left her family in the US to join Islamic State in Syria four years ago will not be allowed to return home. Hoda Muthana, who grew up in Alabama, says she now regrets working as a propagandist for Isis.

3. At least 70 killed in Dhaka fire

At least 70 people have died in a fire that tore through apartment buildings being used to store chemicals in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The blaze has now been extinguished but fire service chief Ali Ahmed warned that the death toll was likely to rise. Witnesses said the fire was started by an exploding natural gas cylinder in the back of a car.

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4. Gatwick drone chaos ‘was insider job’

Police believe a current or former employee of Gatwick was behind the drone flights that forced the airport to close for three days in the run-up to Christmas, affecting some 140,000 passengers, according to The Times. The newspaper cites “Whitehall sources” as saying that detectives think the orchestrated chaos was an “inside job”.

5. Actor Jussie Smollett charged with false attack report

US police have charged Empire actor Jussie Smollett with filing a false report, after investigators concluded that his claims to have been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by two white men was bogus. Authorities in Chicago allege that Nigerian brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo were hired by Smollett to stage the incident, in January. One of the pair is said to have worked as Smollett’s personal trainer.

6. US coast guard officer ‘planned terror attack’

A US Coast Guard lieutenant has been arrested in Maryland on suspicion of planning a terror attack. Prosecutors allege that self-proclaimed white nationalist Christopher Paul Hasson had drawn up a list of targets including prominent Democrat politicians. Hasson is alleged to have been inspired by far-right Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik.

7. Met Police officer charged over child abuse image

A high-ranking female officer in London’s Met Police has been charged with distributing an indecent image of a child. Superintendent Robyn Williams, 54, and two other women are accused of possession of a “moving image file of Category A severity” - the most severe grading for child abuse images. Williams has been placed on restricted duties.

8. Alec Baldwin’s family ‘fear for his safety’

Actor Alec Baldwin has spoken of his family’s fears for his safety after Donald Trump tweeted that satirical TV show Saturday Night Live deserved “retribution”. Baldwin last week played the president in a sketch mocking the US leader’s demagoguery, prompting Trump’s angry response.

9. The 1975 and Calvin Harris win Brits

The big winners at last night’s Brit Awards were rock band the 1975 and dance producer Calvin Harris. Scotsman Harris took the awards for both best single - for One Kiss, his UK No. 1 with Dua Lipa - and best producer, while the 1975 claimed the album of the year gong for A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. Beyonce and Jay-Z appeared by video link to accept the best international group award.

10. Briefing: is Apple working on a foldable iPhone?

Apple is developing a foldable smartphone that’s designed to rival new offerings from Samsung and Huawei, according to the latest reports.

A leaked patent reportedly filed by the Cupertino-based tech giant shows a device that can be folded in half thanks to a hinge that runs across the middle of its display.

Is Apple working on a foldable iPhone?