Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 8 October 2022

1. Minister sacked over misconduct claim

Trade minister Conor Burns has been sacked from the government after a complaint of serious misconduct. Burns, 50, has also had the Tory whip removed while the allegations are investigated. The Telegraph said Burns is accused of inappropriate remarks and actions towards a younger man. He denies any wrongdoing. An ally of Burns questioned whether his perceived criticism of Truss during the conference, when he questioned diplomacy by Instagram, played a role in his hasty sacking.

2. Russia ‘preparing for nuclear war’

Volodymyr Zelensky said officials in Moscow have begun to “prepare their society” for the possible use of nuclear weapons. “They are not ready to do it, to use it,” he told the BBC. “But they begin to communicate. They don’t know whether they’ll use or not use it. I think it’s dangerous to even speak about it.” Meanwhile, Russia has targeted Zaporizhzhia with explosive-packed “kamikaze drones” for the first time, said The Guardian.

3. Elderly powering Covid wave

The elderly are driving a surge in Covid-19 infections but many have still not had an autumn booster, reported The Mirror. Unlike earlier waves, which started in the young, the current coronavirus wave is being powered by over-70s, said the Office for National Statistics. All over-50s are able to get a jab but so far only 6.6m of the 26m eligible have had one. Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England medical director, said: “The threat of a Covid-19 and flu season creating a ‘twindemic’ this winter is real.”

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4. Three die in Donegal explosion

Three people have died as a result of an explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal. The incident occurred in the village of Creeslough shortly after 3pm on Friday. A number of victims are being treated for injuries and it is thought that there are still people trapped in the rubble. The force of the blast was so strong that it shattered windows in a number of nearby buildings. Local parish priest Fr John Joe Duffy told RTE it was a “tragedy beyond belief” and “the heart has been torn out of our community”.

5. Truss considers childcare reform

Liz Truss is planning a shake-up of the childcare subsidy system so parents, rather than nurseries, are handed government cash to spend as they see fit, according to reports. Currently, three and four-year olds in England are entitled to 15 hours’ free childcare a week during term time, with the funding for each place sent directly to approved providers, such as nurseries or childminders. Ministers believe the high costs and complexities of childcare cause unnecessary disruption for parents.

6. NY mayor calls for migrant help

The mayor of New York City has declared a state of emergency to address a “crisis situation” over an influx of migrants. More than 17,000 have arrived in the city from the southern border since April, and since September an average of five to six buses have been arriving in the city each day, said Eric Adams. The influx is on track to cost New York $1bn (£900m) this fiscal year, and the mayor is calling for federal and state funding to help with the costs.

7. Moors search called off

A search for the last victim of the Moors murderers has been called off after no evidence of human remains were found. Greater Manchester Police began searching Saddleworth Moor on Friday after detectives received information from an author. However, analysis of a photo purporting to show a human bone found it to be “considerably smaller than a juvenile jaw” and it “cannot be ruled out that it is plant-based”, said the force. Keith Bennett was one of five youngsters killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in the 1960s.

8. Liverpool to host Eurovision

Liverpool will host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the BBC has announced. The city beat off Glasgow to grab the chance to host the show, with the grand final on 13 May 2023. Although Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won this year’s competition, the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, said it would not be safe to host next year’s contest in the country. The head of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Osterdahl, said that Liverpool was the “ideal place” to hold the competition next year.

9. Truss and Rees-Mogg ‘fraught’

Liz Truss is locked in a cabinet battle with Jacob Rees-Mogg over proposals to offer government advice on saving energy, said the i news site. The Business Secretary is continuing to push for a public campaign to save energy – but Truss has vetoed the proposals because she regards them as “nanny state”. Discussions between the pair were described as “fraught”. Meanwhile, said The Times, “the mood among cabinet ministers is bleak” and “after the most tumultuous party conference in decades, riven by infighting, revolts and U-turns, few think Truss can survive in the long term”.

10. William ‘furious’ over Geidt exit

Prince William was “furious” about how Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary was ousted following a power struggle with the then Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, according to a new book. Lord Geidt, who had acted as a mentor to Prince William for years, was forced out from the Royal Household in 2017 after falling foul of Andrew and Charles in his bid to modernise the monarchy. One source said: “William was furious. He spoke to his grandmother and father.”