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Your morning briefing: What you should know for Tuesday, May 21

Tributes paid to F1 legend Niki Lauda

Legendary Formula One driver Niki Lauda has died at the age of 70.

Lauda won three world championships but is also remembered for narrowly escaping death after he was consumed by a fireball following a crash in 1976.

He suffered third degree burns and was read the last rites in hospital but miraculously returned to racing just 40 days later.

Tributes poured in for the Austrian, who was called a "legend" by British racing driver Jenson Button.

He tweeted: "A legend has left us. Rest in peace Niki."

Lauda was also mourned by the McLaren Formula One team, who wrote: "All at McLaren are deeply saddened to learn that our friend, colleague and 1984 Formula 1 World Champion, Niki Lauda, has passed away.

"Niki will forever be in our hearts and enshrined in our history."

His family said: "His unique successes as a sportsman and entrepreneur are and remain unforgettable.

"His tireless drive, his straightforwardness and his courage remain an example and standard for us all. Away from the public gaze, he was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. We will miss him very much."

Union to meet Government over fears British Steel may collapse

Union leaders are set for talks with the Government on the future of British Steel over fears that it faces insolvency within days if a deal cannot be struck.

Britain's second-largest steel producer is on the brink of collapse putting up to 25,000 jobs at risk, Sky News has reported.

The Unite union said it would be speaking to Business Secretary Greg Clark this morning and urged British Steel owner Greybull to find a way to save the company.

British Steel has asked for a package of support to tackle Brexit-related issues and has been holding talks with the Government. Last week it said operations would continue as normal.

Electoral Commission launches review into Brexit Party finances

The Electoral Commission will visit the Brexit Party's HQ today after starting a review into the systems it has to receive donations.

The move comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown called for an investigation into whether there had been any undeclared payments to the party.

The Commission confirmed it was conducting a review of the party’s systems for receiving funds, including for any payments over £500 that have to be from the UK only.

At a rally last night Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said the commission had previously given the organisation a clean bill of health.

He labelled Mr Brown’s demands part of a co-ordinated attack against the fledgling party ahead of Thursday’s European elections.

Trump loses legal battle over financial records subpoena

A federal judge in Washington has ruled against Donald Trump in his financial records dispute with Congress.

US District Judge Amit Mehta said the president cannot block a House subpoena of his financial records because the Democratic-led committee had valid legislative purposes for seeking the information.

The subpoena has been issued to an accountant for both the president and the Trump Organisation.

Mr Trump's lawyers have accused Democrats of harassing the president and said the subpoena has no legitimate legislative purpose so should be blocked

Pack your bags, we're all off to Mars

Professor Brian Cox has said that at some point in the future people will be Martians.

The pop star-turned-physicist said Mars is the only planet that humans will be able to go to and that it must happen as people cannot remain on Earth forever.

"It is actually the only place we can go beyond Earth," he said.

"In any plausible scenario, there is nowhere else that humans can go to begin their step outwards from the planet, other than Mars. If you think of the other planets, there's none of the others we can land on."

The presenter, 51, continued: "There may or not be Martians and we need to find out.

"But there will be Martians, if we are to have a future.

"At some point we will be the Martians. That's clear to me. Because we can't stay here forever."

On this day…

1471: Henry VI was murdered in the Tower of London.

1840: New Zealand was declared a colony of Britain.

1851: Gold was discovered in Australia.

1894: The Manchester Ship Canal was opened.

1916: Clocks and watches in Britain went forward one hour as the Daylight Saving Act (Summer Time) was introduced.

1927: Pilot Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris to win the 25,000 dollar prize for the first solo flight across the Atlantic.

1966: Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) ended Henry Cooper's hopes of winning the world heavyweight crown for Britain in round six, in London.