Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 3 Apr 2019

1. May to meet Corbyn to break Brexit deadlock

Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are expected to meet today to discuss Brexit after May made an extraordinary statement last night which has set her firmly at odds with the hard-Brexit wing of her party. May said she would ask the EU to extend Britain’s leaving deadline and would work with Corbyn to deliver Brexit.

2. PM’s olive branch provokes Tory ‘mutiny’

Theresa May’s decision to reach out to Labour over Brexit has provoked a Tory “mutiny”, Sky News asserts. The broadcaster says the rumour is Cabinet voted by 14 to 10 to back a no-deal Brexit but May chose to ignore ministers’ wishes. “Ominously for the PM,” says Sky, Boris Johnson is among mutineers who will attack May today.

3. MoD criticised over ‘spiralling’ submarine costs

The MoD has not dismantled any of the UK’s decommissioned nuclear submarines since 1980, meaning that 20 of the obsolete craft are being kept in storage, nine still containing nuclear fuel. The National Audit Office which says the cost of keeping the submarines has been £500m. Chair Meg Hillier MP urged the MoD to “get a grip”.

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4. Heart deaths down two thirds since smoking ban

Researchers have found the UK has cut the rate of death from heart disease by 63% in a period of roughly 25 years up to 2015. They attribute the reduction in part to the bans on smoking in public places introduced in that time, as well as to the decline in smoking generally and to better healthcare, monitoring and NHS co-ordination.

5. Two men in hospital after London stabbings

The tragic spate of stabbings in London and other cities continued last night, with two men still in hospital after a double attack in Wembley, in the north-west of the capital. Their injuries were critical but neither man remains in a critical condition this morning. No arrests have yet been made and police are appealing for information.

6. Brunei brings in stoning to death for gay sex

From today, gay sex will be punishable by stoning to death in Brunei. The decision to introduce the draconian penalty has already been met with international outcry, with George Clooney and other celebrities proposing a boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. As well as stoning, the new laws introduce cutting off limbs for theft.

7. Small airline Flybe cancels dozens of flights

The regional airline Flybe has cancelled dozens of flights today, citing “operational reasons”. The carrier has scrapped flights from Belfast, Birmingham, Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Newcastle, saying: “All customers affected have been emailed and advised they can rebook … an alternative flight or apply for a full refund.”

8. Australia: man ‘blew up car after being beeped’

A 33-year-old man in Australia is to go on trial for allegedly blowing up the car of a family in revenge after they beeped at his girlfriend as she went through a McDonald’s fast food drive-thru restaurant. Ryan Sharp is alleged to have tracked down the victims and to have planted a lethal explosive device. No-one was hurt.

9. Who is Naruhito, Japan’s next emperor?

The Japanese government has unveiled the name of Japan’s next imperial era, ahead of Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication from the position.

Who is Naruhito, Japan’s new emperor?

10. Schools provide ‘pronoun badges’ for trans pupils

Schools and universities in Brighton and Hove are distributing “pronoun badges” to pupils and students – stickers and lapel pins which allow them specify whether they want to be referred to as he, she or they. They have been created by the city council which is providing them on an optional basis to schools within its wards.