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

1. May to meet Corbyn in bid to break Brexit deadlock

Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are expected to meet today to discuss Brexit, after the prime minister made an extraordinary statement last night that 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 claims. The broadcaster says that the Cabinet is rumoured to have voted by 14 to ten to back a no-deal Brexit but that the PM chose to ignore ministers’ wishes. “Ominously for the PM”, says Sky, Boris Johnson is believed to be among the mutineers planning to attack May.

3. MoD criticised over ‘spiralling’ submarine costs

The MoD has not disposed of any of the 20 nuclear submarines decommissioned since 1980, leaving the obsolete craft in storage, with nine still containing radioactive fuel, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has found. The National Audit Office says storing the submarines has cost UK taxpayers £500m. Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, urged the MoD to “get a grip”.

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4. Heart deaths more than halved since smoking ban

The rate of deaths from heart disease dropped by 63% in the UK between 1989-91 and 2013-15, new research shows. Experts attribute the reduction in part to the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places, along with the decline in smoking generally and improvements in healthcare, monitoring and NHS coordination.

5. Two men in hospital after London stabbings

The spate of stabbings in London and other cities continued last night, with two men taken to hospital in a double attack in Wembley, in the northwest of the capital. Police said both men sustained life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made and police are appealing for information.

6. Brunei brings in stoning to death for gay sex

Gay sex will be punishable by stoning to death in Brunei from today. The decision to introduce the draconian penalty has sparked an international outcry, with actor George Clooney and other celebrities calling for a boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Other new laws coming into effect in the small Southeast Asian country include cutting off limbs for theft.

7. Flybe cancels dozens of flights

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. “All customers affected have been emailed and advised they can rebook for travel on an alternative flight or apply for a full refund,” the company said in a statement.

8. Australia: man ‘blew up car in revenge for beeping’

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 in New South Wales. 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 students in a bid to support transgender youngsters. The stickers and lapel pins allow the wearer specify whether they want to be referred to as he, she or they, and have been created by the city council as part of a campaign to to prevent “misgendering”.