Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 13 Jul 2019

1. Boris starts talks with Labour MPs in Leave seats

Boris Johnson has begun talks with Labour MPs in Leave constituencies over his plans for Brexit. The Tory leadership hopeful believes he can win the support of up to 40 Labour MPs after Jeremy Corbyn’s decision this week to back Remain in a second referendum. Referring to Corbyn’s latest move, a Boris ally said: “This couldn’t have worked out better for us”.

2. Government to issue guidelines on sleep and hygiene

Ministers are to introduce official guidance on how many hours people should sleep each night. In a move resembling recommendations on weekly alcohol consumption, the suggested minimum amount will vary according to age group and will come together with advice on “sleep hygiene”. A neuroscientist remarked: “Sleep is the tide that rises all other health boats.”

3. City youngsters' hearts contain toxic pollution particles

Young city dwellers’ hearts contain billions of toxic air pollution particles, a new study has revealed. The cells of the organ’s critical pumping muscles contained the tiny particles, causing damage to the the heart. The research suggests these iron-rich particles, produced by vehicles and industry, could be the underlying cause of the link between dirty air and heart disease.

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4. Trump accuser says she sleeps with a loaded gun by her bed

E Jean Carroll, the New York writer who has accused Donald Trump of raping her in the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the 1990s, says she now sleeps with a loaded gun by her bed following online death threats. The US President has denied the allegations, saying: “She’s not my type”.

5. Osborne says probe into ambassador leak harms freedom

Evening Standard editor George Osborne says a police investigation into the leak of memos written by the UK ambassador to the US is “encroaching on press freedom”. The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command said: “I am satisfied that there has been damage caused to UK international relations, and there would be clear public interest in bringing the person or people responsible to justice.”

6. US regulators ‘approve $5bn (£4bn) fine for Facebook.’

Regulators in the US have approved a record $5bn (£4bn) fine for Facebook to settle an investigation into data privacy violations. The settlement was approved by the Federal Trade Commission FTC in 3-2 vote, according to reports. The FTC has been investigating allegations that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica improperly obtained the data of up to 87m Facebook users.

7. Seven dead in suicide attack on southern Somalian hotel

At least seven people have been killed in a suicide attack by al-Shabaab militants on a hotel in southern Somalia. The chief attacker rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Medina hotel in the port town of Kismayo. Heavily armed gunmen then forced their way inside, shooting as they went. The attack has been claimed by the al-Qaida-linked group.

8. Jeffrey Epstein accused of paying off witnesses

Jeffrey Epstein has been accused of paying large amounts of money to two people who could be potential witnesses in his child sex trafficking case in an effort to influence them. Prosecutors said the the US financier sent a total of $350,000 (£278,000) to two suspected co-conspirators late last year. Epstein is due in court on Monday for a hearing to consider his request for bail.

9. Former Wimbledon champ complains of antisemitism

A former Wimbledon champion has accused the All England Club of antisemitism because she has yet to receive membership 63 years after her victory. Angela Buxton, now 84, was the first British Jewish player to grab a title at Wimbledon, winning the ladies doubles. A Wimbledon spokeswoman said it “strongly refutes” any suggestion that race or religion influences its decisions on membership.

10. Ed Sheeran says fame makes him feel like a ‘zoo animal’

Ed Sheeran says fame has left him feeling like a “zoo animal” and unable to properly trust people. The popular singer-songwriter said he finds it difficult when people constantly snap photos of him in public, making him feel “not human and like a zoo animal”. He said he has cut his friendship group to just four companions as a result.