Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 23 Jul 2019

1. Jo Swinson ‘will poach votes from Tories under Johnson’

The Conservatives will learn who their new leader is shortly before midday today, with Boris Johnson expected to claim victory over rival Jeremy Hunt. The day may also see several high-profile Tories resign - and The Times reports that newly elected Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson expects to attract Tory voters if Johnson pursues a no-deal Brexit.

Jo Swinson becomes Liberal Democrats' first female leader

2. UK set to swelter in hottest overnight temperatures yet

Forecasters are predicting a new night-time temperature record for the UK this evening, as a plume of tropical air sweeps over Britain. The Met Office says it could be as hot as 25C in southern England between 8pm and 8am, beating the previous record of 23.9C, set in August 1990.

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‘Put away the duvet’ - UK set for hottest night on record

3. South Korean jets fire warning shots at Russian plane

South Korea says its fighter jets fired warning shots at a Russian bomber that twice violated the East Asian country’s airspace earlier today. Chinese military aircraft also entered South Korean airspace on Tuesday, first on their own and then with Russian planes, according to officials in Seoul.

US-Iran crisis: are we heading towards World War Three?

4. Holidaymakers warned as BA pilots vote to strike

British Airways pilots yesterday voted to strike over a pay increase worth 11.5% over three years, which they say is not generous enough given the airline’s healthy profits. Pilots could walk out as soon as 6 August - which might coincide with another strike by staff at Heathrow who are Unite members.

5. US government introduces fast-track deportations

The Donald Trump administration has given itself the right to deport migrants without their cases being heard by courts. Fast-track deportations previously applied only to those who had been in the country for less than two weeks, but can now be used to boot out migrants who cannot prove they have lived in the US for two years continuously.

6. Fears for ‘floating bomb’ oil tanker abandoned in Yemen

A deserted oil tanker described as a “floating bomb” that is moored off the coast of war-torn Yemen has the potential to create an environmental disaster, experts are warning. Houthi rebels fighting the Yemeni government have refused the United Nations permission to inspect the tanker, which is carrying more than a million barrels of oil that are eroding fast. There are fears that gases have built up in the storage tanks, risking a massive explosion.

7. Banned ‘Your wife is hot’ advert appears on billboard

An advertisement that was banned from Nottingham buses on the grounds it was sexist has appeared on a billboard in the city, sparking controversy. The ad, for an air conditioning firm, shows an attractive woman in short shorts, with the caption “Your wife is hot. Better get the air conditioning fixed.”

8. Government pledges to ‘end smoking’ by 2030

Government health plans published today will include measures designed to “end” smoking in the UK by 2030, including offering help to quit to any smoker admitted to hospital for any reason. The green paper also proposes extending tooth brushing schemes in nurseries and primary schools and reviewing public guidance on sleep.

9. Australia: man ‘crashed drug-filled van into police cars’

A suspected drug dealer crashed a van full of methylamphetamine into two parked patrol cars outside a Sydney police station on Monday, giving officers “one of the easiest drug busts” they have ever made, according to authorities in New South Wales. The alleged incident was spotted on CCTV moments after it happened and police were able to locate the van.

10. Briefing: is it safe to travel to Egypt?

Egyptian authorities have expressed “displeasure” after two major European airlines suspended all flights to Cairo amid security concerns.

With the threat of terrorism looming on one side and an authoritarian government regime on the other, is a trip to the country safe?

Is it safe to travel to Egypt?