Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 17 Aug 2019

1. No-deal moves Brexit closer as Tories reject unity plan

Conservative and independent MPs have ruled out backing plans brokered by Jeremy Corbyn, making the chances of a no-deal Brexit higher. The Labour mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, to reconsider Corbyn’s offer to head a temporary government. Meanwhile, Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke says he is willing to become caretaker PM to stop Brexit.

2. Washington issues warrant to seize detained tanker

The US Justice Department has issued a warrant to seize a detained Iranian oil tanker. A last-ditch legal bid by Washington to keep the tanker detained was rejected by Gibraltar on Thursday, when a judge ordered it to be released. The Grace 1 supertanker, which is carrying 2.1m barrels of oil, was held in July on suspicion of illegally transporting oil to Syria.

3. Controversy as Javid considers flipping stamp duty burden

Sajid Javid is considering a reform to stamp duty that would switch the tax burden from buyers to sellers. Although the change would help families buying bigger properties and mean that first-time buyers never pay the tax, it would also mean higher tax bills for those who have benefited from soaring property prices and are downsizing.

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4. Ten arrested after police officer dies in Berkshire

Ten people are being questioned on suspicion of murdering a police officer who was dragged along a road by a vehicle. PC Andrew Harper, 28, died on Thursday while responding to reports of a burglary. He was killed on the A4 Bath Road in the Berkshire village of Sulhamstead. Thames Valley Police said the death of PC Harper - who got married four weeks ago - had left the entire force “shocked and saddened”.

5. Greenland tells Trump: we are obviously not for sale

Greenland has told Donald Trump that it is not for sale. Following reports that the US president has repeatedly asked aides to look into the possibility of buying the world’s largest island, the Greenland government said it viewed the inquiry as “an expression of general greater interest in investing in our country and its opportunities,” but added firmly: “Greenland is obviously not for sale.”

6. Tributes as actor Peter Fonda dies at the age of 79

Peter Fonda, the star, co-writer and producer of the movie Easy Rider, has died at the age of 79. His family said he died peacefully at home in Los Angeles after suffering respiratory failure due to lung cancer. His older sister Jane Fonda said: “I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing.”

7. Israel attacks Gaza in response to rocket fire

Israel attacked Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, saying the bombing was a response to a rocket that was fired by Palestinian militant groups into Israel. “A short time ago, IDF warplanes and aircraft attacked two underground terror structures of the Hamas terror group in the north and center of the Gaza Strip,” said the Israeli Defence Force.

8. Further protests in Hong Kong as actor enters fray

A protest by teachers is underway as thousands of people take to the streets in Hong Kong calling for democratic reforms. The latest demonstrations come after Hong Kong airport cancelled all outbound flights after a vast sit-in by protesters. Meanwhile, Disney’s Mulan star, Crystal Liu, has sparked a call for boycott after backing police in the city.

9. Jeffrey Epstein's death was suicide, says medical examiner

Jeffrey Epstein’s death in prison was a suicide, the medical examiner has ruled. The billionaire sex offender was found dead at the New York Metropolitan correctional center. He had been arrested in July on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges relating to the alleged abuse of hundreds of young girls. His death has sparked scepticism and conspiracy theories.

10. Pound rose on Brexit unity government optimism

The pound rose against the euro as politicians talked up plans to block a no-deal Brexit. The currency made its strongest in almost five months yesterday when Conservative Remain MPs hinted that they could favour a Jeremy Corbyn premiership over crashing out of the EU after the Labour leader put forward plans for a caretaker government.