Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 25 Aug 2019

1. Boris seeks legal advice on parliamentary shutdown

Boris Johnson has sought legal advice on whether parliament can be shut down for five months, according to leaked government correspondence. An email seen by The Observer shows that the prime minister has recently requested guidance from the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, on the legality of such a step, known as prorogation. The move would be a bid to stop MPs forcing a further extension to Brexit.

2. Royal Navy sailors have links to far-right organisation

Two members of the Royal Navy are members of a far-right group with links to a banned terrorist organisation, reveals The Observer. An undercover informant in the UK branch of the Identitarian Movement met a Royal Navy sailor who said that he was about to take up a posting on a submarine armed with Trident nuclear missiles.

3. Man in sixties stabbed to death in west London

A man in his 60s has been stabbed to death in west London. Emergency services were called to St Mary's Avenue in Southall yesterday evening where they found the man suffering from a stab wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

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4. New 3D airport scanners could end restrictions on liquids

The government says that all major UK airports must introduce 3D baggage screening equipment before the end of 2022. The technology would improve security, accelerate checks, and could end the restrictions on travelling with liquids and laptops. The equipment is similar to CT scanners used in hospitals. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the scanners would cut down on “hassle” for travellers.

5. Prince Andrew's Epstein statement gets short shrift

Prince Andrew has defended his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and claimed that “at no stage” did he “see or suspect” any criminal behaviour. However, commentators have pointed out that the Duke was photographed socialising with Epstein after the latter received an 18-month prison sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution. The BBC says it is “somewhat unlikely that this statement will quell the questions about Andrew's good sense and judgement”.

6. Several injured as lightning strikes tree at golf tournament

Several people were injured after lightning struck a tree at a golf tournament in the US. The lightning hit a 60ft pine tree just off the 16th tee, shattering the trunk all the way to the bottom. The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta had been earlier been suspended so spectators and players could shelter from a storm.

7. Brazilian president slammed for comedy club visit

Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has been criticised for going to a comedy club as the Amazon burned. Bolsonaro went to a standup show in Brasília by right-wing Christian comic Jonathan Nemer, as his own pre-recorded speech, explaining how he planned to use the army to fight the fires, was broadcast on television on Friday night.

8. Queen's lawn ‘ruined by Donald Trump's helicopters’

The Queen’s favourite lawn was left with scorch marks and craters after Donald Trump flew in by helicopter during his state visit, reports The Sunday Times. A source close to Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, who visited Buckingham Palace the day after Trump, said the Queen led Morrison out to the gardens and said: “‘Come and look at my lawn. It’s ruined.’”

9. Ed Sheeran accused in court of ‘appropriating’ others' songs

Ed Sheeran has been accused of being “consciously or subconsciously in the habit of appropriating the compositional skill and labour of other songwriters,” in documents lodged at the high court. Sam Chokri claims that Sheeran copied the chorus from his 2015 song Oh Why for his song Shape of You, which was the biggest-selling UK single of 2017, topping the charts in 34 countries. Sheeran denies the claims.

10. US basketball team loses for first time in 13 years

The United States basketball team suffered their first loss in 13 years in a shock defeat by Australia in a World Cup warm-up in Melbourne. “Obviously, this was a great step for us,” Australia guard Joe Ingles said after the historic result. The outcome also gave the Aussies their first win over the Americans after 26 attempts, dating as far back as 1964.