Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 8 Sep 2019

1. Boris Johnson ‘to risk jail’ over Brexit promise

Boris Johnson could risk a jail sentence with his plans to “sabotage” efforts by MPs to block Brexit, according to reports. The prime minister plans to force a showdown at the Supreme Court to deliver on his pledge to leave the European Union by October 31. He plans to ignore legislation demanding that he seek an extension from Brussels past the Halloween deadline.

2. Donald Trump claims he had been due to meet Taliban

Donald Trump has claimed he was set to meet with leaders of the Taliban at Camp David before they admitted to an attack which killed a US soldier. In a series of tweets, the US president said he had to cancel meetings with Taliban leaders and the president of Afghanistan, which were scheduled to take place just days before the 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

3. Amber Rudd quits cabinet and Tories over Boris's tactics

Amber Rudd has announced that she is resigning from the cabinet and leaving the Conservatives because of Boris Johnson’s “purge” of the party and his “failure” to pursue a deal with the EU. The work and pensions secretary also stated there is “no evidence” Johnson is seeking a deal with Brussels, despite his claims.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. Reports says 500,000 Brits are hooked on opiods

Some 500,000 Britons are hooked on opioids, claims The Sunday Times. A study has found that prescription opioids are given to five million people a year — or one in eight of the adult population. The study’s findings, to be revealed this week, are “stark”, “serious” and “quite frankly alarming”, according to sources who have read the final report.

5. National Trust under attack for killing wasps at cafes

The National Trust is under attack for killing wasps in its cafes despite catastrophic declines in numbers of the insects. The environmental conservation group describes its wasp traps as a “last resort” to keep visitors safe. However, a spokesman for the conservation organisation Buglife said: “If you put sugary traps out you will only attract more wasps. This means you increase the number of wasps near people.”

6. Prince Andrew in ‘angry bust up with senior aide’

Prince Andrew had such a furious bust up with a senior Palace aide that Prince Charles had to ask him to apologise, according to the Mail on Sunday. A source close to the Duke of York confirmed that Andrew had “got very cross” but insists “the altercation was in no way physical”. Andrew is under pressure over his links to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

7. One in four kids have seen drugs advertised on social media

A study has found that one in four young people have seen illegal drugs advertised by dealers on social media. Social media site are increasingly being used as a market place for illicit drugs, according to the first definitive study of the practice. The advocacy group Volteface says the drug most commonly seen offered was cannabis, with 63% of respondents seeing it advertised.

8. Dorian and Gabrielle to merge and hit Britain with storms

Dorian and Tropical Storm Gabrielle will “merge and batter Britain” with 60mph winds and up to two inches of rain this week, claims The Sun. Localised flooding is expected in parts as heavy rain arrives, with up to two inches predicted in areas of Scotland. The Met Office said: “Two ex-tropical storms are forecast to pass, so people should keep up to date with the forecast.”

9. Former aide says Donald Trump is in ‘severe mental decline’

A former aide to Donald Trump says the US president is “in severe mental decline” and “won’t make it” to the next election. Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House communications director, said the US president’s behaviour has “got worse”. He added: “The most likely outcome here, and I think the proudest outcome, would be to say ‘OK I did a great job, and I’m going to retire at the end of the term’.”

10. Will Apple reveal new iPhones next week?

Apple is set to unveil new iPhones next week, according to reports. In an event at its California headquarters, the software giant is expected to announce three new high-end iPhones, and a cheaper model. However, warns CNN, “don't expect anything foldable, 5G capable or radically different from the year before”.