Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Oct 2019

1. Johnson to lay out Brexit plans to Commons

Boris Johnson will today lay out his new proposals for Brexit to MPs in the Commons. The Democratic Unionist Party and the hard-Brexit Tory MPs of the ERG are said to be pleased with the prime minister’s proposed “compromise”, which would see Northern Ireland stay in the European single market for goods but leave the customs union - resulting in new customs checks. Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn said the plan would deregulate the UK and “undermine the Good Friday Agreement”.

Will anyone agree to Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan?

2. Brussels leaves PM in suspense over Irish backstop alternative

EU leaders yesterday withheld approval for formal negotiations over Boris Johnson’s new plans for Brexit, leaving the PM’s chances of securing a new withdrawal deal hanging by a thread. Johnson’s team want EU negotiators to enter into intensive “tunnel talks” by the weekend to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

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Today’s newspapers: ‘Bullish Boris ready to walk away’

3. Man who can’t understand consent has right to sex, says judge

A 36-year-old man whose severe autism means he cannot understand that a woman’s consent is relevant to sex is “entitled to make … mistakes”, a judge has ruled. The man, who lives in supported housing, should not be prevented from seeking a sexual partner and has a “fundamental right to sex”, Mrs Justice Roberts ruled at the London-based Court of Protection, which considers issues relating to people who might lack the mental capacity to make decisions.

4. Trump hits out over impeachment inquiry

US President Donald Trump yesterday lashed out at House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff, calling the Democrat congressman “a lowlife”. In a bizarre outburst over the impeachment inquiry threatening his presidency, Trump added: “Frankly, they should look at him for treason.” The president also told White House press that Democrat rival Joe Biden was “stone-cold corrupt”.

Bernie Sanders hospitalised: will he still run in 2020?

5. North Korea test-fires new type of ballistic missile

North Korea has confirmed reports that its military has test-fired a new type of ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The launch on Wednesday was the rogue state’s 11th this year but was the first of a missile capable of being fired from a submarine. The test-firing took place hours after North Korea said it would restart nuclear talks with the US.

6. Scotland set to ban smacking

Scotland is to become the first of the UK nations to ban parents from smacking children, overturning rules that allow parents and other carers to use “reasonable” physical force to discipline children. In a vote this afternoon, the Scottish Parliament is expected to overwhelmingly back a bill to give children the same protection from assault as adults.

7. Lost wisdom of ancient Vesuvius to be revealed

Scientists are poised to access previously lost ancient texts using x-rays and computer algorithms. A team using a particle accelerator in Oxfordshire hope to digitally read the carbonised scrolls from the library at Herculaneum, which was obliterated by a volcanic eruption in AD79. All attempts to unravel the scrolls so far have ended in failure.

Will ancient scrolls damaged by Vesuvius be read again?

8. Warnings of wind and rain as Storm Lorenzo hits

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for wind for parts of Northern Ireland, southwest England and Wales today and tomorrow as the tail end of Hurricane Lorenzo hits Britain. Winds of up to 60mph are expected in Northern Ireland and elsewhere later today, with heavy rain to follow.

Hurricane Lorenzo: how will it affect the UK?

9. Germany: zebra shot dead after causing car crash

A zebra that escaped from a circus in northern Germany has been shot dead after fleeing onto a motorway. Police in Rostock said the animal disrupted traffic, damaged cars and caused an accident before being shot by officers. A second zebra that escaped at the same time was recaptured. No one was injured in the car accident, police said.

10. Briefing: what is sadfishing?

Young people seeking support on social media to deal with their personal problems are instead being mocked and accused of attention seeking, experts are warning.

The growing trend for sharing worries online has been dubbed “sadfishing” by sceptics, who claim such posts are merely attempts to get attention, sympathy or an audience, says Sky News

What is sadfishing?