Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 20 Oct 2019

1. Boris sends two letters to the EU after Super Saturday flops

Boris Johnson has sent two letters to EU leaders after MPs voted by 322 to 306 to withhold support for his Brexit deal until the withdrawal bill that would make it law has been approved. As required by the Benn Act, he sent a request to the EU for a delay to Brexit - but without his signature. A second letter, signed by Johnson, says he believes that a delay would be a mistake.

2. Britain is ignoring serious economic problems says King

A former governor of the Bank of England says Britain is neglecting serious problems with its economy because of its focus on Brexit. Lord Mervyn King said: “We have one of the lowest savings rates in the British economy of any country in the G20 save perhaps for Argentina. We're not saving enough to finance our pensions or care for the elderly, or to finance infrastructure.”

3. Ocasio-Cortez endorses Bernie Sanders at rally in Queens

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Bernie Sanders to become the next president of the United States. Speaking at a rally in Queens, the New York Democrat said: “We right now have one of the best Democratic presidential primary fields in a generation and much of that is because of Bernie Sanders.” The congresswoman was a former volunteer for Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid.

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4. Catalonia president asks for talks with Spanish government

The president of Catalonia has called for talks with the Spanish government following unrest. Speaking on Saturday morning, Quim Torra condemned the violence of recent days, adding: “Violence has never been our flag.” There has been serious unrest in response to the imprisonment of nine leaders over their parts in the failed campaign for independence.

5. Investigator says Epstein had 13 numbers for Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew met Jeffrey Epstein at least 10 times over the course of their 12-year friendship, according to The Sunday Times. A former police detective sergeant in Florida claims that the disgraced Epstein had up to 13 phone numbers for Andrew. The investigator said he found an address book at the billionaire’s home in Palm Beach, Florida, that was “a treasure trove of Jeffrey’s activities”.

6. Harry and Meghan plan a six-week break from duties

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan a six-week break from royal duties to take some “family time” off, claims an article in The Sunday Times. The broadcaster Tom Bradby says that he found the couple “vulnerable and bruised” during their recent South Africa tour. The couple have have made no secret of their struggles to cope with the pressures of life in the public glare.

7. Government wants to ‘buy off Farage with a peerage’

Nigel Farage has been sounded out over accepting a peerage from the government, claims the Mail on Sunday. According to an ally of the Brexit Party leader, the offer was a bid to “buy him off”. The source said: “It seems someone thought that if Nigel was given a place in the Lords, he would call off his dogs and make it more likely the Tories would win a majority at the next election.”

8. IRA ‘planned to cut power supply to south-east England’

A former insider says the IRA planned to cut the power supply to the south east of England in the final years of its bombing campaign. “We were going to knock out the power supply of the south east of England,” a former insider tells the BBC. However, he adds: “We were caught before we could do that.”

9. World's longest flight successfully touches down

The world's longest flight has been a success, with 50 passengers and crew travelling non-stop for nearly 20 hours from New York to Sydney. Qantas Flight 7879 touched down in Australia on Sunday morning after travelling 16,200km (10,066 miles) in 19 hours and 16 minutes. The research flight was an experiment to see how ultra-long-haul travel affects those on board.

10. Trump scraps plans to hold G7 meeting at his own resort

Donald Trump has scrapped plans to host the G7 meeting at his own luxury resort following a major outcry. In an embarrassing climbdown, the US president announced on Twitter that he would seek an alternative venue to host world leaders next June. The Guardian says the move was “a rare admission of defeat by Trump”.