Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 30 Oct 2019

1. Johnson predicts a ‘tough’ fight after MPs back election

Boris Johnson has forecast a “tough” general election after MPs voted by 438 votes to 20 for a 12 December poll. The prime minister said it was time for the country to “come together to get Brexit done”. The bookmakers have installed the Tories as firm favourites, with one putting them at 10/11 to win.

Who will win the general election? Voting day poll results and odds

2. Officer tells impeachment inquiry White House edited transcript

An army officer and expert on Ukraine has reportedly told House impeachment investigators that the White House transcript of a call between the presidents of the US and Ukraine omitted crucial words and phrases. According to sources quoted in The New York Times, Alexander Vindman said the omissions included Donald Trump making reference to recordings of the former vice-president Joe Biden.

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3. Johnson's Brexit deal ‘would cost the UK £70bn’

Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will cost the UK economy as much as £70bn over the next decade compared with remaining in the EU, says a leading economic think tank. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research’s study concluded that growth would be 3.5% lower in ten years’ time under the prime minister’s proposals.

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

4. Threat from rising sea levels is ‘three times higher than thought’

Rising sea levels threaten the homes of 300 million people, according to a new study. The figure, which is based on fresh analysis of coastlines, is more than three times any previous estimate. The lead author of the study said it “showed the potential of climate change to reshape cities, economies, coastlines and entire global regions within our lifetimes”.

5. WhatsApp files unprecedented lawsuit against Israeli firm

WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit against an Israeli cyber weapons firm it says is responsible for secret attacks on more than 100 human rights activists, lawyers, journalists and academics. The messaging app firm is suing NSO Group over the incidents that it says violated American law in an “unmistakeable pattern of abuse”. NSO Group, which makes software for surveillance, denies the allegations.

6. More dismissals in Thailand as king turns against ‘adulterers’

Thailand’s king has dimissed four royal guards in a fresh series of purges a week after his royal consort was stripped of all titles for “disloyalty”. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn ordered the dismissal of two male guards from the “bedroom section” accusing them of “extremely evil misconduct” and “inappropriate acts and adultery”.

7. Ditch inhalers to cut carbon footprint, asthma victims told

Asthma sufferers could slash their carbon footprint by switching to “greener” medications, according to a new study. A team from Cambridge University said the change could have as significant an environmental impact as going vegetarian because some inhalers release greenhouse gases linked to global warming. However, Asthma UK said sufferers must not stop using their inhalers without taking medical advice.

8. Home secretary’s aide escorted out of bar by armed police

One of the home secretary’s top aides was escorted by armed police out of a bar in the Houses of Parliament last night. Eye witnesses say James Starkie swore noisily in the vicinity of Tory MP Bob Stewart, was refused service and appeared to punch a door. The Guardian points out that the ejection happened as MPs were voting on an election that Boris Johnson “wants to make about law and order”.

9. Female MPs from across divide unite to back Meghan

A cross-party group of female parliamentarians have condemned the media’s treatment of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arguing that some of it shows “outdated, colonial undertones”. More than 70 female MPs signed an open letter which states that the treatment of Meghan “cannot be allowed to go unchallenged” and praising her for “taking a stand” against tabloid newspapers and other outlets.

Harry and Meghan documentary: royal experts weigh in on ‘Panorama’ moment

10. Prequel is coming: Game of Thrones fans celebrate new series

Game of Thrones fans are celebrating as HBO announces a prequel series to the hit fantasy show. House of the Dragon will be set 300 years before events in the main series, which ended its eight-season run earlier this year. Game of Thrones was a mammoth success, winning multiple Emmy awards and attracting tens of millions of viewers.