Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 24 Jul 2016

1. European capitals mull 'emergency brake' Brexit deal

An ‘emergency brake’ plan to allow the UK exemption from EU rules on freedom of movement for up to seven years while retaining access to the single market are being considered in European capitals as part of a possible deal on Brexit. Diplomats believe the proposal would address concerns of the British people over immigration, while allowing the UK access to the European market.

2. Teenage Munich gunman 'targeted Turks and Arabs'

The 18-year-old Munich gunman who killed nine people was obsessed with mass shootings but had no known links to the Islamic State group, German police say. Ali David Sonboly used Facebook to lure his victims to a McDonald’s by promising free meals. It is thought he targeted youngsters of “Turkish and Arab” origin, having claimed those groups had picked on him in school.

3. Dover chaos leads to 15-hour delays for holidaymakers

Tens of thousands of tourists trying to travel to France by ferry from Dover yesterday faced “horrendous” delays of up to 15 hours. Tailbacks of at least 13 miles were blamed on a “vast volume” of holiday traffic and intensified security checks being carried out by French authorities. French border control booths at Dover had just three of the seven passport control booths open on Friday night.

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4. Parliamentary committees to slam Sir Philip Green

Sir Philip Green “accrued incredible wealth” for his family but repeatedly failed to address the company’s growing pension deficit, a parliamentary inquiry has found. The controversial billionaire extracted vast sums from the high street chain before “hurriedly” selling it to the former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, a “manifestly unsuitable purchaser”, according to the joint business and pensions select committees report.

5. Tory chairman says party must lose 'nasty' label

The Tories must not be seen as “the nasty party” ever again, says the party’s new chairman. Patrick McLoughlin admits the Conservatives have not always seemed “interested” in helping working families that are struggling to get by. He has called on the party’s MPs to praise teachers, nurses and other public sector workers more often. Theresa May hopes to occupy the centre ground.

6. Taylor Swift given unique comment censoring tool

Taylor Swift has been handed the right to censor online abuse. Instagram, the photo-sharing site, has given the US pop star a unique “tool” that enables her to remove negative or abusive comments made in response to her images. It is believed that the feature, which saves the user from laboriously deleting reams of unpleasant comments, may eventually be introduced for other high profile users.

7. Corbyn aide accused over MP office entry

A former Labour shadow cabinet minister says an aide to Jeremy Corbyn entered her parliamentary office without permission. Seema Malhotra has complained over the alleged incident, saying the "privacy, security and confidentiality" of her office had been violated. She said her staff had felt "intimidated and insecure". A Corbyn spokesman said an aide had been checking when the office would be vacated, and denied intimidation.

8. Public sector workers given controversial anti-terror training

More than half a million public sector workers, including nurses, teachers and childminders, have been given a counter-terrorism training programme to help them spot and report potential extremists in their workplaces. The Home Office says that of the 550,000 now trained in the controversial strategy, at least 150,000 are public-facing NHS staff, such as doctors and nurses.

9. Tougher sentences urged as hate crimes soar

Hate crime offenders will face tougher sentences after a surge in reported attacks in the wake of the EU referendum. As part of the government's new hate crime action plan, published next week, prosecutors will be urged to press for harsher punishments. The plan follows a sharp rise in alleged offences last month, peaking at 289 reports on 25 June - the day after the referendum result.

10. Chris Froome on verge of historic Tour de France victory

Chris Froome is on the brink of winning his third Tour de France title. The British cyclist leads the race going into today’s final stage, which is largely a processional affair ending on the Champs Elysees in Paris. He safely negotiated a rain-soaked penultimate stage in the Alps to put himself in the winner’s position. He will become the first Briton to win three Tour de France titles