Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 3 Sep 2016

1. Clegg says Osborne cut welfare to boost Tory popularity

Nick Clegg says George Osborne nonchalantly slashed the benefits of Britain’s poorest because he believed making the austerity cuts would boost Conservative popularity. The former Lib Dem leader said: "Welfare for Osborne was just a bottomless pit of savings, and it didn’t really matter what the human consequences were, because focus groups had shown that the voters they wanted to appeal to were very anti-welfare."

2. China ratifies Paris climate change agreement

China's has ratified the Paris global climate agreement, according to the state news agency, Xinhua. The move is particularly significant because the country is the world's largest emitter of harmful CO2 emissions, which cause climate change. China and the US are expected to jointly announce ratification at a bilateral summit later on Saturday. The Paris deal is the world's first comprehensive climate agreement.

3. NHS to refuse operations to obese and smokers

Smokers and the obese will be routinely refused operations across the NHS, health service bosses have warned, after one authority said it would limit procedures on an unprecedented scale. Chiefs in Yorkshire said that patients with a body mass index of 30 or above – as well as smokers – will be barred from most surgery for up to a year amid increasingly desperate measures to plug a funding black hole.

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4. Microbeads 'to be banned by end of next year'

Microbeads in bathroom products are expected to be banned by the government by the end of 2017. The tiny pieces of plastic, commonly found in toothpaste, exfoliating body scrubs and other household products, are believed to be damaging the environment. A consultation on how a ban on the material would work is expected to be announced on Saturday. Environmentalists say microbeads are damaging wildlife and entering the food chain.

5. Russia says Brexit decision has weakened Europe

The Brexit vote has weakened Europe, Russia’s deputy prime minister has warned. As pro-Europe campaigners prepare for rallies across the UK on Saturday, Arkady Dvorkovich told BBC Newsnight: "The British decision to leave Europe made Europe a little bit weaker at this point. The whole process of getting away from Europe is a difficult one and creates more uncertainties. For Russia, it is important that Europe is strong."

6. Starbucks and Amazon 'pay less tax than a sausage stall'

Amazon and Starbucks pay less tax in Austria than a local sausage stall, says the country's chancellor Christian Kern. "Every Viennese cafe, every sausage stand pays more tax in Austria than a multinational corporation," Kern told Der Standard. "That goes for Starbucks, Amazon and other companies," he added. He lauded the European Commission's recent order that Apple should pay 13bn euros more in tax to Ireland.

7. CofE bishop reveals he is in gay relationship

Bishop of Grantham Nicholas Chamberlain has revealed that he is gay and in a long-term relationship. He becomes the first bishop in the Church of England to reveal that he is gay and in a relationship. His announcement came after a Sunday newspaper reportedly threatened to publish a story revealing his sexuality. He said it had not been his decision "to make a big thing about coming out".

8. Fury as Southern Rail owner announces £100m profit

Southern Rail’s owner was accused of being rewarded for failure by announcing that profits had soared to almost £100m the day after receiving £20m from the taxpayer. Boss David Brown apologised to passengers whose "lives have been affected" by cancellations and delays on Southern. He has waived a bonus and salary increase, but he is still forecast to earn about £1.3m.

9. Prince Charles on why he buried two jumpers

Prince Charles has revealed that he buried two jumpers in a flower bed at Clarence House. He wanted to illustrate wool’s virtues as a material that is recyclable and biodegradable. "Six months later, a ceremonious exhumation revealed an intact synthetic jersey, fit indeed to be washed and worn, while the woollen jersey had quietly and usefully biodegraded itself away to nothing," he said.

10. Which is Britain's most sexist supermarket?

Morrisons is Britain’s most sexist supermarket, says The Times. A basket of female toiletries at Morrisons costs 56% more than the equivalent male branded items, according to an investigation. The analysis found that women are paying a quarter more than men on average for own-brand toiletries. Morrisons said: "The survey fails to compare identical products — so isn’t comparing like with like."