Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 17 Sep 2016

1. Theresa May 'will trigger Article 50 by February'

The UK will trigger Article 50 early next year, according to Donald Tusk. The European Council President says Theresa May has told him the UK could be ready to begin the formal process of leaving the European Union by February. The timing of the process has been shrouded with uncertainty, but Tusk claims: "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me".

2. Punishment for texting at the wheel to be doubled

The government is set to double the punishment for the illegal use of a mobile phone while driving. People caught using a handheld phone while driving are currently given three penalty points and a minimum fine of £100, but that could be increased to a six point penalty and a minimum fine of £200. New drivers would lose their licence the first time they are caught using a phone.

3. Has Trump encouraged Clinton's assassination again?

Donald Trump has seemingly encouraged the assassination of his Hillary Clinton for a second time. The Republican US presidential candidate suggested his Democrat rival’s security detail should give up their guns and "see what happens to her". He warned supporters his rival wants to "destroy your second amendment" - the right to own guns. Clinton's team has accused Trump of "inciting people to violence".

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4. Jeremy Corbyn holds out olive branch to critics

Jeremy Corbyn has made a conditional peace offer to hostile Labour MPs. The leader has called on critics to rejoin the frontbench if he wins next week’s vote, as long they respect his mandate and accept the "general direction" of his anti-austerity policies. In a conciliatory interview, he says: "Of course I’ve made mistakes, and of course we need to do better."

5. Report highlights Saudi air raids on civilian sites

More than a third of Saudi-led air raids on Yemen have hit civilian sites, including school buildings, hospitals and markets, according to a group of academics, human rights organisers and activists. The findings of the most comprehensive survey of the conflict contradict claims by the Saudi government, backed by its US and British allies, that Riyadh is seeking to minimise civilian casualties.

6. Retired general says army cannot defend against serious attack

The armed forces cannot defend the UK against a serious military attack and have lost much of their ability to fight conventional wars, claims the recently retired head of the country’s joint forces command. General Sir Richard Barrons says a series of "profoundly difficult" strategic challenges are being sidestepped as the government focuses on "skinning" budgets.

7. Diane James is voted new leader of UKIP

Diane James has been elected as the UKIP’s new leader. James was the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage, who quit as leader following the UK's vote to leave the EU. She marked her victory by telling Theresa May to "get on with" Brexit. James added that UKIP was "the opposition party in waiting" and said the Tories "cannot be trusted with true Brexit".

8. Mark Carney says Britain should scrap 1p coin

Britain should abolish the 1p coin, says the governor of the Bank of England. Mark Carney said that the penny coin should be axed "at some point" because inflation is diminishing its true value. George Osborne considered scrapping the 1p coin during his tenure as chancellor but decided against the move. The decision rests with the government rather than the Bank of England.

9. Britain will resist plans for an EU army

Britain will block plans for an EU army for as long as it remains a member of the union, the defence secretary has warned. Sir Michael Fallon spoke out as it emerged that France and Germany want to create a common military force. "That is not going to happen," said Fallon. "We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato."

10. Israel 'has 200 nukes pointed at Iran' says Powell

Israel has 200 nuclear weapons, according to the latest cache of Colin Powell's leaked emails. "Anyway, Iranians can’t use one [a nuclear weapon] if they finally make one," he wrote. "The boys in Tehran know Israel has 200, all targeted on Tehran, and we have thousands." Israel has a policy of nuclear ambiguity, never admitting how many nuclear weapons it has, or even if it has any at all.