Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 2 Feb 2017

1. Brexit white paper to be published for scrutiny

The government has set out its plans for Brexit in detail today, in a white paper. The document is based around the 12 principles announced by Prime Minister Theresa May in her Brexit speech last month, including exit from the single market. MPs last night backed a simple bill giving May the power to trigger the formal process of leaving.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

2. Trump has 'worst call by far' with Australian PM

Donald Trump told Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull they had had "the worst call by far" after a dispute over the US accepting 1,250 asylum-seekers held by Australia. In a tweet, the US President said he would examine the "dumb deal" and wrongly claimed it was about "illegal immigrants", although it is not illegal to travel overseas seeking asylum.

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Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives

3. Second night of corruption protests in Romania

Protesters took to the streets of cities across Romania for the second night running to protest the weakening of anti-corruption laws. There were clashes between demonstrators and police in Bucharest, resulting only in light injuries. It was the city's biggest demonstration since the fall of Ceausescu in 1989.

Why are Romanians protesting in the streets?

4. Call for 'biggest ever protest' against Trump visit

A newly formed campaign group, the Stop Trump Coalition, is calling for the biggest ever street protest in the UK, in opposition to a state visit by new US President Donald Trump. In a letter to The Guardian signed by MPs, activists and figures from the arts, the group says Trump's actions are "dangerous and divisive" and threaten world peace.

5. Vera Lynn to release new album as she turns 100

Dame Vera Lynn, the singer known as "the forces' sweetheart" for her morale-boosting performances during WWII, is to celebrate her 100th birthday on 17 March this year by releasing a new album, Vera Lynn 100. She is already the oldest living artist to have a top-20 album in the UK, with a record she put out at the age of 97 in 2014.

6. Anti-Semitic hate crimes hit record high, says charity

More incidents of anti-Jewish hate were recorded in the UK last year than ever before, the Community Security Trust says. There were 1,309 incidents reported in 2016, surpassing the previous high of 1,182 from 2014. The charity attributes the spike to the "cumulative effect" of various factors rather than any one trigger.

7. Plans for third Heathrow runway made public

Plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport are being published today at the start of a four-month consultation on the proposals. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is expected to say the move shows Britain is "open for business" despite the Brexit vote. Around 900 homes are expected to be demolished to make way for the new terminal.

'Third Heathrow runway is not enough,' say business leaders

8. Bank of England increases growth forecast

The Bank of England has significantly upgraded its growth forecast for the UK. It now expects the economy to grow 2% in 2017, up from a forecast of 1.4% in November. In August last year the prediction was just 0.8%. However, growth is expected to fall in 2018, and there are concerns that the savings ratio wil fall to a new low of just 4%.

9. Beyonce reveals she is pregnant with twins

US singer Beyonce has revealed she is pregnant with twins via a pregnancy portrait on Instagram. The image shows the visibly pregnant star wearing a veil and kneeling among bouquets of flowers. Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, already have a daughter, Blue Ivy, who was born in 2012.

Beyonce pregnant with twins: The best Twitter reactions

10. Briefing: Oil price slump to end tax-free living in Saudi Arabia

A two-and-a-half year slump in the oil price has put an end to the tax-free life of people in Saudi Arabia after its government approved a "value-added tax to be imposed across the Gulf", says The Guardian. Backed by the International Monetary Fund and agreed with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a political union that includes as members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the five per cent tax will be applied selectively on some goods.

Oil price posts two-year highs - but how long can it last?