Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 17 Jul 2017

1. Cabinet 'divided' as Brexit talks resume

Chancellor Philip Hammond has reportedly been accused of "treachery" by his cabinet colleagues over his desire for a two-year transition deal with the EU to cushion the blow of leaving the bloc. Brexit Secretary David Davis is in Brussels to begin the next round of negotiations with the EU today.

2. South Korea proposes talks with North

South Korea has offered to restart military talks with North Korea for the first time since 2015. Newly elected President Moon Jae-in, who campaigned on a softer approach to Pyongyang, has called for a peace treaty, despite the North's frequent missile tests. Pyongyang has not yet responded to the proposal.

3. HS2 contracts awarded as northern route revealed

The winners of HS2 contracts worth £6.6bn have been announced by the government. UK firms Carillion, Costain and Balfour Beatty are among the consortiums who will build tunnels, bridges and embankments on the first stretch of the new high speed rail line between London and Birmingham. The final routes of the Manchester and Leeds branches of HS2 are also set to be revealed.

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HS2 contracts worth £6.6bn awarded

4. Abuse of politicians at 'tipping point'

The personal abuse aimed at politicians and election candidates has reached a "tipping point", the head of the Commons standards watchdog has warned. Lord Bew told the BBC that British politics was at a "dangerous moment" and threats could deter people from running for office. He likened the "threat culture" to that seen during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Abuse of UK politicians at 'tipping point', says watchdog

5. High Court hears right-to-die case

Terminally-ill retired lecturer Noel Conway begins the latest stage of his legal bid to be allowed to end his life with medical help today. The High Court will hear arguments over five days after the Appeal Court ruled in April his request for a judicial review should be considered. The 67-year-old has motor neurone disease.

6. UK is 'sleepwalking' into food insecurity

Britain is "sleepwalking" into food insecurity, with ministers and the public complacent after decades of stable prices and uninterrupted supplies thanks to membership of the EU, three food policy experts say. They also say there has been little thinking on replacing EU legislation or subsidies after Brexit.

7. First female Doctor Who divides fans

Doctor Who fans are "divided" over the news Broadchurch star Jodie Whittaker will be the first woman to play the role, says the BBC. While many have welcomed the news, with one commentator saying the absence of female leads in science fiction in general is "embarrassing", others criticised it as "political correctness gone mad".

Twitter reacts to Jodie Whittaker as female Doctor Who

8. Living Dead director Romero dies at 77

Film director George A Romero has died at the age of 77 after a "brief but aggressive battle with lung cancer", his producing partner has said. Romero made the horror classic Night of the Living Dead in 1968 and followed it with several sequels. He added a pinch of social satire and humour to the gore-filled zombie genre.

9. Study: Most people kiss from the right

People are more likely to turn their heads to the right when they kiss, an international study by psychologists and neuroscientists has found. Researchers from the universities of Dhaka, Bath and Bath Spa said the preference seems to cross cultures and that men were about 15 times more likely to initiate kissing than women.

How to kiss like a pro

10. Briefing: Are we heading for a messy Brexit?

"Brexit is an opportunity," said the Prime Minister last week. "It's an opportunity for us to get out there and embrace the world and I think the world is waiting."

But it may not be an easy one to grasp. Also speaking last week, Amyas Morse, the head of the National Audit Office, described the exit process as Britain's "biggest peacetime challenge". That, he said, was "only just beginning to click into awareness" for those in government.

"The government needs to act as far as possible in a unified way and we have an issue there because of departmental government," he added. "What we don't want to find is that at the first tap, this falls apart like a chocolate orange."

Brexit Britain: Are we heading for a messy departure?