Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 23 Oct 2017

1. Juncker aide accused of ‘tormented’ May leak

Theresa May appeared “tormented… despondent and discouraged” at a Brussels dinner last week when she “begged for help” from European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, according to a leaked account. Now her former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, has said his old opposite number, Martin Selmayr was behind the story.

2. Business leaders call for urgent Brexit deal

The five largest business lobby groups in the UK, including the CBI and the Institute of Directors, have sent a joint letter to Brexit Secretary David Davis warning that time is running out on Brexit negotiations. They are calling for an urgent transitional deal, without which they say Britain is at risk of losing jobs and major investment.

3. Toxicity charge zone begins in London

From today, vehicles with older, more-polluting engines will have to pay a £10 charge to drive into central London, on top of the existing £11.50 congestion charge. The T-charge scheme has been launched by London mayor Sadiq Khan to tackle pollution. There is concern the charge could put some hauliers out of business, however.

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4. Man questioned after Warwickshire siege

Police are questioning a man who was arrested yesterday at a bowling alley in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, after two employees were taken hostage in a four-hour siege. The man was treated at the scene, where bangs and flashes were reported at about 7pm, and taken to hospital. The two hostages were checked for shock but were unharmed.

5. Catalonia parliament considers next steps

The regional parliament in Catalonia, Spain, will meet over the next few days to decide how to respond to the imposition of direct rule from Madrid. There is speculation that regional president Carles Puigdemont plans to press on with the unilateral declaration of independence which he signed, but suspended, earlier this month.

6. Minister says British IS fighters ‘must be killed’

The Minister for International Development, Rory Stewart, says the “only way of dealing” with Britons who have travelled overseas to fight for Islamic State (IS) “will be, in almost every case, to kill them”. Stewart’s remarks are in line with the UK’s stated position, says the government. Stewart admits these are “very difficult moral issues”.

7. Director James Toback accused of harassment

James Toback, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director, has been accused of sexual harassment by 38 women. The accusations appear in an article in the Los Angeles Times. Many of the women say Toback approached them on the street and promised to help them become famous. Toback has not yet commented on the claims.

8. Briton swims to safety in Australia

A British man swam 4.5 miles to safety after getting lost while diving off the coast of Western Australia, chased by a large tiger shark. Rescuers said they “could not believe” anyone could cover the distance as quickly as John Craig, 34, did. The man got safely to shore and then walked for 30 minutes before he was taken to safety.

9. Turing school report criticises ‘vague ideas’

A 1929 school report on computing pioneer Alan Turing is to go on display for the first time in an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The report gives few hints of the genius which would turn Turing into a code-breaker and theorist on artificial intelligence, instead criticising him for his “vague ideas”.

10. Briefing: Xi Jinping lays out sweeping vision for China

Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out a “sweeping vision” for China last week, in a three-and-a-half-hour speech to the country’s ruling elite that commentators say seemed designed to “shore up his grip on power”.

The president called China’s progress during his reign – which began at the previous congress in 2012 – “truly remarkable”, but added that more effort is needed to move the country towards a goal of “national rejuvenation”, a phrase he used several times in his speech.

He also suggested that China’s success under “socialism with Chinese characteristics” demonstrated “a new choice for other countries”.

Xi Jinping lays out sweeping vision for China