Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 23 Nov 2017

1. Tories rally round Hammond after Budget

Conservative MPs have come out in support of Chancellor Philip Hammond after the Office for Budget Responsibility said the cut to stamp duty that he announced in his Budget yesterday will not have the effect intended, and will benefit existing homeowners rather than first-timer buyers. Labour attacked the Government over its bleak growth forecasts.

2. Mugabe’s successor promises jobs for Zimbabwe

Former vice-president of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday promised to create jobs for a “new and unfolding democracy” as he returned from exile to replace Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa was fired by Mugabe two weeks ago – a decision that cost the 93-year-old autocrat the presidency. Mugabe resigned this week after 37 years in power.

3. Weather warnings across UK following flash floods

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for much of the UK, with high winds and heavy rain expected across England and Wales – and snow forecast in northern Scotland. Flash flooding after prolonged rainfall yesterday has affected Ireland, parts of Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire. Firemen rescued a total of 70 people.

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4. RAF plane in Argentina to help search for sub

An RAF plane has landed on Argentinian soil for the first time since the Falklands War – in order to help search for a missing Argentinian submarine. The plane, carrying underwater equipment and submarine specialists, landed at Comodoro Rivadavia, where the crew were met by an Argentinian navy chief. The ARA San Juan disappeared last Wednesday.

5. Multiyork collapse puts 550 jobs at risk

Furniture retailer Multiyork went into administration yesterday, putting 550 jobs at 50 shops across the UK and a manufacturing facility in Norfolk at risk. The firm will honour all orders placed before yesterday. Administrators, who will run the firm while looking for a buyer, said the 39-year-old firm had been hit by bad trading conditions.

6. Call to behead Bollywood actress condemned

Police have offered extra security to Indian actor Deepika Padukone after an official of the country’s ruling party offered a bounty to anyone who beheads her, and the director of a film in which she stars. The BJP has condemned the threat, made by Suraj Pal Amu because Padukone plays a Hindu queen who becomes the lover of a Muslim invader.

7. Trump plays golf after boasting of packed schedule

Donald Trump is thought to have played golf on the first day of his Thanksgiving trip to his Mar-a-Lago resort, after his team told the press “the president will NOT have a low-key day and has a full schedule of meetings and phone calls”. One hour after the statement, Trump’s motorcade drove to his golf club – while press were kept away.

8. ‘Loss of night’ affects nature worldwide

German researchers say the amount of artificial light on Earth at night grew by 2% each year between 2012 and 2016 – and they are warning that the “loss of night” is causing problems for “flora, fauna and human well-being”. Much of the increase in night brightness occurred in developing nations in South America, Africa and Asia.

9. Kezia Dugdale enters I’m A Celebrity jungle camp

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is going ahead with her decision to appear on reality TV show I’m A Celebrity – and will enter the programme’s jungle camp tonight. Dugdale, who resigned in August, said her colleagues would be “angry” but insisted it was “an amazing opportunity to talk to millions of people about the Labour Party”.

10. Briefing: the £40bn Brexit ‘divorce bill’

Theresa May appears to have convinced the Cabinet to back plans to double the EU “divorce bill” offer from £20bn to up to £40bn in exchange for assurances that UK-EU trade talks will move ahead.

Although financial details won’t be released until later in the week, claims that government Brexiteers have agreed to the increased payout were widely reported after a two-hour cabinet meeting in Downing Street on Monday. But exactly what is the UK paying for, and why?

Brexit: what you should know about the £40bn ‘divorce bill’