Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 7 Dec 2017

1. Lords warn against ‘no deal’ as Barnier sets deadline

The House of Lords EU committee has published a report warning that Brexit without a trade deal would “deeply damage” Britain’s economy and security – and that a March 2019 departure date is “impossible” and should not be put into law. Meanwhile, EU negotiator Michel Barnier has given Theresa May a 48-hour deadline for fresh proposals.

2. Storm Caroline to bring power cuts and delays

The UK’s third named storm of the season is under way this morning. Storm Caroline is expected to bring winds of up to 90mph, with Met Office warnings in place across Scotland. Many roads will be closed and there will be delays to air, rail and ferry services. On Friday morning, most of the UK is expected to be affected by snow and ice.

3. Saudis join international anger at Trump decision

Saudi Arabia has condemned Donald Trump’s statement yesterday in which he said the US will now recognise Jerusalem – contested between Palestine and Israel – as the Israeli capital. Saudi Arabia called the decision “unjustified and irresponsible”. Trump received a campaign donation of $25m from a pro-Israel casino owner last year.

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4. IMF warns of stability threat from Chinese debt

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is warning in a new report that China could be the trigger for a new global financial crash, because of its growing dependency on debt. Personal debt in China has increased in the past five years, and the credit-to-GDP ratio of national debt is 25%, which the IMF calls “very high by international standards”.

5. Senior Volkswagen executive jailed for seven years

An American court yesterday sentenced senior Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt to seven years in jail for his part in the emissions test cheating scandal. The German, general manager in the car firm’s environmental and engineering office in Michigan, pleaded guilty to the cover-up but insisted he had been “misused” by his employers.

6. ‘Don’t let Isis fighters return,’ says Williamson

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that Britons who have travelled abroad to fight for Islamic State (Isis) should not be allowed back into the country. Instead, they should be pursued overseas and “hunted down”. Williamson told the Daily Mail: “Quite simply, my view is a dead terrorist can’t cause any harm to Britain.”

7. Australian marriage equality law passes in landslide

The Australian parliament has almost unanimously passed a law bringing marriage equality to the country, after a referendum showed public support. Only four MPs voted against legalising same-sex marriage. The Bill will come into force early next year. Australia is now one of 26 countries across the world that allow marriage equality.

8. Jennifer Lawrence ‘feared sex scenes after hack’

Actor Jennifer Lawrence has spoken about the emotional impact of having nude photographs hacked and leaked on the internet in 2014. The 27-year-old told Oprah Winfrey that she had been “afraid” to do anything “sexy” as an actor for several years. Asked about shamed producer Harvey Weinstein, Lawrence said he had always been “paternal” to her.

9. ‘Is Boris still Foreign Secretary?’ asks his father

Environmentalist and author Stanley Johnson last night became the fifth competitor to be voted out of the I’m A Celebrity jungle camp. Interviewed as he left the reality TV show, he asked whether his son Boris was still Foreign Secretary. The 77-year-old said what he most looked forward to on returning to civilisation was reading his emails.

10. Briefing: who is tackling global warming?

Two years after a landmark deal to tackle climate change was struck in Paris, some countries appear to be taking their commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions more seriously than others.

In fact, no major industrialised country is on course to meet its Paris Agreement pledge to keep global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Fact Check: who is tackling global warming?