Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 4 Feb 2018

1. Brexiteers plot 'dream team' of Boris, Gove and Mogg

Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg are being lined up as a "dream team" by Brexiteer plotters. The Tory trio are reportedly planning to bid for power if Theresa May decides to remain in the customs union. However, under the headline "all for one, and none for all?", The Sunday Times wonders if the three could remain united.

2. Uma Thurman goes public with Weinstein allegations

Uma Thurman has made a string of allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. Speaking to the New York Times, the actress says Weinstein pushed her down and "tried to expose himself" in a hotel room in London during the 1990s. She had previewed her allegations last November, telling him: "I'm glad it's going slowly - you don't deserve a bullet." Weinsten’s spokeswoman said the claims about an assault are "untrue".

3. MPs warn that Marines cuts would be 'militarily illiterate'

MPs have warned that Royal Marines would struggle to carry out a "substantial" amphibious landing if plans to get rid of two specialised ships are approved. Speculation is mounting that the government is considering axing up to 2,000 marines in a security review. A Commons Defence Select Committee report said such a move would be "militarily illiterate".

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. Trump says Nunes memo 'totally' vindicates him

Donald Trump claims the Nunes memo "totally" vindicates him of any collusion with Moscow. "This memo totally vindicates 'Trump' in probe," he wrote on Twitter yesterday. "But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on." The four-page memo, which was published on Friday, claims bias against Trump within the FBI. However, the FBI director says "talk is cheap".

5. 'Crisis' as teacher shortfall reaches 30,000

The shortfall in teacher numbers has hit 30,000, reports The Observer. The government has failed to meet its own teacher recruitment targets for five years in a row, leading to 10,000 fewer secondary school teachers being hired than intended, and staffing levels in further education falling by 20,000. Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, said: "This government have created a crisis at every stage of our education system."

6. Rebels in Syria shoot down Russian warplane

Syrian rebels shot down a Russian warplane for the first time yesterday. According to Russia’s defence ministry, the pilot was killed as he resisted capture by jihadists. The Su-25 was hit as it flew over the rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib, providing air support to pro-Assad regime forces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist-dominated alliance, claimed responsibility.

7. Britain set to shiver in 'coldest week of winter'

Next week could be the coldest of winter. The Met Office has warned the mercury could sink as low as -7C in some parts of the UK, with sub-zero temperatures affecting most of the population. A number of weather warnings for ice and snow will be in place from today and could last the whole week. Up to 3cm of snow could accumulate inland.

8. White House withdraws climate change sceptic from top job

The White House has withdrawn the nomination of controversial climate change sceptic Kathleen Hartnett White to chair the Council on Environmental Quality. Although she was announced in October last year as Trump’s choice to head the Council, White hit the headlines the following month when she had difficulty answering basic questions about climate change.

9. Man arrested in Lana Del Rey 'kidnap' plot

Florida police have arrested a man they say made threats to kidnap the singer Lana Del Rey. Michael Hunt, 43, was carrying a knife when he was arrested near the Amway Center in Orlando where the singer had been due to perform, authorities said. Hunt faces charges of aggravated stalking with a credible threat, and attempted kidnapping with a weapon.

10. Toxic emissions around UK ports higher than thought

A new report says toxic nitrogen dioxide emissions around major British ports and sea routes are four times higher than previously suggested, while levels of sulphur dioxide, another harmful pollutant, are three times higher. Alan Whitehead, the shadow minister for energy and climate change, said the data was "snuck out ahead of Theresa May’s speech on the environment where she claimed to not be 'complacent' on air quality".