Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 1 Mar 2018

1. Theresa May meets Donald Tusk ahead of speech

The Prime Minister will meet European Council President Donald Tusk today before she makes a major speech on Brexit. The meeting comes after Theresa May talked tough yesterday, saying no UK leader could ever consider having different customs arrangements for Northern Ireland and the rest of the home nations.

2. Hundreds of drivers stranded overnight by snow

Hundreds of drivers were stranded on the M80 between Glasgow and Stirling for up to 13 hours last night following heavy snowfal, as the cold snap continues. In Lincolnshire, ploughs failed to clear the A5, as the cold snap continues. Storm Emma is now approaching the UK from the southwest, bringing further snow and blizzard conditions.

3. Trump stuns Republicans by backing gun laws

Donald Trump has infuriated Republicans and the gun lobby by abruptly shifting position on gun control in the wake of the Florida school shooting. The US president called for tighter background checks on those buying firearms; restrictions on access to firearms for the mentally ill; and restricted access for young people. The Breitbart website called him a “gun grabber”.

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4. Files confirm Queen assassination attempt

A New Zealand teenager tried to shoot and kill the Queen in 1981, newly declassified documents reveal. Christopher John Lewis, then 17, fired several shots, which the press were told were fireworks or a falling sign. Lewis was imprisoned for three years for the attack, and killed himself in 1997.

5. Cannabis oil treatment considered for six-year-old diabetic boy

A six-year-old boy who suffers up to 30 fits a day may be allowed illegal cannabis oil to help his condition after the policing minister met his parents to discuss the treatment. Alfie Dingley tried medical cannabis in the Netherlands last year, and his seizures reduced in number, duration and severity as a result, his family say.

6. Johnson facing investigation over garden bridge

Former mayor of London Boris Johnson may be investigated for misconduct if it is shown that his “reckless indifference” played a role in the loss of more than £40m of public money on the city’s abandoned garden bridge, a senior lawyer has told The Guardian. Johnson will answer questions from MPs about the scheme this week.

7. Dyson creates 300 new electric car jobs

British vacuum-cleaner giant Dyson is seeking 300 engineers to help the company construct an electric car by 2020. The privately owned firm has not decided yet where the cars will be manufactured once designed but is believed to be considering Britain, Singapore, Malaysia or China.

8. First concert for concentration camp music

A 30-year quest by an Italian musician to track down the songs, symphonies and opera composed by prisoners in Nazi concentration camps will culminate in a concert next month. Francesco Lotoro has accumulated 8,000 pieces of music, some written on toilet paper. Much of the music will be performed for the first time ever at the event.

9. Keith Richards sorry for Jagger vasectomy gag

The Rolling Stones are still fighting, as well as rocking, after 50 years: guitarist Keith Richards has apologised to Mick Jagger over an interview in which Richards called the singer a “randy old bastard”, adding: “It’s time for the snip – you can’t be a father at that age. Those poor kids!” Richards said he “deeply regrets” his words.

10. Briefing: why New Zealand plans to release rabbit-killing virus

New Zealand is planning to release a deadly virus in an effort to curb its out-of-control wild rabbit population. The virus, RHDV1 K5 (K5), is expected to be released at 100 sites in Otago, a region in the south of the country’s South island.

The virus will be unleashed in Otago in late March or April, as part of nation-wide effort aims to decrease the rabbit population by 40%, says The New Zealand Herald. Its effectiveness will then be studied prior to a planned nationwide roll-out.

New Zealand plans to release rabbit-killing virus