Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 2 Mar 2018

1. May lays out her five Brexit ‘tests’

Theresa May will today lay out five tests that she will say must be met by any post-Brexit deal between the EU and the UK. In a speech in London, the Prime Minister will argue that the deal must respect the referendum result; be enduring; protect British jobs and security; be consistent with an outward-looking and tolerant Britain; and bring the country together.

2. Army help motorists as Storm Emma hits

The Army has been helping hundreds of motorists left stranded in their cars overnight when Storm Emma swept in from the southwest, colliding with the so-called Beast from the East cold snap and bringing further snow and gales. Trains and flights have been cancelled across the country today, and motorists have been advised not to travel.

3. Trump announces stiff tariff on steel

Donald Trump sent the markets into a spin yesterday by abruptly announcing heavy tariffs on metal imports. Promising to rebuild US industry, the president said there will be a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminium imports. Forecaster Econofact says the tariffs may lead to job losses in US industries that rely on cheap steel.

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4. Diabetes ‘is five separate diseases’

Researchers say diabetes should be thought of as five separate diseases – rather than the type 1 and type 2 that form its current classifications. The scientists, from Sweden and Finland, believe the more complicated diagnosis would help patients receive better treatment. One expert told the BBC there could be even more “clusters” than five.

5. Lego launching sustainable plant-based pieces

Toy maker Lego has announced it will launch its first pieces made entirely from plant-based plastics later this year. The pieces, or ‘elements’, will represent trees, leaves and bushes, rather than the classic bricks that the firm is known for, and will account only for 1% to 2% of its output. The new pieces can be recycled but are not entirely biodegradable.

6. Woman with ‘stomach pains’ gives birth

A Welsh woman aged 30 had no idea she was pregnant until the moment she gave birth. Rhiannon Oldham, from Pontypool, said she had experienced “stomach pains” the day before the birth of baby Phillip Alan, who weighed 4lb 13oz. Her partner, Gareth Williams, who had proposed to her just three days earlier, dialled 999 - before delivering the baby himself in their bedroom minutes later.

7. Neo-Nazis recruit Britons to fight in Ukraine

At least two Britons have travelled to Ukraine to fight alongside a notorious Ukrainian fascist militia, the Azov movement, according to Hope Not Hate. The anti-racist group says that Neo-Nazi groups are actively recruiting UK far-right extremists and are looking to build international networks.

8. Vatican magazine denounces nun labour

A Vatican magazine has made a remarkable plea to the male hierarchy of the Catholic Church to stop exploiting nuns as a source of cheap labour. The article, titled Women, Church, World, describes the drudgery of nuns who cook, clean and serve cardinals bishops and priests, and includes comments from unnamed nuns, says The Guardian.

9. World’s oldest tattoos found on ancient mummies

Tattoos have been found on the upper arms of two 5,000-year-old Ancient Egyptian mummies – the oldest such inkings yet discovered. One mummy, a woman, has images of lines and S-shaped symbols tattooed on her arm, while the other, a man, has images of a bull and a goat. The symbols appear to have been placed for maximum visibility.

10. Briefing: the number plates banned by the DVLA

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency plans to release its updated 2018 number plates today, along with a new batch of blacklisted registration combinations.

Number plates alluding to “swear words, sex acts and racist slurs” feature on the list of banned plates, The Sun reports.

The new number plates banned by the DVLA