Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 5 Dec 2018

1. Brexit debates continue following contempt vote

The Government yesterday became the first since 1978 to lose three Commons votes in a row – and the first ever to be found to be in contempt of Parliament. Prime Minister Theresa May admitted that her Brexit deal is not perfect but warned MPs that voting against it would commit the UK to leaving the EU with no deal. Debates continue today.

2. Home Office ‘ignored Windrush warnings’

The National Audit Office (NAO) has ruled that the Home Office ignored warnings that its processes were leading to the wrongful detentions and deportations of people of Commonwealth origin, in what has become known as the Windrush scandal. NAO head Sir Amyas Morse said the Home Office “failed to protect their rights”.

3. Student accused of spying ‘kept in darkness’

A British PhD student who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates before being freed last week has spoken of his ordeal. Matthew Hedges, 31, says that after being detained on spying charges in May, he was interrogated for up to 15 hours at a time, shackled in ankle cuffs and locked up in darkness in solitary confinement.

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4. No jail time sought for Trump aide Flynn

US President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, should not be jailed for lying to the FBI, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has said. Mueller, who is investigating alleged links between Trump’s election campaign and Russia, says Flynn has given him “substantial assistance”.

5. Ten-minute cancer test in offing

Australian researchers has discovered a tell-tale pattern in the DNA of common cancers that could one day be used to create a ten-minute blood test to detect cancer. The University of Queensland team found the distinctive pattern in the genomes of patients with lymphoma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.

6. New Caledonia quake triggers tsunami warning

A tsunami warning has been issued after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of the French Pacific island territory New Caledonia at 4.18am UK time today. Hazardous waves are forecast for coasts within a 620-mile radius, including that of Fiji. New Zealand has reassured its citizens that there is no danger of the tsunami reaching their shores.

7. Womb transplant from dead donor leads to birth

A baby has been born from a womb transplanted from a dead body into a living woman, in a medical first. The healthy baby girl was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to a 32-year-old woman who had a transplant two years ago, after being born with no womb. All ten previous transplants from dead donors failed or resulted in miscarriages.

8. Priyanka Chopra shows off 75ft wedding veil

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra yesterday published photographs of the wedding dress she wore to marry US singer Nick Jonas in Rajasthan this weekend. The Ralph Lauren-designed gown features a 75ft veil and more than two-million mother-of-pearl sequins. The couple got engaged this summer following a whirlwind romance.

9. Turner Prize won by iPhone film artist Prodger

The 2018 Turner Prize was awarded yesterday to iPhone filmmaker Charlotte Prodger, whose work includes a highly personal account of coming out as gay in Scotland. The 44-year-old said she was “quite overwhelmed” and “very touched” to win the £25,000 art award for two videos that she made on her smartphone.

10. Briefing: why Tumblr is banning porn

Social media platform Tumblr has announced that it will no longer host explicit content, ending its era as a locus of alternative sexuality.

From 17 December, pornographic images and videos will be automatically flagged and deleted.

Why Tumblr is banning porn