Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 24 October 2022

1. Sunak set for power

Rishi Sunak is now the clear favourite to replace Liz Truss after his nearest rival, former prime minister Boris Johnson, pulled out of the race on Sunday evening. Johnson’s statement was “equal parts bullish” and “pretend modesty”, said The Guardian, but his withdrawal means he will avoid “likely humiliation”. Sunak’s other rival, Penny Mordaunt, is “a way off securing 100 backers” ahead of today’s 2pm deadline, said the BBC, so Sunak could win the contest this afternoon.

What will Rishi Sunak do next?

2. Moscow’s ‘dirty bomb’ fears

Ukraine has condemned unsubstantiated claims by Russia that Kyiv might use a “dirty bomb”. Dmytro Kuleba denounced Moscow’s claims as “absurd” and “dangerous”, adding: “Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves”. US Secretary of state Antony Blinken said: “the world would see through any attempt by Russia to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation.” A dirty bomb is a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material that contaminates the area around the explosion.

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What a Russian nuclear attack might look like

3. Japan and Australia pact

Australia and Japan have agreed to bolster military ties and intelligence sharing in what The Times described as a “revamped security pact” in response to China’s growing military presence in the Asia Pacific region. In the joint declaration the two countries agreed to work together to deter “aggression and behaviour that undermines international rules and norms”. Analysts in China told the Global Times the deal showed the two countries’ “willingness to be pawns of the US, while threatening regional peace and security”.

Will China invade Taiwan?

4. ‘Growing’ climate health risk

The UK’s most senior public health expert has warned that the climate crisis poses a “significant and growing threat” to health here. Prof Dame Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, told The Guardian that the climate emergency would bring issues such as food security, flooding and mosquito-borne diseases. Her intention is not to paint a “doom and gloom scenario”, she added, but to identify threats for which the UK could prepare. “We have much to learn from countries that currently have warmer temperatures,” she said.

When will the next record-breaking heatwave hit Britain?

5. Biden ‘could drop dead tomorrow’

Joe Biden has admitted that he could “drop dead tomorrow” as concerns grow about his health. Speaking to MSNBC, the US president was asked about his own mortality and said: “I could get a disease, I could drop dead tomorrow. I think it’s a legitimate thing to be concerned about, anyone’s age, including mine. I think that’s totally legitimate.” The Democrat is expected to run for the White House again in 2024. As the oldest person ever to hold office, he would be 86 if he completed a second term.

Is Joe Biden too old to rule? Exploring the greying of American politics

6. Pound gains after Johnson pulls out

The value of sterling continued to rise after Boris Johnson dropped out of the race to be the next Tory leader. The currency was rallying as much as one per cent to $1.1401 in early Asia trading as traders felt that a Rishi Sunak premiership would be better economically. “A Sunak-led government seems more welcome for stability,” said Mahjabeen Zaman, head of FX research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, told The Telegraph. However, they added, the pound “still faces ongoing challenges”.

What the pound’s record low means for the UK

7. Rushdie loses use of one eye

Salman Rushdie has lost the use of an eye and cannot move one hand as a result of the stabbing attack in upstate New York in August, according to his agent. The 75-year-old author suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and torso in the attack. “I can't give any information about his whereabouts,” said Andrew Wylie. “He’s going to live… That’s the more important thing.” Rushdie has faced death threats for his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses as some Muslims regard the book as blasphemous.

How Salman Rushdie exposed fault lines between the West and Islam

8. Woman dies after London stabbing

A woman has been stabbed to death and another injured in a knife attack in east London. Police are searching for a man believed to be known to the two women following the launch of a murder investigation. Officers found the women with stab wounds at a house in Newham at about 3.35am on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said. Despite the efforts of emergency services, a woman aged in her 50s was pronounced dead at the scene. A second woman, aged in her 30s, was taken to hospital.

9. Charles sends first 100 cards

King Charles has sent his first birthday cards to people reaching the age of 100. Ruth Park-Pearson, who served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service during the war, received a card signed by the King and Queen Camilla, with a greeting that read: “My wife and I are so pleased to know that you celebrated your one hundredth birthday on October 21, 2022. This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion.” During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, around 1.3m cards were sent from Buckingham Palace to mark birthdays and anniversaries.

10. Tourists take gondola on joyride

Two tourists have been apprehended for allegedly stealing a gondola in Venice. The duo, believed to be French nationals, are accused of stealing the gondola from the Accademia station, beside the famous bridge of the same name, to go for a joyride along the Grand Canal in the early hours of Thursday morning. The gondola’s owner, Giorgio Bognolo, said: “They seemed happy - really happy. They weren’t apologetic, they didn’t say sorry. They were cold, it was ugly, that’s what really hurt me. They were laughing as if it was all a game.”