UK Edition
Tuesday evening news briefing: Parliament prepares for crunch vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal
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Parliament set for crunch vote tonight on Johnson's Brexit deal
So it is fair to say, as has been said on many occasions, that the next few hours really are crunch time for Brexit by Oct 31. This afternoon, Boris Johnson confirmed his warning he will withdraw his deal tonight if MPs vote down plans to debate the bill within a three-day timetable. Christopher Hope and Tony Diver outline what is happening with Brexit today, and show just how tight it will be to get the deal over the line before Hallowe'en. You can follow all the action as it happens tonight on The Telegraph's liveblog. The key argument against approving the Prime Minister's three-day timetable for the deal is there is so much to debate in the 110-page Withdrawal Agreement Bill, published late last night. Deputy Political Editor Anna Mikhailova details the key discussion points. And here is what today's events have done to the value of the pound.
Over in Europe, Jean-Claude Juncker said Brexit has been a waste of time and energy during a European Parliament debate today, where Donald Tusk warned a no-deal Brexit would always be Britain's fault. In one of his final speeches in Strasbourg, the president of the European Commission said the EU had done everything it could to avoid no-deal and to make contingency plans. In Northern Ireland, a unionist campaigner has launched legal proceedings against the Prime Minister claiming his Brexit deal breaches the Good Friday Agreement.
Woman kills herself after finding child abuse on partner's phone
A young shop assistant hanged herself after finding child sex abuse images on her boyfriend's phone, an inquest has heard. Lydia Roberts, 21, was said to have felt "violated and hurt" after discovering the indecent content on a second device belonging to her partner Adam Wells, 27. The couple subsequently began arguing about the pictures over text and Wells decided to go out with his friends and colleagues later that evening. When he returned to their shared home in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester at 3:30am the next morning, he found her.
The race to launch the pollution-solving electric air taxi hots up
According to the laws of physics, the electric aircraft made by German company Lilium looks like it shouldn't be able to fly. With no thrust, no visible rotors and no runway, the five-seater electric taxi appears to simply lift straight up off the ground before completing a perfect circle, controlled from the ground, and landing again. In the world of eVTOLs (or electronic vertical take-off and landing aircraft), it places Lilium in an elite class. Olivia Rudgard reveals the firms around the world vying to invent clean, safe, short-range aircraft touted as the solution to congestion, air pollution and overcrowded, slow public transport.
News digest
- Harry Dunn | Police chief admits missing chances to arrest diplomat's wife
- Extinction Rebellion | Policing the protests has cost £37m so far this year
- Heathrow Express | Why the UK's most expensive railway is cutting prices
- Graduate premium | Value of degrees halves in 20 years, research shows
- Hypersonic planes | Step closer as breakthrough stops engines melting
Video | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker final trailer
The final trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth film in George Lucas's saga, has been released. In the trailer, featuring Daisy Ridley's Rey and Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, the remaining forces of the Resistance battle the First Order for the final time. The film will mark the final appearance – in the flesh – of the late Carrie Fisher using footage from Episodes VII and VIII. Read on for details.
Comment
- Eilis O'Hanlon | By thwarting Brexit deal, DUP risk the Union's destruction
- Stewart Jackson | Parliament won't be able to block Brexit for much longer
- Owen Patterson | Remainers hope to trap us in EU protectionist bloc
- Charles Moore | How the Sussexes could avoid the Diana trap
- Rachael Clarke | At last, abortion is legal in Northern Ireland - what now?
World news: The one story you must read today...
Emperor crowned | In a series of ceremonies steeped in ritual and pomp, Japan's Emperor Naruhito was today formally crowned head of the longest-lived royal dynasty in history. At the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and before around 2,000 heads of state, representatives of other royal families and dignitaries, Emperor Naruhito stepped onto the canopied Takamikura imperial throne to officially announce his new status. Prince Charles represented Britain, having attended the enthronement of Emperor Akihito in 1989 with Princess Diana.
Editor's choice
- Don't put frozen peas on an injury | And four other pieces of health advice you can now ignore
- 'We haven't spoken for 20 years' | What it's like when your brother 'takes a different path'
- Violence, nudity and demonic possession | Why Hollywood's biggest blockbusters are banned in China
Business and money briefing
Surging borrowing | Record employment, increasing pay and vigorous consumer spending mean Britain's economy continues to perform well – but the nation's budget deficit is surging. It is set to exceed £50bn for the year as a whole, which means it is rising rapidly in the good years – so imagine what that means when a slowdown hits. Tim Wallace looks at the potential impact.
- Tax hacks | How I increased my state pension by 50pc by the time I took it
- The luckiest generation | Who had it best for savings over the years?
- Stay on top of the markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day
Sport briefing
Rugby World Cup | Eddie Jones raised eyebrows as he claimed an England training session was spied on "from an apartment block" ahead of his side's New Zealand semi-final. Paul Hayward explains why initiating spygate and loading heat onto the All Blacks was the England head coach at his mischievous best.
- Arsenal loss | Patience fading after passive first 30 minutes at Sheffield Utd
- Paula Radcliffe | 'I've seen no evidence against any of Salazar's athletes'
- Andy Murray | Where is he nearing his best and what areas must improve?
And finally...
Britain's ugliest place names | It's funny how a name can shape our perceptions of a place. Would you rather take a weekend break in Grimsby or Royal Leamington Spa? But it turns out some of the UK's least glamorous place names have surprisingly romantic origins. Greg Dickinson reveals their roots.