Tuesday afternoon news briefing: Race to meet Brexit deal midnight deadline

Danny Boyle
Chief negotiator: The European Union's Michel Barnier sits down to a meeting in Luxembourg this morning - REX
Chief negotiator: The European Union's Michel Barnier sits down to a meeting in Luxembourg this morning - REX

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Brussels sets midnight deadline to reach deal before EU summit

It begins to tell 'round midnight. So sang Ella Fitzgerald - and she might well have been describing the latest twist in the Brexit negotiations. Brussels has set a midnight deadline for a legal text (jargon for a document jointly agreed by both the UK and the EU) to be presented in order to clinch a deal. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier has warned he needs "good intentions", as Boris Johnson races against the clock to secure a fresh agreement for the meeting of European leaders from Thursday. But Brussels Correspondent James Crisp reveals that the EU will call another emergency summit before Hallowe'en if tonight's deadline for agreeing a replacement for the Irish backstop is missed. And Ireland Correspondent John Walsh has an analysis from Dublin on why Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also needs Brexit done by October 31.

With Brexit talks going down to the wire, the pound's volatility has hit its highest level in three years - since the EU referendum. Louis Ashworth has the latest market movements in our liveblog. And Tim Wallace explains how six eye-catching radical ideas could boost the economy after Brexit.

Inside story on football racist abuse as Bulgarian boss quits

Borislav Mihaylov has stepped down as president of the Bulgarian FA following racist abuse and monkey chants from Bulgaria fans towards black England players during last night's Euro 2020 qualifier. Sam Wallace has the inside story of the disgraceful events in Sofia. Paul Hayward has written about the far-right political tides washing over Europe. And Jeremy Corbyn is accused of being a "sanctimonious hypocrite" over the football racism row.

Climate change: Fake news or global threat? This is the science

Global warming could turn out to be the most devastating consequence of human progress. But does the science back up the claims? Is carbon dioxide primarily to blame or could there be other causes? What role do the Sun, clouds and the oceans play? And can today's climate models be trusted when scientists have misrepresented the data in the past? Science Editor Sarah Knapton examines everything we know in this excellent long-read.

News digest

Video: William follows Diana's footsteps in Pakistan

'I was a big fan of my mother too' | The Duke of Cambridge was today reunited with old family friend Imran Khan, as they reminisced over a meeting in which he told Diana, Princess of Wales, he wanted to be Pakistan's Prime Minister. Ben Farmer has the latest from Islamabad.

Comment

World news: The one story you must read today...

Storm outrage | A Japanese evacuation centre turned away two homeless men as a deadly typhoon approached Tokyo. The move prompted widespread criticism and a promise from the prime minister that it would not happen again. Read on for more on what happened to the men seeking shelter.

 

Editor's choice

  1. 'Escort to the stars' | The incredible Hollywood confessions of Scotty Bowers

  2. Growing up with anti-vax parents | 'My mother is entrenched in conspiracy theories'

  3. Women Mean Business | I quit my high-flying job to start a business from scratch

Business and money briefing

Woodford woes | Criticism of the main authorities involved in monitoring Neil Woodford's flagship fund is mounting after the City was left stunned by a decision to wind it down this morning. Harriet Russell reports on how it leaves investors facing significant losses. Why did Woodford fail? Because he broke these two key investment principles, writes Richard Evans.

Sport briefing

Rugby World Cup | Which quarter-finalists have the most - and least - potent back three? The workmanlike trio, the right-to-left attack - and the team for whom it is their most important asset. Austin Healey has written his verdict.

And finally...

Medical tribunal | A doctor groped a female colleague because he suffered a "euphoric" reaction to a pet calming spray, a tribunal has heard. Dr Colin Gelder, 59, claimed that fumes from the solution he uses to calm his dogs during thunderstorms adversely reacted with his hayfever medication.