Tuesday evening news briefing: Decision time on general election as Speaker rejects amendment to give vote to 16-year-olds

Chris Price
Boris Johnson speaks in the Commons following the Creasy amendment
Boris Johnson speaks in the Commons following the Creasy amendment

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Votes for 16-year-olds could have scuppered December election - live

It looked like an election was a certainty when Labour said this morning it would back a December poll. Yet Boris Johnson's bid to go to the people before Christmas could have been pulled if MPs had voted for an amendment that would lower the voting age to 16 or give votes to three million EU nationals living in the UK. Yet with the plans on a knife edge, the Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle decided not to select either amendment and the election bill passed its second reading. Danielle Sheridan has the latest developments as MPs debate when to hold an election. If a general election is called, as is now expected, which party benefits from the vote happening in December? Tony Diver, Josh Wilson and Mason Boycott-Owen explain all.

As another General Election potentially looms, the battle for No 10 will be fought and won online. Yet could cyber criminals and fake news ruin the chances of a fair vote? James Cook looks at the sophisticated hacking and online influence campaigns faced by the Government. Amy Jones analyses why a first non-Thursday election since 1931 could be good news for the Tories. And in a piece of non-election focused political news, Ruth Davidson has abandoned her plan to take a second job with a lobbying firm.

Pictured: British tourist after foot bitten off in shark attack

He had been mucking about with his pal, wrestling in the ocean as part of a snorkelling boat tour off the coast of Queensland, Australia . Then Alistair Raddon turned around and "saw blood in the water". The British backpacker had his foot bitten off by a shark in an attack which also left his friend Danny Maggs with severe lacerations to his leg. Both were airlifted to hospital yet medics said the pair joked about England's 40-16 victory over Australia in the Rugby World Cup during the flight. Giovanni Torre has the full story.

Why beavers could return to England for first time in 500 years

They have been missing from England for half a millennium. Yet beavers could be reintroduced into the wild for the first time in 500 years in a bid to help reduce flooding and droughts, according to environment minister Zac Goldsmith. The animals were made almost extinct in Europe some centuries ago after being hunted for their fur and an oil they produce which was a main component of cosmetics. They are now having a "rewilding" resurgence across the continent, and in some parts of America, due to their long list of potential benefits.

News digest

Video: Prince Harry meets Invictus Games athletes

The Duke of Sussex has launched the UK's next Invictus Games team telling the competitors - "It's going to be awesome". The Duke - who spent 10 years as an Army officer - has been the driving force behind the Paralympics-style event and in central London he met the 65-strong squad of service personnel and military veterans who will compete in Holland next May. Read on for what he said.

Comment

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

Turkey and Syria clash | Syrian government forces and the Turkish military exchanged fire today for the first time since Ankara launched an offensive in northeastern Syria three weeks ago, a war monitor said. At least six Syrian soldiers were wounded in the fighting, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported, as artillery and machinegun fire was exchanged near the village of Assadiya. It comes after the Turkish military and its Syrian proxies attacked Kurdish forces on October 9 with the aim of creating a 20-mile deep buffer zone.

Editor's choice

  1. 'I'd like to Remain but I think I'll Leave'| A night of Brexit-themed speed-dating

  2. Where are they now?| What happened to all the Great British Bake Off winners

  3. Walk the Tube | London Underground journeys that are quicker on foot

Business and money briefing

Digging deep | An hour's drive from Las Vegas, surrounded by scrub forest, lies an open pit that holds the key to the future of the electric car. Read how the mine in California - and Teeside - could end China's grip on the industry. And Alan Tovey outlines which carmakers will survive the electric revolution?

Sport briefing

Arsenal malaise | The chaos laid bare by Granit Xhaka's angry reaction to being booed by supporters is just the tip of the iceberg for a club on the brink of crisis and facing the threat of losing star players at the end of the season. Read how Unai Emery has been left fighting fires after his captain's meltdown.

And finally...

On top of the world | A former Gurkha soldier and special forces member has broken the record for climbing the world's highest peaks and rescued three fellow climbers on the way. Nirmal Purja today completed his ascent of the world's 14 tallest mountains, knocking nearly seven-and-a-half years off the previous record. Each climb saw him enter the "deathzone" above 8,000mwhere the high altitude means human life cannot be sustained.