Top story: Leaders hold ‘serious and engaged’ meeting

Hello, it’s Warren Murray keeping you duly informed this Thursday morning.

Theresa May has met with Jeremy Corbyn as she comes under pressure to spell out what changes to the Irish backstop she thinks she can wring out of a deeply reluctant Brussels. The party leaders held a 45-minute meeting that was described as “serious and engaged” by Labour. Its spokesman added that May was “interested in exploring the details” of Labour’s Brexit proposals which centre on a permanent customs union.

May opposes a customs union and Downing Street said that while May asked Corbyn questions, her underlying position had not shifted. Many in Westminster believe the PM could yet be pushed in the direction of a customs union and some Tory Brexiters have hinted they might back it if the backstop goes. The two party leaders will meet again soon, most likely within days.

The PM meanwhile has asked ministers to consult Labour backbenchers over legislation to protect workers’ rights after Brexit. Downing Street hopes to persuade a handful of pro-Brexit Labour MPs to support any final deal May brings back to parliament, partly because she needs their votes to offset diehard Conservative MPs who will not support any deal with the EU. And in debate over post-Brexit immigration rules for EU workers, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley has mocked the idea that they should have to earn £30,000 a year to qualify, saying that as a result of joining parliament “I have met many people who earn way more than £30,000 and have literally no discernible skills, not even one”.

Play Video 2:49 Jess Phillips : I've met high earners with 'literally no discernible skills'

Hackers ‘leaked Mueller files’ – Evidence from the Trump-Russia inquiry that was shared confidentially with lawyers for indicted Russian hackers ended up being posted online, US prosecutors say. Special counsel Robert Mueller has disclosed the leak as part of his prosecution of Concord Management and Consulting, a Russian company that allegedly funded hacking operations by Moscow’s notorious Internet Research Agency (IRA). “Irrelevant” files were selectively shared on the internet to make it look like there was no evidence of substance against the IRA, said a court filing by Mueller’s investigators. They are arguing that lawyers for Concord should not be given access to further “sensitive” evidence.

Blitz on knife crime – Asbo-style orders against knife offenders have been unveiled by the government. An order can be issued to anyone aged 12 or over believed by police to routinely carry a blade. A breach could result in up to two years’ jail. Separately the Home Office has announced £500,000 to help prosecute retailers who repeatedly sell knives to under-18s. It is believed that at least one large knife was used during the attack that killed Nedim Bilgin, 17, on Caledonian Road, London, on Tuesday night. An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and two others aged 16 and 17 were questioned by homicide detectives yesterday. Police are waiting for tests to confirm whether knives recovered from the scene were used in the attack.

Deep freeze – At least eight deaths have been linked to the “polar vortex” weather system that has brought record-low temperatures across much of the US midwest. Temperatures in Chicago dropped to a low of around -30C on Wednesday, slightly above the city’s lowest-ever reading from January 1985. Many cities opened “warming shelters” in government buildings, churches, high schools and charities, while schools have been closed, thousands of flights cancelled, rail services suspended, and trucks banned from interstate highways due to icy conditions. The vortex is caused by extremely cold air rushing south from the Arctic.

Play Video 1:12 Polar vortex: -46C temperatures as Chicago River turns to ice – video report

‘Not good enough’ – Facebook and Twitter may be forced to share data to help researchers identify potential risks to young people’s health, as concern grows over social media’s effects on children’s minds and lives. A committee of MPs has criticised social media companies for refusing to share information that could inform high-quality research. “Their data, which we give them, is both their most valuable resource and it is the only means by which we can effectively study how these platforms affect users,” said Professor Andrew Przybylski, the director of research at the Oxford Internet Institute. The MPs’ report calls for clear rules against illegal online content and behaviour, and enforcement by Ofcom for breaches by the likes YouTube, Facebook and Google. Facebook has posted a record profit of $6.88bn for the last quarter of 2018 despite a year of scandals, including new revelations it paid teenagers to install an app that harvested data on their activities.

Homeless tragedy – There has been a spate of deaths among rough-sleepers in Oxford. Friends of four men and a woman who have died suddenly in the city since November say the losses are the worst they have known, and further deaths are feared amid freezing temperatures. Oxford has one of England’s highest rough sleeping rate after Brighton, Bedford, Luton, Westminster and Camden. The rate has risen more than tenfold since 2011 from eight to 89 in 2018. The main homeless hostel is full and another has been knocked down. “These deaths impact everyone,” said the Oxford city councillor Shaista Aziz. “Homelessness is a national humanitarian emergency and we are seeing its daily implications in our city.”

Better rail for the north – A £70bn plan to transform transport links across the north of England has been unveiled. Transports chiefs claim the 30-year road and rail upgrade scheme will cut journey times, boost the economy by £100bn and “leave a legacy for future generations” including 850,000 jobs. Proposed developments include a new line between Liverpool and the HS2 Manchester spur via Warrington; a new line between Manchester and Leeds via Bradford; and upgrading lines between Leeds and Hull, Sheffield and Hull, and the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester. Road plans include linking Sheffield and Manchester via a trans-Pennine tunnel. Transport for the North (TfN) says the proposals will bring 1.3 million people within an hour’s train journey from Manchester airport and at least four major cities.

Today in Focus podcast: Brexit and Good Friday

The landmark peace deal struck between the British and Irish governments in 1998 paved the way for power-sharing between unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland and ended a 30-year conflict.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Good Friday agreement was reached on 10 April 1998. Photograph: Paul Mcerlane/AP

Henry McDonald reports on how the Good Friday agreement is once again under scrutiny as Britain approaches Brexit. Plus Jason Burke on the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Lunchtime read: He could save us all

Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, has built an empire worth £80m on the back of helping people attain “financial justice”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert. Illustration: ITV/Bratislav Milenkovic

The website Lewis founded in 2003 has become one of the 100 most popular sites in the UK, with 16 million visitors a month. Every Tuesday night his email newsletter goes out to 13 million subscribers. But in an age of predatory capitalism and rampant inequality, can one man’s modest suggestions for keeping more of your pound in your pocket really make much difference?

Sport

Liverpool have squandered an opportunity to pull further ahead in the Premier League after Harry Maguire’s header gave Leicester a share of the points at Anfield. Manager Jürgen Klopp was left frustrated his side didn’t move seven points ahead of Manchester City, condemning several refereeing decisions. Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri faces greater scrutiny at Chelsea, after his side crumbled 4-0 to lowly Bournemouth, the worst league result of the Abramovich era.

Joe Denly will become the oldest batsman to debut for England in over two decades as the West Indies eye a morale-lifting home series victory in Antigua, writes Vic Marks. And scrum half Ben Youngs has admitted that England will need to lift its “niggle” if it is to beat Ireland at the Six Nations, as Eddie Jones prepares to name his starting lineup for Saturday’s clash.

Business

Asian markets received a significant bounce overnight after the US Federal Reserve promised to be more patient in raising interest rates, easing fears that it could choke US and global growth. The FTSE100 looks like benefiting too when it is expected to open up 0.25% later today.

It’s not great news for British manufacturing though with figures showing that British car production has dropped to a five-year low thanks to worries about Brexit. The pound is at $1.313 and €1.141.

The papers

The print edition of the Times today splashes with “May woos Labour MPs with cash to back Brexit” while the i reports “Cracks appear in EU as May seeks deal”. The Guardian’s lead story is “Asbo-style orders to tackle knife violence”, with the Mirror running a story that is extremely critical of the announcement: “Farce of knife crime Asbos”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Guardian front page, Thursday 31 January 2018.

The Sun reports: “Kylie in 999 stalker terror”, the Express has “NHS recruits 20,000 to end GP crisis”, the Telegraph has “Web giants face legal duty of care for children” and the Financial Times says “Fed soothes Wall St by signalling hold on further interest rate rises”. The Mail’s splash is: “Need a GP? See your chemist instead”.

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