News Daily: Brexit ‘gap’ and Kurds’ deal with Syria

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Brexit talks continue on day of Queen’s Speech

Talks between UK and EU officials will continue later, with both sides looking to make progress towards a Brexit deal ahead of the Brussels summit on Thursday and Friday. Boris Johnson’s government insists it is willing to make concessions to resolve the ongoing difficulties over the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says a “big gap” remains over what to do about customs arrangements.

The government wants a deal in place by Saturday, when there’s a special session of Parliament. If MPs don’t agree to one by then – or they back no-deal – Mr Johnson will be legally bound to ask the EU to delay Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline.

The schedule is tight. And if that wasn’t enough to preoccupy ministers this week, the State Opening of Parliament takes places today. The Queen’s Speech, which outlines the government’s priorities, will contain 22 bills, relating to Brexit, crime prevention and immigration among other subjects. Here’s what’s likely to be in it.

“Strap yourself in – it could be a bumpy few days,” writes BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley. For the bigger picture, why not try our Brexit guide?

Kurds reach deal with Syrian army

Dozens of fighters on both sides have reportedly been killed during Turkey’s offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria – which began after the US announced it was removing its troops from the area. Now the Syrian government has announced it is deploying forces there, having made a deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

In a separate development, nearly 800 relatives of Islamic State members have reportedly escaped from a camp.

Despite threats of economic sanctions by the US, Turkey says the operation – which it argues is needed to prevent terrorism – will go on. We explain the offensive in four maps.

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‘Oval Four’: Men ‘framed’ by corrupt detective get Court of Appeal hearing

Four black men were arrested at London’s Oval tube station in 1972 and spent time in jail for assaulting a police officer and attempted theft. Known as the “Oval Four”, they say they were framed by a detective. Forty-seven years after the arrest, two of the men have had their cases referred to the Court of Appeal. Here’s the story.

The people power activists who toppled East Germany

By Laurence Peter

Nobody had a mobile phone or social media to mobilise supporters back in 1989. But East Germans fed up with communism poured into the streets of Leipzig, despite extraordinary restrictions on their personal freedom.

“We didn’t have a phone at home – we weren’t allowed, and they would have been listening in any case,” recalls Katrin Hattenhauer, one of the organisers of the demonstrations.

A candle-lit mass protest on 9 October became the turning point: a crowd of 70,000 thronged the city centre and for the first time dared to march past the feared headquarters of the Stasi secret police. “We are the people!” they chanted. “Wir sind das Volk!”

Read the full article

What the papers say

The Financial Times says Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan is “baffling” the EU, while the Daily Telegraph reports that EU negotiators are demanding more concessions from the PM before a deal can be reached. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail leads on plans, to be laid out in the Queen’s Speech, to bring in tougher sentences for foreign criminals and child abusers. Elsewhere, the Daily Star reports that TV fitness guru Mr Motivator wants his ashes fed to mourners at his funeral.

Daily digest

Labour Nationalisation plan would cost at least £196bn, CBI says

Typhoon Hagibis Japan deploys 110,000 rescuers

Catalan separatists Spain braced for verdict in leaders’ trial

Hong Kong protests China’s president warns of “bodies smashed”

If you see one thing today

Image copyright Physiotherapist Igor Simões Andrade gives monthly

The pink dolphins giving people their lives back

If you listen to one thing today

Desert Island Discs: Baroness Arminka Helić

If you read one thing today

Image copyright Family photograph

The British girl who went to meet her death row pen pal

Lookahead

Today The 65th annual session of the Nato Parliamentary Assembly begins in London.

21:45 The winner of the Booker Prize is announced, with Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie among the authors in contention. Here are the details.

On this day

1969 The seven-sided 50-pence piece comes into circulation, replacing the 10-shilling note. It was the third decimal coin to be produced, two years ahead of full decimalisation.