Monday morning news briefing: Closing on a Brexit deal?

Brexit latest: Let's get this thing done, says Boris Johnson

He "passionately" believes he can clinch a new Brexit deal. Boris Johnson has given the clearest indication yet that an agreement with Brussels is close. As he heads to Luxembourg today for his first meeting with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker (over a lunch of snails, salmon and cheese, the Prime Minister says he is working "flat out" to avoid no deal. Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Johnson says he wants to "get this thing done" so Britain can emerge from Brexit "on a brighter, more cheerful, more confident and global path". Click here to read his full article. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay also made a disclosure in the latest sign that Mr Johnson is preparing to compromise. With the Northern Irish backstop a key sticking point, Europe Editor Peter Foster explains why it is such an important issue. And here is a reminder of how no deal might affect UK life.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat conference has been overshadowed by a racism row. One of its candidates claimed people in North Devon voted to leave the EU as "they don't travel a lot". Political rivals hit out at the suggestion voters "support Brexit because they're white and don't get out much". Read more.

'Eco-anxiety': Apocalyptic warnings turn children to therapy

Parents are being warned against terrifying youngsters with talk of climate catastrophe, as rising numbers of children are being treated for "eco-anxiety". Protests by groups such as Extinction Rebellion and apocalyptic warnings by Greta Thunberg have prompted more children to seek help. Science Correspondent Henry Bodkin has the signs to look out for. Meanwhile, poll reveals a most teachers are in favour of pupils missing class for eco-campaigns.

Scared of spiders? Look over your shoulder before reading this...

Prepare for a spider invasion. That is the warning from scientists, who say this year's record warm and wet weather is sending arachnid hordes into homes in bumper numbers. Read on for advice for householders wary of spiders.

News digest

• Sir Rod Stewart in the clear | Singer wins three-year prostate cancer fight

• Blenheim's stolen £4.8m lavatory | Thieves are real artists, says creator

• TV ratings battle | 'Ethical' BBC will overtake Netflix, says Lord Hall

• Fatal stabbing | Birthday party guests sit on suspect until police arrive

• Living it up | Students take out payday loans to fund avocado on toast

Gallery: The big picture

Give us a twirl, flower girl | Victoria Beckham with her daughter, Harper, at the former Spice Girl's spring-summer 2020 show for London Fashion Week. Read Lisa Armstrong's report and click through more striking pictures.

Comment

• Boris Johnson | I passionately believe I can strike a deal with the EU

• Charles Moore | Here is the truth about lying, David Cameron

• Stephen Bush | Swinson's strategy could spell trouble for the Tories

• Douglas Murray | Liberal 'wokeness' is now beyond parody

• Jane Shilling | Our British way of life is poetry through eyes of strangers

Editor's choice

1. Surviving the OMAD fasting diet | How I learned to live on just one meal a day

2. Miles Jupp interview| The truth about why I left Radio 4's 'The News Quiz'

3. Peaky Blinders review | It's Shelby v Mosley in the penultimate episode

Business and money briefing

Saudi oil attacks | Petrol prices are poised to rise at least 5p per gallon following the drone attacks on Saudi oil refineries. As Hannah Boland reports, further increases are in the pipeline if emergency engineering works cannot contain the threat to global energy supplies.

• Roger Bootle | Under Labour, we will see inflation rise to 5pc or higher

• Investment tip | Despite tough markets, there should be more in the tank

• Stay on top of the markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day

Sport briefing

The Ashes finale | After a bittersweet victory at the Oval, Ben Stokes has ended summer as a national sporting legend, writes Paul Hayward. But Geoffrey Boycott argues that England were not equal to Australia.

• Will Greenwood | My five reasons why England can win the World Cup

• Watford 2 Arsenal 2 | Unai Emery's side go from sublime to ridiculous

• Solheim Cup | Europe beat USA in thrilling finale at Gleneagles

And finally...

Instagram birthday wish | The Duchess of Sussex has paid tribute to her husband as the "most amazing dad" on his 35th birthday. The Duchess shared a new photo of their baby son, Archie, in a montage of photos of the Duke from over the years on the couple's Sussex Royal Instagram page.