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Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, December 12

Millions of UK voters head to the polls for 'most important election in a generation'

Voters are today heading to the polls to cast their ballots in what has been billed as the most important general election in a generation.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn last night made their dramatic final pitches before polling stations opened at 7am this morning.

The Prime Minister ended his campaign with an eve of election rally in London.

He told voters the Tories would "finish what we started" and deliver Brexit.

In his own last-ditch bid for support, Mr Corbyn stressed undecided voters had an "historic" choice to make to prevent a Tory majority.

For the latest updates on the election, follow our live coverage here.

New Zealand volcano victim recovery mission planned for Friday, officials confirm

A recovery mission to retrieve those killed when a volcano erupted in New Zealand will begin on Friday, officials have confirmed.

New Zealand Police today revealed they are in the final stages of planning ahead of the operation.

The recovery of eight bodies believed to be left on White Island after Monday’s disaster had been delayed amid fears conditions were not yet safe.

Trump branded 'dictator' as House Democrats debate impeachment charges

Donald Trump has been branded a “dictator” by a top Democrat involved in the impeachment probe into the president.

Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives judiciary panel, said Mr Trump “stonewalled” Congress after abusing his power.

Mr Nadler’s remarks came as he opened a meeting of the committee, which has begun debating charges for impeachment expected to be brought against the US leader next week.

The committee is expected to approve the charges later today and the full Democratic-led House is likely to follow suit next week.

Following the House vote, charges will go to the Senate for a trial.

The Republican-led chamber is unlikely to vote to remove Mr Trump from office.

Weinstein 'reaches tentative $25m settlement with accusers'

Harvey Weinstein has reportedly reached a tentative $25 million (£19 million) settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

The disgraced movie producer and the board of his bankrupt film studio reached the accord which would end nearly all civil lawsuits by actresses and former Weinstein employees.

That's according to a report from the New York Times, which cited lawyers involved in the negotiations.

More than 70 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades.

He has denied the allegations, saying any sexual encounters were consensual.

Triple firing in The Apprentice semi-final

Last night’s episode of the Apprentice saw a triple firing by Alan Sugar as only two candidates remain in to competition for the final.

Lottie Lion, Pamela Laird and Lewis Ellis were sent home - meaning it's down to Carina Lepore and Scarlett Allen-Hornton to be hired.

This week's edition of the BBC show saw hopefuls say goodbye to the tasks and the spotlights turned on to their business proposals.

On this day...

1901: The first transatlantic wireless message was sent 1,800 miles from Cornwall to St John's, Newfoundland, where it was received by Marconi.

1911: Delhi replaced Calcutta as the capital of India and King George V and Queen Mary attended the celebration.

1913: Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, stolen from the Louvre in Paris, was found in a bedroom of a small hotel in Florence.

1915: The German Junkers J1, the first all-metal aeroplane, was test flown at Dessau.

1925: The world's first motel opened in California - starting the trend for overnight stops for motorists in individual accommodation.

1955: The hovercraft was patented by British engineer Christopher Cockerell.

1963: Kenya became independent.

1988: A train crash at Clapham Junction killed 35 people and injured more than 100.