Your morning briefing: What you should know for Thursday, October 17

PM's Brexit plans on a knife-edge as he prepares for EU summit

Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans were on a knife-edge last night as hopes of securing a deal before the EU summit starting today began to fade.

The Prime Minister was in a race against time to win backing for his agreement, with EU leaders suggesting they were ready to approve it.

But DUP leader Arlene Foster appeared to hold out and the party refused to drop objections to key elements of the blueprint.

Negotiations continued into the night.

Mr Johnson is expected to head to Brussels this morning for the EU leaders’ meeting, where any potential deal would be signed off.

He needs to get an agreement approved at the summit if he is to avoid a political bust-up over asking for delay beyond October 31.

XR vows to target Tube network this morning

Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists are set to target the London Underground this morning.

The protesters’ latest planned action comes as they step up efforts to force the government to take stronger action against climate change.

Activists confirmed they would disrupt the capital’s Tube network during morning rush hour as commuters make their way to work.

They refused to reveal any more information.

Police sought to reassure commuters who could face delays, saying additional officers would be patrolling the capital’s transport network.

Dame Louise quits Labour over Corbyn's handling of anti-Semitism

Dame Louise Ellman has announced she is quitting Labour over Jeremy Corbyn's handling of anti-Semitism in the party.

The veteran MP, who has served Liverpool Riverside for 55 years, said that under Mr Corbyn, anti-Semitism has become mainstream.

Dame Louise, who is Jewish, said the expected upcoming election has forced her to act.

She said she could not tell her constituents to vote him in as Prime Minister.

Trump's extraordinary letter to Turkish leader

Donald Trump wrote an extraordinary letter to Turkey’s President warning him "don't be a tough guy".

The US leader said Recep Tayyip Erdogan risked being remembered as the "the devil” over his country’s military offensive in Syria.

He told Mr Erdogan he did not want to be responsible for "slaughtering thousands of people."

Mr Trump's strongly-worded letter was made public last night but is dated October 9.

Vunipola fit for England's quarter final clash in Japan

Billy Vunipola has been named to start in England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia having overcome injury.

Due to the cancellation of their final Pool C match against France, England will have not played for a fortnight by the time the game starts in Oita on Saturday.

The long break between games has given Vunipola time to recover from an ankle injury that forced him off at half-time against Argentina.

On this day...

1651: Charles II, defeated by Cromwell at Worcester, fled to France, after famously escaping from Cromwell's forces by hiding in an oak tree.

1777: British commander General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga in the American War of Independence.

1860: The first professional golf tournament was held at Prestwick, Scotland, and won by Willie Park.

1899: British troops defeated the Boers at Glencoe.

1931: Mobster Al Capone was jailed for 11 years for tax evasion.

1956: Calder Hall in Cumbria, Britain's first large-scale atomic energy station, was opened by the Queen.

1960: The News Chronicle newspaper ceased publication.

1989: San Francisco was hit by an earthquake which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale.