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

PM's fight to break Brexit deadlock

Theresa May is to continue her fight to break the Brexit deadlock as she holds cross-party talks in a bid to reach a deal that would pass in the Commons.

The Prime Minister faces an uphill struggle after all opposition party leaders demanded that she scraps the no-deal option as a condition of progress.

Mrs May’s charm offensive comes after she last night survived a vote of no confidence in her government that followed MPs dismissing her deal.

Death toll rises after Kenya hotel attack

At least 21 people were killed when Somali militants opened fire in a luxury hotel in Nairobi, Kenya's government has said.

Hundreds were forced to flee as the violence unfolded in the business complex of a hotel in the east-African country’s capital on Tuesday.

Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the siege has now ended as he confirmed the latest death toll and that the five jihadist attackers were "eliminated".

Asda locked in equal pay battle

Supermarket Asda is set to find out the latest ruling in a legal battle by its staff over equal pay.

The retail giant is challenging a court’s decision that jobs in its stores are comparable to those in the firm's distribution centres.

The legal action was launched by thousands of retail workers, mostly women, who argue they should be paid the same as those in the firm’s depots.

A Court of Appeal hearing is set for today.

Trump to unveil space-based missile defence strategy

Donald Trump is to unveil a major defence strategy that could involve space-based weaponry designed to shoot down enemy missiles.

The experimental technology, which would be designed to track and destroy projectiles aimed at the US, has been recommended after a review.

President Trump will present the administration’s long-delayed Missile Defence Review to the Pentagon later today.

Harry and Meghan at Cirque du Soleil premiere

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined stars to attend the premiere of Cirque du Soleil, in aid of a charity in honour of Harry’s mother.

Harry and Meghan were the guests of honour at the Royal Albert Hall as they watched performers display their acrobatic skills.

The event set out to awareness and funds for the duke's charity, Sentebale, which helps young people in southern Africa affected by HIV.

On this day...

1536: Henry VIII, 44, fell from his horse while jousting and was unconscious for several hours. Experts believed this triggered his mental instability.

1773: Captain Cook's ship Resolution became the first to cross the Antarctic circle.

1874: The original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, died within three hours of each other, aged 62.

1912: British explorer Captain Scott reached the South Pole - only to find the Norwegian Roald Amundsen had arrived a month earlier

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