Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Dec 2015

1. Greenhouse gases ‘may start falling’

Are greenhouse gas emissions about to start falling? Figures to be published this week will suggest that global emissions neared a plateau last year and could drop this year. Scientists will say that man-made emissions “nearly stalled” at 37bn tonnes of CO2 last year — and are on track to stabilise or drop slightly in 2015. The news will delight climate change sceptics.

2. Will the coalition bomb Libya next?

Britain has completed its second wave of bombing raids on Islamic State targets in Syria – and Libya could be next. Concern is mounting that coalition military forces will also unleash airstrikes against the jihadis’ expanding enclave in Libya. A charity is warning that military action must be backed by extra funding to support veterans suffering with mental health problems.

3. Police declare Storm Desmond ‘major incident’

Police have declared a major incident in Cumbria after thousands of people were forced from their homes by Storm Desmond. Strong winds and torrential rain have caused widespread flooding, road closures and power cuts to tens of thousands of homes in the north-west of England. Water levels are expected to peak in Carlisle at around 09:15 this morning.

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4. Was Leytonstone station stabbing terrorism?

A stabbing incident at an east London underground station is being treated as a "terrorist incident", say the Met Police. Officers were called to reports of people being attacked at Leytonstone station just after 7pm last night. The knifeman reportedly shouted: "this is for Syria". A man was arrested after being Tasered by police.

5. Peter Gabriel tests if monkeys can Skype

Can monkeys Skype? An experiment next year animals at a chimpanzee rescue centre in Dorset is set to find out. Monkeys will be given videoconferencing equipment and monitored to see if they can use it to communicate with one another. Musician, and former singer of the band Genesis, Peter Gabriel is backing the experiment at Monkey World.

6. E-cigarettes available on NHS from next year

The first e-cigarette to be prescribed on the NHS will be available in 2016, says the Sunday People, but the government wants to keep the move quiet for fear that demand will be too high. A Whitehall source said: “We didn’t want to make a song and dance about it because GPs would be overrun by people demanding it. But this is something we’ve been pushing for.”

7. Is Jeremy Corbyn planning ‘revenge reshuffle’

The shadow cabinet fears a “revenge reshuffle” in the aftermath of Labour’s victory in the Oldham byelection, reports The Observer. Key senior figures worry they will be sacrificed by Jeremy Corbyn to kill dissent. One shadow cabinet minister has reportedly told friends: “I am expecting a busy Christmas, and a very quiet new year.”

8. Can National Front gain in French polling?

France’s far-right National Front is hoping to make gains as the country votes in the first round of regional elections, the first such polling since the Paris attacks, which killed 130 people. The centre-right Les Republicains party led by Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to fare well. The elections are being seen as a test of public opinion on the government's response to the attacks last month.

9. Kardashian and West announce birth of boy

Kim Kardashian has announced the birth of a baby boy. In a statement on her website early on Saturday morning, a representative for Kardashian and Kanye West wrote: “Kim Kardashian West and her husband, Kanye West, welcomed the arrival of their son this morning. Mother and son are doing well.” The baby arrived three weeks ahead of schedule.

10. Hapless Jose now aiming for top-six finish

Jose Mourinho admitted Chelsea might not be able to qualify for next season's Champions League after losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth. The champions’ eighth defeat in 15 Premier League games means they are 14 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. “Maybe now we have to think about top six,” said the boss.