Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 25 Nov 2018

1. Theresa May pleads with public to back her deal

Theresa May has written a letter to the British public asking for their support for her Brexit deal. As the European Union prepares to formally sign off the agreement, the PM says it promises a “brighter future” for the UK. Spain will attend today’s EU summit after a last-minute disagreement over Gibraltar was resolved yesterday. Next, May will need to sell the agreement to Parliament.

2. British food banks bracing for soaring winter demand

Food banks in deprived areas are preparing for a rise in demand when universal credit is rolled out. Speaking to The Observer, volunteers said they are concerned about how their communities will cope this winter. Under the new system, claimants are made to wait over a month to receive the benefit. When universal credit is paid out, it is often given as a lump sum, which leads to budgeting problems.

3. Mexico denies reports of US border deal

Mexico's incoming foreign minister says negotiations on how to deal with migrants travelling to the US are continuing despite reports a deal has been reached. Marcelo Ebrard denied reports of an agreement which would see asylum seekers waiting in Mexico while their claims were processed in US courts. His denial comes as a tweet from Donald Trump suggests a deal has been reached.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

4. MPs seize Facebook paperwork after Zuckerberg's silence

Parliament has seized internal Facebook documents in bid to hold the US social media giant to account after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg refused to answer MPs’ questions. The documents are believed to feature significant revelations about Facebook's decisions on data and privacy controls that led to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, including confidential emails between senior bosses, and correspondence with Zuckerberg.

5. Macron slams demonstrators after police clashes

Police in Paris have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse people protesting over rising fuel costs. The price of diesel has risen 23% in the past 12 months, while President Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has sunk as slow as 21% in recent opinion polls. Macron has condemned demonstrators who clashed with police.

6. 'Dramatic rise' in young people suffering strokes

The number of young people suffering strokes is “rising dramatically”, according to a charity. The Stroke Association says the average age of stroke victims is falling. It predicts the number of 45-year-olds and above being affected will increase by 59% by 2035. Around 40,000 people died of a stroke in the UK in 2015.

7. Tory tycoon's London block 'rife with prostitution'

Prostitutes are plying their trade in a Tory tycoon’s Chelsea apartment block, claims The Sunday Times. More than 100 prostitutes and escorts are said to be listed at the property in Chelsea, which is owned by the multimillionaire Christopher Moran. Although the paper claims the block is “rife with prostitution”, there is no suggestion that Moran has any involvement.

8. Ambulance demand police protection as attacks soar

Ambulance crews will not attend incidents at more than 1,400 homes in England without a police escort, according to data in The Sun. Attacks on ambulance crew members have soared by 36% in five years. The North West service, with 756 addresses red-flagged, had the highest number of assaults. GMB union national secretary Rehana Azam said the figures are “terrifying”.

9. Will Russia send space mission to investigate Apollo landings?

Russia’s national space agency has suggested a mission to the moon to verify whether the American moon landings really took place. Responding to a question about Nasa’s Apollo programme, Dmitry Rogozin said: “We have set this objective to fly and verify whether they’ve been there or not”. Conspiracy theories surrounding Nasa’s moon missions are common in Russia.

10. Copa Libertadores final postponed after bus attack

An attack on the Boca Juniors team bus by River Plate supporters has led to the postponement of the final of the Copa Libertadores second leg. The bus was attacked by River Plate fans before the tie. Several players were in need of medical attention after several windows were smashed when missiles were thrown at the bus.