Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 9 Dec 2018

1. PM warns of 'unchartered waters' if Brexit deal rejected

Theresa May has warned MPs they face “uncharted waters” if they reject her Brexit deal. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the PM warned a rejection of her plan would mean “grave uncertainty” for the UK. Will Quince MP, a member of the Defence Secretary’s ministerial team, is quitting the government over May’s Brexit plan.

2. New Zealand police believe they've found Grace's body

Police investigating the murder of British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand have found a body. The detectives had earlier identified a countryside road on the outskirts of Auckland as a “location of interest”. A spokesman told reporters: “A short time ago we located a body that we believe to be Grace.”

3. Donald Trump's chief of staff to leave within weeks

Donald Trump says his chief of staff John Kelly is leaving the White House at the end of the year. The announcement follows days of speculation that the retired four-star Marine general was poised to quit his post. Kelly’s relationship with the US president has become increasingly strained, according to reports. But Trump described Kelly as a “great guy”.

Subscribe to 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. China threatens Canada over 'nasty' Huawei case

China has threatened Canada with “grave consequences” if it does not immediately release Huawei’s chief financial officer, describing the case as “extremely nasty”. Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the US, where prosecutors allege that she covered up her company’s links to a firm that tried to sell equipment to Iran despite sanctions.

5. Blair told government to keep advisory deals secret

Tony Blair asked government officials to keep details of lucrative post-Downing Street advisory work hidden from the public, reports the Sunday Telegraph. The year after he stepped down as PM, Blair wrote a letter insisting that any contracts he struck on behalf of his new consultancy firm must remain “confidential” to protect his new clients, including foreign governments and leading international companies.

6. Police identify Kremlin links to two more UK murders

Detectives who investigated the attempted assassination of a former Russian spy in Salisbury have uncovered fresh evidence that links the Kremlin to at least two other suspected murders on British soil. The Sunday Times says the cases are those of Alexander Perepilichnyy, a businessman blew the whistle on a Kremlin fraud, and Scot Young, the late businessman with “murky business dealings” in Moscow.

7. French PM calls for 'unity' after fourth weekend of protests

France’s Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has vowed to “restore national unity” after violence broke out during a fourth weekend of demonstrations. Tear gas and water cannons were used against thousands of people who were protesting against taxes and President Emmanuel Macron. The government deployed a force of 89,000 police and gendarmes across the country.

8. Majority of Britons 'now want to remain in the EU'

A majority of the country now thinks Britain should remain inside the EU, according to a new poll. The new research found that 52% favour staying in the trading bloc. The results also show that almost 50% think the withdrawal agreement settled by Theresa May is a “bad deal” for Britain. The news comes days before MPs vote on the PM’s plan.

9. 'Difficult' Meghan loses second key member of staff

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has lost second a key member of her Kensington Palace staff. Harry and Meghan’s private secretary, Samantha Cohen, intends to leave after Meghan’s baby is born next spring. The Sunday Times says Cohen’s departure would add to recent speculation that Meghan is “difficult to work for”.

10. Nigel Farage hints at 'stunning' new political party

Nigel Farage says that he is working on a new “leave” campaign that could develop into a new political party on the right if MPs water down Brexit. Referring to Tommy Robinson, the former Ukip leader said: “A pro-Brexit political party, without people like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon in it, could stun everybody with its first couple of polling results.”