1. May fears leadership challenge ‘this week’
Theresa May might still postpone Tuesday’s Commons vote on her Brexit plans in order to avoid an immediate leadership challenge if the Government loses, some commentators are claiming. A “pack” of ministers and ex-ministers led by Boris Johnson are “jockeying” to lead the party, says The Times.
2. Grace Millane: NZ leader holds back tears
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was visibly emotional this morning as she told reporters that British backpacker Grace Millane “should have been safe here”. The 22-year-old’s body was found in dense bushland in western Auckland on Sunday. A 26-year-old man appeared in court charged with murder this morning.
3. Macron to meet trade union leaders in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron is to meet trade union leaders in Paris this morning in an attempt to end the violent protests by the grass-roots gilet jaunes (yellow vests) movement. Macron has already scrapping the fuel tax rise that sparked the riots and is expected to now offer tax cuts and subsidies for lower-income families.
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4. Fortnite gamer charged with live stream assault
A gamer in Sydney has been charged with assault after being heard on a livestream allegedly hitting a woman. The 26-year-old, whose handle is MrDeadMoth, was using the Twitch video platform to broadcast himself playing survival game Fortnite when he reportedly got into a fight with a pregnant wife. Footage of the incident, on Sunday, then went viral after being shared on Twitter.
5. Harry Redknapp wins I’m A Celebrity
Football manager Harry Redknapp was crowned winner of reality TV series I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! last night. The 71-year-old, who was fired by Birmingham City in September, said: “My grandkids will be jumping around the living room now. They’ll be so excited.” Second place went to actor Emily Atack.
6. Sadiq Khan may introduce rent controls
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is looking at introducing rent controls in the capital, saying the arguments in favour of capping rent inflation are becoming “overwhelming”. It is thought that Khan may advocate for greater powers for local councils as a way of stopping rent rises. He may also end the practice of “no fault” evictions, according to reports.
7. Investors warn climate change will cause crash
Some of the world’s biggest investors are warning the United Nations that failing to tackle climate change will lead to a financial crash several times bigger than the 2008 crisis, The Guardian reports. The managers - collectively responsible for $32trn (£25trn) of assets - are urging governments to phase out thermal coal, put a “meaningful” price on carbon emissions and gradually get rid of subsidies for fossil fuels.
8. Next series of Doctor Who not until 2020
The next series of Doctor Who will not return to TV screens until 2020, the BBC has said. Series 11 of the hit sci-fi show ended last night and will be followed a festive special on New Year’s Day, before an absence of at least 12 months. Jodie Whittaker’s debut as the first female Time Lord drew the programme’s highest launch ratings in a decade.
9. Scottish chip shop offers deep-fried sprouts
A chip shop in Scotland is offering its customers an entire deep-fried Christmas dinner, including sprouts and a mince pie. The Dunkeld Fish Bar, in Perthshire, charges £1 for five deep-fried Brussels sprouts, or £10 for an entire Christmas dinner of battered sprouts, turkey goujons, parsnip and carrot fritters and a 1ft-long pig in a blanket.
10. Briefing: why is Japan relaxing its immigration laws?
Japan’s House of Representatives has passed a long-awaited piece of legislation relaxing the country’s famously strict immigration laws.
The aim of the bill, which was forced through by the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party, is to offer low-skilled foreign workers a new type of visa.
Why is Japan relaxing its immigration laws?
