Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 24 Dec 2018

1. Indonesian tsunami: death toll mounting

At least 281 people are known to have died in Saturday’s tsunami in Indonesia. Huge waves hit coastal towns on the islands of Sumatra and Java, injuring an additional 1,016, after volcanic activity caused undersea landslides. On Sunday, the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted and people have been warned it may cause more waves.

2. Gatwick drones: appeal as couple exonerated

Police have appealed for help after releasing their only suspects for the flying of drones near Gatwick Airport, which prompted its closure last week. The couple have been exonerated – but may now take action against newspapers who named them. One senior police officer has suggested that there may never have been drones at all.

3. Jams as half of Britain’s drivers hit road

Motoring groups are warning of severe delays today as half of all Britain’s drivers take to the roads on Christmas Eve. The worst congestion is expected on the M1 northbound between junctions 21 and 26, with problems on the M25, M5, M6 and M40. There are 330 sets of rail engineering works underway between now and 1 January.

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4. Queen’s call for ‘peace on Earth and goodwill’

The Queen’s Christmas Day speech this year says the Christian message of “peace on Earth and goodwill to all” is needed now “as much as ever” before. With the country divided over Brexit, it stresses the need for people with strongly opposing views to bridge the gap between themselves and their opponents with “common decency”.

5. Princess Louise died owing cigarette bill

Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise, owed 15 shillings to a tobacconist when she died, just-released documents show. The Princess died at the age of 91 in 1939 after a successful life as an artist. Her estate would have been worth £70m in today’s money but she left an unpaid bill at R Lewis Ltd, based near Buckingham Palace.

6. Taller people ‘less likely to die in hospital’

Research on NHS data led by a team in Canada suggests taller people are less likely to die in hospital than shorter people, prompting fears that equipment might be designed for taller people and not properly adjusted for use with those who aren't as tall. The researchers give the example of ventilators, which may be designed for larger lung capacities.

7. Labour: we’ll shape economy around climate

Labour would radically transform the economy to decelerate climate change, according to shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey. In a plan echoing the New Green Deal promoted by US left-wingers including Bernie Sanders, the party says it would use the power of the state to decarbonise the economy and create green jobs.

8. Two hundred years of Silent Night carol

The Christmas carol Silent Night is 200 years old this year – it was first sung in church on Christmas Eve 1818 in the Austrian village of Oberndorf near, Salzburg. The first performance of the song was by compozer Franz Gruber, accompanied on guitar by Josef Mohr. Legend has it the church organ had been destroyed by mice.

9. J.K. Rowling mocks ‘St Corbyn’ on Brexit

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, known for her left-of-centre Twitter posts, has mocked “Saint Jeremy Corbyn” for Labour’s stance on Brexit in a thread of 16 biblically-themed tweets. The tweets say that Corbyn has “always in his secret heart desired” Brexit and say that the possiblity of a jobs-first Brexit from Labour is “bollocks”.

10. Briefing: is it worth investing in cannabis?

The increasing liberalisation of cannabis across the world is fuelling excitement among investors who regard the drug as the next big trend for both consumers and medicine.

In October, Canada became the second country, after Uruguay, to legalise the possession and recreational consumption of marijuana. So will the green rush be the next gold rush?

Pot stocks: is it worth investing in cannabis?