Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 30 Dec 2018

1. Brexit 'only 50-50' if MPs reject Theresa May's deal

The chances of Brexit happening are “50-50” if MPs reject Theresa May’s deal, the international trade secretary has said. Liam Fox, a Brexiteer, told The Sunday Times that the only way to be “100% certain” of Brexit is if MPs vote for the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement. He said: “If we were not to vote for that, I’m not sure I would give it much more than 50-50.”

2. Actress June Whitfield dies at the age of 93

Dame June Whitfield has died aged 93. The actress was best known for her roles in BBC sitcoms Terry and June and Absolutely Fabulous. She was a regular fixture on TV and radio for six decades, starring in Carry On films and Hancock's Half Hour. She also popped up in Eastenders and Friends. Her agent said she died peacefully on Friday night.

3. Javid flies home from luxury holiday amid migrant row

Sajid Javid has abandoned his family holiday at a safari retreat in South Africa amid a backlash over his handling of the migrant crisis. The home secretary was slammed for declaring a “major incident” over the surge in Channel boat migrants while he was staying at one of the most luxurious safari lodges in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of migrants saved in the Channel by British authorities and detained since Christmas Day has reached 94.

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4. Sussex chief admits police drones may have caused chaos

The chief constable of Sussex police have admitted that the force’s own drones helped cause chaos at Gatwick that delayed 140,000 passengers. Giles York said police launched drones to investigate the first sightings, which may have caused “confusion” at the airport. Last Sunday the force admitted it was “possible” that there had been no drone at Gatwick at the time.

5. Hack attack disrupts leading Sunday newspapers in US

A cyber hack has caused printing and delivery disruptions to leading US newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun. It is believed that Saturday’s attack originated outside the US. It led to distribution delays in the Saturday edition of the Times, the Tribune, the Sun and other newspapers that share a production platform in California.

6. Include grandparents in family holidays, says minister

Grandparents should be taken on family holidays, says the minister responsible for tackling loneliness. Mims Davies, the new sport and civil society minister, told the Sunday Telegraph that communities had a “moral duty” to stop the elderly feeling abandoned. She said that British people could learn from how Mediterranean nations involve grandparents in their lives. A report has found that loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

7. Voting begins in historic elections in Bangladesh

Polls have opened in Bangladesh’s first contested election in a decade. More than 100m voters will have their say on the decade-long rule of Sheikh Hasina who has overseen record economic growth but undermined the country’s democratic institutions. The voting comes after a campaign marred by killings and the arrest of opposition leaders and activists. Authorities have shut down 3G and 4G services to counter what they called “propaganda”.

8. Tory education reforms 'favour those at private schools'

New official data suggests that the Conservatives’ education reforms are giving private school pupils a “huge additional advantage” in the hunt for university places and jobs, says The Observer. The reforms allow private school pupils to sit easier GCSEs than the tougher exams that are being forced upon state schools. The independent sector is still opting for less demanding, internationally-recognised GCSEs (IGCSEs), which state schools are being barred from using.

9. Cannabis strength doubles in Europe in ten years

The potency of cannabis has doubled across Europe in the past decade, according to a landmark study. Researchers from the University of Bath and King’s College London found that both cannabis resin and herbal cannabis have increased in strength and price. “What we are seeing in Europe is… potentially making cannabis more harmful,” said Dr Tom Freeman, who led the study.

10. Too soon: Ariana Grande 'turned down a Damehood'

Ariana Grande turned down a Damehood in honour of the Manchester terror attack victims, according to reports this morning. A source says that the 25-year-old pop star told the honours committee it is “too soon” for her to receive the honour, as she is “still grieving” for those who lost their lives. The terror attack left 22 dead and hundreds injured when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive.