Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Jan 2019

1. Chinese lunar rover lands on far side of Moon

China has become the first space power to land on the far side of the Moon, the side never seen from Earth. The Chang’e-4 unmanned probe touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 2.26am UK time today. The wheeled rover is carrying instruments that will be used to analyse the area’s geology and conduct biological experiments.

2. Apple blames slump on Trump trade war

Apple yesterday announced it was cutting its sales forecast – a move that saw shares in the tech giant fall by 7%, wiping $55bn (£44bn) off its value. The iPhone maker warned shareholders it was now expecting revenue of $84bn (£67bn) for the last three months of 2018, down from a forecast of up to $93bn (£74bn). The California-based company blamed a slump in sales in China amid trade tensions with the US.

3. Two charged with organising migrant crossings

A British man and an Iranian have been arrested on suspicion of helping migrants cross the English Channel in small boats. The men, aged 24 and 33, were taken into custody in Manchester yesterday evening. Royal Navy ships are continuing to patrol the Channel in an attempt to put a stop to the crossings, the Ministry of Defence has said.

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4. Manufacturers face Brexit vote shortage

British manufacturers are facing the biggest shortage of skilled workers since 1989, as the effect of the Brexit vote bites, according to The Guardian. British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) says more than 80% of manufacturers struggled for staff in the last quarter of 2018.

5. Cancer ‘breathalyser’ tested in Britain

A breathalyser device that can detect cancers early in patients is being trialled at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. According to its manufacturers, the Breath Biopsy device has the potential to save thousands of lives and millions of pounds in costs. Some 1,500 people are being recruited to take part in the two-year trial.

6. US shutdown continues as president vetoes compromise deal

Many federal services in the US will remain closed for a 14th day today after US President Donald Trump refused to back down on his request to Congress to allocate funds to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. A meeting between Trump and congressional leaders yesterday proved fruitless, with a Democratic compromise rejected.

7. Millennials queue for hours for new railcard

A new so-called millennial railcard offering people aged 26 to 30 up to a third off fares was launched yesterday – but rail bosses have already run into problems after potential customers were left queueing online for hours. Train fares rose by an average of 3.1% yesterday, despite punctuality falling to a 13-year low in 2018.

8. Anti-drone equipment removed from Gatwick

Military equipment designed to block drones has been removed from Gatwick Airport, two weeks after some 1,000 flights were disrupted by drone sightings over the airfield. No one has been charged with the interference and no drone believed to be involved has been found. Police are investigating “relevant sightings” by a total of 115 witnesses.

9. Yacht found eight years after sea rescue

A yacht has been found floating off the south coast of Australia eight years after it was abandoned by teenage round-the-world sailor Abby Sunderland. Then 16, Sunderland gave up her attempt to circle the globe alone when her mast snapped off in a storm in June 2010 halfway between the Western Australian coastline and Africa. She said yesterday that seeing footage of the boat was “very emotional”.

10. Briefing: celebrities who died in 2018

The world lost more than a few iconic stars in 2018, from Hollywood heartthrob Burt Reynolds and the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin to theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and the 41st president George H.W. Bush.

Remember some of the prominent public figures that we said goodbye to this year with The Week’s gallery of late celebrities.

Celebrities who died in 2018