Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Jan 2019

1. Police given extension to quiz train stabbing suspect

Police investigating the murder of Lee Pomeroy have been given another 12 hours to question his suspected killer. Meanwhile, relatives have paid tribute to the 51-year-old victim, who they describe as a “devoted family man”. Pomeroy was stabbed to death on a train in Surrey. The married father of one from Guildford had been on his way to London with his 14-year-old son for a day out. His family called the attack “horrific and pointless”.

2. MPs to launch 'shutdown-style bid' to block no-deal Brexit

A cross-party group of senior MPs will try to derail a no-deal Brexit this week by starving the government of cash and creating a “Donald Trump-style shutdown”, says The Sunday Times. MPs will vote on two amendments to the Finance Bill. One of the amendments would starve the Treasury of its no-deal powers if ministers pressed ahead without the support of MPs.

3. Labour 'faces exodus' over its Brexit position

Thousands of Labour members are demanding the party opposes Theresa May’s Brexit deal and backs a second referendum. The news comes after a poll revealed the party’s share of vote would collapse if it backed the exit deal and as warnings grow that members are leaving the party in disgust at its stance on Brexit. At this week’s national policy forum gathering, officials will testify that there is an exodus of members.

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4. Two British soldiers seriously hurt in Syria

Two British special forces soldiers have been seriously injured in an Islamic State attack in Syria, according to reports. Sky News says the incident, in which one Kurdish fighter was reportedly killed, happened yesterday morning. It is believed that the soldiers were airlifted from the scene by US forces for medical treatment. British special forces are believed to be operating in Syria but the Ministry of Defence has not confirmed this.

5. 'Horrific' rise in obesity costing the NHS £200m annually

A ‘horrific’ rise in obesity surgery is costing the NHS £200m a year. The Sunday Times reveals that more than 41,000 obese people needed hip or knee replacement operations because of their condition last year — including seven teenage girls. The total number of obese patients who have had joint replacement surgery have soared six-fold in only eight years from 6,191 in 2009-10 to 41,761 in 2017-18.

6. Trump may compromise to push his wall plan forward

Donald Trump may be ready to compromise to win funding for a wall on the Mexico border, his chief of staff has indicated. Mick Mulvaney has stated that, in order to break the continuing stalemate in Washington DC, the US president may accept a "steel fence”. The US President is trying to convince the Democrats to approve around $5bn (£3.95bn) to build the wall.

7. Schoolchildren killed in bus crash in northern India

Six schoolchildren have been killed and 12 others hurt in a bus crash in India. Three of the children, aged between five and 14, died at the scene, as did the driver, after the vehicle skidded off a hilly road and rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh state yesterday. Approximately 150,000 people die every year on India’s roads, according to the Washington Post.

8. American cyclist, 90, accepts warning on doping

A 90-year-old American cyclist has accepted a public warning from the US Anti-Doping Agency after being stripped of a world record he set earlier this year for failing a drugs test. Carl Grove tested positive for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of trenbolon, which is a substance prohibited by Usada, after he set a new record when winning the 90-94 age group sprint title at the US Masters Track National Championships in July.

9. Amber Rudd 'has rethink' on 'catastrophic' universal credit

The threat of a revolt has forced a rethink of “catastrophic” universal credit, says The Observer. Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd is to scrap plans for an imminent parliamentary vote allowing 3m existing welfare claimants to be transferred to the controversial universal credit system. It has been claimed that universal credit has forced people into destitution and prostitution. Others say they have been left to rely on foodbanks.

10. High street giants prepare to post their Xmas figures

The high street is set to reveal its Christmas winners and losers this week as 20 retailers, including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Debenhams, post their festive trading figures. Next and John Lewis have already reported, revealing a weak but not disastrous festive season. Low consumer confidence combined with uncertainty around Brexit is likely to make 2019 another challenging year for retail.