Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 30 Jan 2019

1. May returning to Brussels following Commons win

Theresa May yesterday secured an unexpected victory when MPs voted by a margin of just 16 to back her Brexit deal, with the proviso that the Irish backstop must be replaced with “alternative arrangements”. The prime minister is now expected to ask the EU to amend the backstop – but several European leaders have already said it is non-negotiable.

2. Travel warning as snow and ice cover UK

Road journeys should be avoided today and commuters should expect delays, after freezing conditions developed overnight, the Met Office is warning. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in force for most of the UK today and wintry showers are expected in the North and Scotland.

3. London: three held after teen fatally stabbed

Three teenagers have been arrested in London after a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the street. The as-yet unnamed victim was the fifth person to die in a knife attack in the capital so far this year. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the stabbing, in Caledonian Road, Islington, at 7pm on Tuesday. Police invoked powers to stop and search everyone in the area.

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4. Apple hints at iPhone price cut as shares slide

Apple boss Tim Cook yesterday hinted that the tech giant may lower the cost of the iPhone in some locations after figures showed the final quarter of 2018 was the firm’s least profitable in years. Revenue fell by 15% in the three months to December, triggering a drop in the firm’s share price.

5. Mordaunt: replace aid with private donations

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt yesterday told the Cabinet her department’s goal of spending 0.7% of gross national income on aid was unsustainable and called for state aid to be replaced with private donations. Mordaunt wants to shift the department’s work from spending money overseas to fundraising for projects.

6. Venezuela’s Maduro ‘ready to talk to Guaido’

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro has said he is ready to hold talks with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president following a contested election. Maduro is no longer recognised as the country’s leader by the US and other nations following the controversial vote. He told Russian state news agency Ria that he was ready to negotiate “for the sake of peace”.

7. House prices growing faster in North and Midlands

UK house prices have grown fastest in cities in the Midlands, Northern England and Scotland since the Brexit vote, according to property website Zoopla. Before the vote, cities in the South usually led price growth but since June 2016 the greatest gains have been made in Birmingham, while prices fell by 4% in Cambridge.

8. Friends TV show ‘still relatable’ to British teens

US sitcom Friends is still the most popular TV show for Britons aged five to 16, despite being made in the 1990s before they were even born, according to a survey by research firm Childwise. The firm says the show’s “focus on friendships and relationships is relatable to teens”, who watch the show on Netflix or other online services.

9. Richard E. Grant reveals joy at Barbra Streisand letter

Actor Richard E. Grant has shared his tearful reaction after singer Barbra Streisand responded to a letter he sent her at the age of 14. The Oscar-nominated star of Can You Ever Forgive Me? posted a selfie on social media showing him posing outside Streisand’s Malibu home and added the text of the letter, in which he invited her on holiday. He then posted a snap of himself crying after Streisand tweeted back to say he was a “terrific” actor.

10. Briefing: what is France’s ‘red scarves’ movement?

Thousands of people have been protesting against the actions of the anti-government “yellow vest” movement.

The so-called red scarves, or foulards rouges, are demanding an end to the violence witnessed at yellow vest (gilets jaunes) rallies.

What is France’s ‘red scarves’ movement?