Yahoo News The 8 things you might have missed this weekend
Theresa May is disputing Ireland's claim that last week's Brexit deal was binding, Bitcoin has enjoyed a strong debut on the Chicago Board Options Exchange and snow has caused chaos across Britain.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho was reportedly involved in a bust-up with Man City's 'keeper after losing to their rivals, and England are embroiled in fresh controversy after Ben Duckett threw a drink over James Anderson.
If you've been away from a screen or newspaper all weekend or want a summary, here's a quick recap of the main events.
1. May issues Ireland warning over Brexit deal
Theresa May will insist that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” on the terms of Brexit after the Irish government claimed that last week's preliminary deal is binding.
The Prime Minister will say in the House of Commons on Monday that although she is optimistic that a deep and special future deal can be agreed, last week's agreement is contingent on such an outcome.
Art.46 of Fridays agreed text re Ireland/NI: "The commitments and the principles...are made and must be upheld in all circumstances, irrespective of the nature of any future agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom." - clear and positive commitment from UK Govt
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) December 10, 2017
Mrs May will also face her first meeting with Cabinet ministers as potentially acriminous discussions begin about Britain's long-term relationship with the EU.
She is expected to say: "This is not about a hard or a soft Brexit... there is, I believe, a new sense of optimism now in the talks and I fully hope and expect that we will confirm the arrangements I have set out today in the European Council later this week."
2. Bitcoin makes string debut on major bourse
Bitcoin has faced a potentially momentous moment as trading began in the first big financial product linked to the cryptocurrency.
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) launched its Bitcoin futures contract, a financial product tied to the Bitcoin, that allows investors to bet on whether its price will rise or fall.
After the hugely anticipated launch, the currency enjoyed a strong debut
It is seen as a key moment because it will allow a new wave of professional money to go into Bitcoin, as well as providing an easy way to short it. Since many in high finance see Bitcoin's meteoric rise in recent weeks as a classic bubble, a few might be tempted to bet against it. On the other hand, the leaps in its price last week mean it might not be a risk worth taking.
3. Snow causes chaos at Heathrow as British Airways flights are diverted
Snow caused chaos for air passengers on Sunday, with flights diverted, delayed and cancelled at Heathrow.
While roads were closed and power supplies affected around the country, the disruption at Britain's main airport was blamed on planes having to be de-iced before take-off, resulting in a lack of 'parking space' for incoming flights.
At the west London airport, passengers complained of being trapped on a British Airways plane on the ground for more than four hours with no information from the airline.
Four British Airways flights headed for Heathrow had to be diverted to Newcastle, 300 miles away. The deicing process is believed to have affected both outgoing and incoming flights, with planes not able to land because other aircraft were still in the stands.
4. Disgraced PR guru Max Clifford dies aged 74
Max Clifford's family have claimed he was denied medical treatment after the disgraced PR guru died having collapsed in his prison cell.
The 74 year-old was said to be "in a bad way" after falling twice at the Cambridgeshire jail where he was serving an eight-year sentence for historical sex offences.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Clifford, who had been ill since suffering a heart attack in August, died in hospital on Sunday after a cardiac arrest.
Clifford’s daughter Louise, who appeared in court as a witness for her father's defence, has alleged that she had been fighting for medical treatment alongside her father’s legal team and doctor, but without success.
5. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hopeful after Boris Johnson visit
A British mother jailed in Iran hailed the “light at the end of the tunnel” on Sunday when a fresh trial was postponed after Boris Johnson met with the country’s president.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker who is serving a five-year sentence for allegedly plotting to topple the Iranian government, said she could “see some light today” after news of the postponement reached her.
She had been scheduled to face additional charges of spreading anti-government propaganda in court on Sunday. But a senior court official told Iran’s Fars news agency that no hearing would be held.
The mother-of-one described a feeling of cautious optimism after previous attempts to free her had failed. “This time, again it feels close, but I am not planning it, not setting a date for myself,” she added.
6. Mourinho in dressing-room row with Man City 'keeper
Jose Mourinho was involved in a furious dressing-room bust-up with Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson as the Manchester derby descended into acrimony.
Sources claimed the Manchester United manager had milk and water thrown at him after the spat with Ederson.
Mourinho was thought to have gone to the door of City’s dressing room to ask their players to show more respect amid apparent disappointment over the way the Premier League leaders were celebrating their 2-1 win, as music blared from the visiting team dressing room.
But a war of words ended up breaking out at that point with Mourinho and Ederson believed to have been yelling at each other in Portuguese as a melee ensued involving players from both sides.
7. Ben Duckett banned as Moeen Ali warns future of game is at risk
Moeen Ali has warned England’s behaviour on the Ashes tour is in danger of driving children away from the sport as it emerged the players ignored pleas from captain Joe Root to avoid trouble on the night Ben Duckett threw a drink over James Anderson.
The ECB on Sunday banned Duckett from playing in the remainder of the Lions’ training camp in Australia (three T20 matches), fined him around £1500 and issued a final written warning, although they stopped short of sending him home. In Duckett's defence, he was not part of the full Ashes squad that had been warned about behaviour on tour.
But as the England management struggle to keep a grip on a rapidly unravelling Ashes tour, Moeen admitted standards off the field have to improve with the players under more scrutiny than ever before following the arrest of Ben Stokes.
8. Wiggins encouraged to stick with rowing
British oarsman Matt Rossiter has encouraged Sir Bradley Wiggins to stick with his rowing and prove that his performance at the British Indoor Rowing Championships was not a true reflection of his ability.
Wiggins finished 21st in his first competitive outing in his adopted sport, his time of 6min22sec in the open 2km event at the Olympic velodrome 34sec down on the winner, Great Britain rower Adam Neill.
However, Wiggins blamed a “schoolboy error” – which saw the 2012 Tour de France champion momentarily stop rowing when he thought he heard the announcer call a false start – for the fact that he finished a whopping 20 sec down on the 6min 02sec he had been targeting pre-event, a time which would have placed him top 10.
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