Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 25 May 2012

1. HUNT AND BLAIR TO FACE LEVESON

The Leveson Inquiry has heard that Adam Smith, former special adviser to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, was told that he would not lose his job over contact with News Corporation during its bid for BSkyB. The next day he was told he had to go. Hunt himself will appear at the inquiry next week, as will former PM Tony Blair.

Hunt has a week to save his job as awkward texts keep flowing

2. QUEEN MORE POPULAR THAN EVER

The Queen is enjoying record popularity and nearly 50% of Britons want the crown to pass straight to Prince William when she retires, according to a new poll. A total of 69% of respondents said Britain would be worse off without the monarchy, the highest ever margin in an ICM poll.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

3. SPAIN'S FINANCIAL WOES GROW

Spain's financial woes have worsened after shares in the banking group Bankia were suspended in Madrid and the country's largest autonomous region, Catalonia asked for a government bailout. The country's Eurovision entrant, Pastora Soler, even admitted Spain could not afford to host next year's event if she won.

Spain's Eurovision contestant told country can't afford to win

4. EXAM IN ANTI-SEMITISM QUESTION STORM

Britain's biggest exam board has been criticised after setting an exam question that asked: “Explain, briefly, why some people are prejudiced against Jews.” The question, in a religious studies exam last week, was described as "insensitive" by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

'Why do some people hate Jews' is an acceptable exam question. Discuss

5. SCOTS INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN BEGINS

The 'Yes Scotland' campaign has been launched in Edinburgh with a drive to get 1 million Scots to sign a declaration in support of independence before the referendum in the autumn of 2014. SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "People who live in Scotland are best placed to make the decisions that affect Scotland."

Scottish independence vote threatens to ruin army reform

6. SPLIT SITE FOR SPACE TELESCOPE

The world's most powerful radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array, will operate from sites in both Australia and South Africa, it has been decided. The two countries had been involved in a fierce political battle to play host to the telescope, which will look into the far reaches of the universe. Antenna will be built in both countries.

7. BBC EXTENDS MATCH OF THE DAY DEAL

The BBC will continue to show Premier League football highlights on Match of the Day until the end of the 2016 season. It retained the rights with a bid of £179.7m. The existing deal had been due to expire next spring, but a three-year extension has been signed. MotD will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2014.

8. ENNIS LAUGHS OFF 'FAT' COMMENT

British athlete and Olympic postergirl Jessica Ennis has laughed off claims that she is "too fat". Her coach said a senior official at UK Athletics had told him Ennis had "too much weight". Ennis said the comment was "funny" but "not an issue". However, her team mate Louise Hazel said she had also been criticised about her weight.

Athletics chief thinks Jessica Ennis is fat, claims coach

9. STUDY SHOWS FOX VIEWER IGNORANCE

Fox News viewers are less informed than those who watch no television news at all, according to a study. Fox News responded to the research, conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, as "frivolous polling", adding their "student body does not deserve to be so ill-informed".

10. HOT TICKET: WES ANDERSON’S CANNES CROWDPLEASER

Moonrise Kingdom, the latest film from offbeat US writer-director Wes Anderson, has opened in cinemas. Bruce Willis, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand star in a tale of young runaway lovers who are the subject of a man hunt by the local sheriff and parents. “Charming, daft, bright and joyful”, says Empire.

Moonrise Kingdom will be nirvana to Wes Anderson fans