Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 26 Jun 2012

1. ARAB SPRING SPAWNS NEW UK TERROR RISK

Al-Qaeda militants are using countries which ousted their leaders in the Arab Spring as bases to train a new wave of would-be jihadis for potential attacks on Britain, the chief of the MI5 Security Service Jonathan Evans warned last night. Evans said Arab-based terrorists had returned to the Middle East from exile in Afghanistan.

2. STOP TAX AVOIDANCE 'OR FACE MORE RIOTS'

There will be riots on the streets if the British government does not clamp down on tax avoidance, the lawyer who has designed new laws to combat the practice has told The Times. Graham Aaronson QC said: "I feel very strongly that abusive tax schemes are antisocial and this sort of thing fuels the anger of the average person."

Hating the rich: a flash in the pan or a new mood in Britain?

The Week

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

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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. RBS COMPUTER WAS RUN FROM INDIA

The flawed computer programme that has caused chaos for millions of RBS customers was being supervised by an IT team in Hyderabad, India, the Daily Mail claims. The bank 'outsourced' supervision after recruiting graduates experienced in the CA-7 programme, which runs the network of accounts, for just £11,000 a year.

4. FIRST NHS HOSPITAL TRUST GOING BANKRUPT

An NHS hospital trust was last night warned that it could be declared bankrupt and placed under the direct supervision of an administrator under the Health Secretary. In the first case of its kind, South London Healthcare, which runs hospitals in Orpington, Sidcup and Woolwich, and is £69 million in debt, could be forced to cut services.

London NHS hospital trust faces being declared bankrupt

5. HODGSON: 'ROONEY DISAPPOINTING'

England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that Wayne Rooney was a big disappointment in Euro 2012. "When he missed the first two games we were all believing that what we needed to do was to get to the third game and Wayne Rooney will win us the championships. That maybe was too much to ask of him."

Wayne Rooney disappointing in Euros, Hodgson admits

6. CYPRUS LATEST TO CALL FOR EURO BAILOUT

Cyprus last night became the fifth eurozone country to apply for a bailout, saying that it will apply for financial assistance to shore up its banks which are heavily exposed to the failing Greek economy. The announcement came as shares fell in Italy, Spain and Greece amid fears that this week's EU summit will not stabilise the euro.

Cyprus: Communist leader has leverage with Brussels

7. SETBACK AS UK BORROWING RISES

Government borrowing was higher than expected in May after income tax receipts fell – considered a major setback for Chancellor George Osborne. Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that net borrowing, excluding financial help to Britain's banks, stood at almost £18bn last month, compared to around £15bn for the previous May.

8. LAURA ROBSON EXITS WIMBLEDON

British tennis player Laura Robson had her hopes of a run at Wimbledon snuffed out by Italy's Francesca Schiavone today. Robson won the first set but Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion, fought back. Robson saved four match points but was eventually beaten 2-6 6-4 6-4.

Andy Murray 'drama queen' claim resurfaces at Wimbledon

9. BIG BEN TOWER TO BE RENAMED

The Clock Tower at Westminster that houses Big Ben is to be renamed Elizabeth Tower in recognition of the Queen's 60 year reign. The move has been confirmed by the House of Commons after a campaign. Although the tower is commonly referred to as Big Ben, that is the nickname of the 13.5 tonne bell it houses.

10. HOT TICKET: THE LAST OF THE HAUSSMANS

Julie Walters is lighting up the National Theatre with her performance as an ageing hippy mother in The Last of the Haussmans, by actor-turned-playwright Stephen Beresford. Rory Kinnear and Helen McCrory play her children. The play is "a knockout", says The Guardian, and Beresford "is going to be a major name".

The Last of the Haussmans: Beresford's outstanding debut

Explore More