Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 8 Jun 2014

1. GOVE APOLOGISES OVER MAY ROW

Education secretary Michael Gove has apologised to David Cameron over his row with home secretary Theresa May. The move comes after May’s special adviser Fiona Cunningham resigned. Gove and May have clashed over how to tackle extremism amid allegations of an Islamist plot in some Midlands schools. The row erupted after Gove aides said he felt the Home Office was soft on extremism.

Michael Gove apologises as May aide quits

2. OBESITY CAUSES ONE IN 10 DEATHS

A rise in obesity levels mean that one in 10 deaths in England and Wales are caused by excess weight, says the chief medical officer. Professor Dame Sally Davies says many people do not even recognise they weigh too much, due to a “normalisation” of being overweight. As many as 53,000 deaths in England and Wales next year will be due to excess pounds.

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Top doctor says 'normalisation' of obesity killing Brits

3. FIFA SPONSOR WANTS QATAR PROBE

A leading World Cup sponsor is demanding that Fifa carry out an “appropriate investigation” into claims of corruption during the bidding for the 2022 tournament. Sony wants the governing body to fully probe suggestions that Qatar bribed its way to winning the right to host the tournament. Today’s Sunday Times has published fresh allegations of corruption.

4. CHARITY: HOMELESS STUDS ARE ‘BRUTAL’

Metal studs inserted into paving stones to prevent homeless people sleeping outside private flats in London have been condemned as “brutal”. The studs appeared outside the block on Southwark Bridge Road last month, after someone slept rough outside the building. Homeless charities have condemned the use of the studs.

5. DRIVING: TEXTS ARE ‘WORSE THAN DRINK’

Text messaging while at the wheel could be more deadly than drink driving, suggests new government research. A study found that driver reaction times slowed by 46% when they were making a call on a hand-held mobile, by 37% when texting while driving and by 27% during hands-free calls. For those on the drink-drive limit reaction times were reduced by 13%.

6. WITCHES IN THE BRITISH ARMY

The British armed forced includes 60 witches, 300 Rastafarians and 160 spiritualists, according to details released under a freedom of information request. The MoD says: "We want to create a workforce which is drawn from the breadth of the society we defend." However, there is suspicion that troops are pretending to belong to belief systems to be excused church parades.

7. WW2 VETERAN RETURNS TO HOVE

The World War Two veteran who slipped away from a nursing home to join D-Day commemorations in France has returned to the UK. Bernard Jordan, 89, had left his care home in Hove to join other veterans in France. After returning to a hero’s welcome in the UK, the former Royal Naval officer said: “I never imagined my visit would cause such a stir.”

D-Day plus 70: what a pity the French misunderstood Churchill

8. BERLIN BUILDS UNIQUE PRAYER HOUSE

What is thought to be the first house of prayer for three religions is planned in Berlin. The project, known as the House of One, aims to provide a place of worship and contemplation for followers of the three main monotheistic faiths. It will comprise of a mosque, synagogue and church under one roof. A rabbi said “Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles”.

9. FOOTBALL: TESTING WARM-UP FOR ENGLAND

England’s final warm-up game before the World Cup turned into a less than ideal experience as a lightning storm forced the match against Honduras to be halted for 40 minutes. During the match itself, which finished 0-0, Roy Hodgson’s endured heavy tackling from Honduras. In better news for the Three Lions, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been declared fit for the tournament.

10. SHOCK WIN IN BGT GRAND FINAL

Classical singing group Collabro have won the final of Britain’s Got Talent. The five-piece band will appear at this year’s Royal Variety Performance and trouser £250,000 as part of the prize. The two-piece Bars & Melody, widely tipped to win, finished in third place, with opera singer Lucy Kay in second. Tabloid reports claim Simon Cowell may leave the series.