Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 22 Jun 2014

1. MH370 PILOT NOW ‘CHIEF SUSPECT’

The pilot of the missing Malaysian airliner is now the chief suspect in the investigation, says The Sunday Times. Malaysia’s special branch is focusing the inquiry on Captain Zaharie Shah after intelligence checks cleared all the other people on board the jet, which was lost in March with 239 passengers and crew onboard.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

2. NEIL KINNOCK DEFENDS MILIBAND

Neil Kinnock has launched a stirring defence of Labour leader Ed Miliband, attacking the "vindictiveness" of a hostile media, reports The Observer. As other senior party figures warn that without more unity Labour could be out of power for a generation, Kinnock said Miliband’s “genuine strengths of thought, action and toughness will get through and help to win victory”.

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3. KIDS TAKE CLASS-A DRUGS TO SCHOOL

Hundreds of children smuggle drugs, including class-a substances, into classrooms every year. Police figures on Sky News show more than 1,000 pupils have been caught with drugs in schools in the past three years. "What we're seeing now is that eight and nine year olds are beginning to smoke weed and skunk and then they go on to harder stuff,” says a charity spokesperson.

4. DID BLAIR LIE ABOUT SYRIAN WMDS?

Tony Blair has attempted to "rewrite history" over what he knew about President Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons capability, claims a former senior intelligence official. Blair claimed last week that the West did not know Assad had chemical weapons until 2012. But John Morrison, a former head of defence intelligence, says that Blair was told this “at least a decade” before 2003.

Tony Blair accused of lies over Syrian WMDs

5. GUILDFORD FOUR CONLON DIES AT 60

Gerry Conlon, one of the Guildford Four who were wrongly jailed for 1974 pub bombings, has died at the age of 60 after an illness. Conlon spent 15 years in prison before being cleared in 1989. His father died in prison after being wrongly convicted on a related charge. Conlon told the Daily Telegraph earlier this year he was struggling with drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.

6. UK FACES SYRIA THREAT ‘FOR YEARS’

British fighters returning from Syria will be a terrorist threat for "many, many years", a leading Scotland Yard officer has told the BBC. Met assistant commissioner Cressida Dick says young British Muslims might commit violence on their return. She says up to 500 Britons have gone to fight in Syria. Her comments follow an internet video recruiting jihadists for Syria and Iraq.

7. BRITISH TROOPS FIGHTING OBESITY

More than 22,000 British troops are overweight and have been at risk of health problems during the past three years, reports The Sunday Times. The troops are so out of shape they were under increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A senior officer blames the “appalling diet many soldiers have”.

8. BIGGEST FEARS OF SUPER-RICH REVEALED

One of the biggest fears of the super-rich concerns the effect their wealth has on their children of ambition, says a new study. One in seven multimillionaires or billionaires worries that their wealth is depriving their children of drive and ambition. Only concerns over health rank higher in the minds of the super-rich, found the study by a law firm.

9. IRAQ ‘STRUGGLING’ AGAINST ISIS

The authorities in Iraq are “struggling” in their battle against militants, diplomats and politicians have told the BBC. Correspondents believe that ISIS is better trained and equipped, and more experienced, than the Iraqi army. ISIS fighters say they seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in north-west Iraq yesterday.

Isis: what does the future hold for the terror group?

10. WORLD CUP: KLOSE & MESSI SAVE THEIR SIDES

Miroslav Klose became the joint record scorer in World Cup history as he equalised for Germany against Ghana last night. The intense clash finished 2-2. Earlier, Lionel Messi netted a stunning 91st-minute curled effort against Iran to send Argentina through to the World Cup knockout stage. Belgium face Russia today, with South Korea taking on Algeria.