Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 5 Jul 2014

1. ‘10 POLITICIANS’ ON PAEDOPHILE LIST

More than 10 current and former politicians are on a list of alleged child abusers compiled by officers investigating claims of a Westminster paedophile ring, says the Daily Telegraph. MPs or peers from all three main parties are on the list, which includes former ministers and household names. Some, like Cyril Smith, are no longer alive but others are still active in parliament.

'10 politicians' on Westminster 'paedophile ring' list

2. WILL RIGBY REPORT PROMPT CLAMPDOWN?

Civil liberties campaigners are worried that the government could use a report on the murder of Lee Rigby to tighten surveillance laws. The Intelligence and Security Committee report is likely to shine a light on the security services’ failure to keep a tab on Rigby’s killers, partly due to a lack of surveillance powers. The report will be delivered amid fears over British extremists travelling to Syria.

Subscribe to 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

British jihadists: how much of a threat do they pose?

3. COULD STATINS CUT BREAST CANCER RISK?

Statins could be used to cut the risk of breast cancer as a study claims that women with high cholesterol are more likely to develop the country’s most common female cancer. Research involving hundreds of thousands of women has added weight to the belief that Britain’s most prescribed drug could help women avoid breast cancer.

Cholesterol drugs could be used to fight breast cancer

4. REVIEW FOR ‘LENIENT’ ROLF HARRIS TERM

The prison sentence handed to Rolf Harris yesterday will be reviewed by the attorney general after public complaints that it was too lenient. The entertainer was jailed for five years and nine months for a string of indecent assaults. However, the sentence has already been referred to the attorney general’s office under the “unduly lenient sentence scheme”.

Rolf Harris: victims hit back over 'slimy woodworm' lyrics

5. PM’S SECRET EU TALKS ON POLICE POWERS

David Cameron has held secret talks to give the EU more powers over policing, reveals The Times. The prime minister secretly agreed to work towards the transfer of more policing powers to Europe despite concerns on a series of issues including costs and the potential dangers the move could pose to innocent Britons.

6. AMIR KHAN ARRESTED FOR ‘ATTACKING TEENS’

Boxing star Amir Khan has been arrested after allegedly attacking two teenagers as they left a mosque. The world champion and Olympic silver medalist was questioned over an incident in Bolton in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses said the alleged attack happened after Mr Khan pulled up alongside the group of men in a Mercedes C Class.

7. GORDON BROWN ‘MOST EVASIVE POLITICIAN’

Politicians give a straight answer to fewer than half the questions put to them, according to a survey by Sky News. The research found that only 46% of written questions were satisfactorily answered since January 2004. Gordon Brown was the individual seen as the most evasive, with the public saying he answered just 16% of questions properly.

8. ONLINE BANK SECURITY STEPS ‘ABYSMAL’

Online bank security steps have now become so complex that they are “not fit for purpose”, says the National Consumer Federation. Frustration has grown as First Direct became the latest to require customers to use a second device to log in to their accounts. A security expert tells The Times that the usability of banks’ systems is now “abysmal”.

9. TOUR DE FRANCE STARTS IN YORKSHIRE

The 101st Tour de France begins today with a royal send-off in Yorkshire. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will be present as almost 200 riders cycle from Leeds to Harrogate in the 118-mile first stage. Chris Froome is the defending champion, while fellow Briton Mark Cavendish is among the favourites to win stage one.

Cavendish prepares for Yorkshire Dales dash

10. BRAZIL AND GERMANY REACH SEMIS

Brazil and Germany marched into the semi-finals of the World Cup yesterday but the hosts were dealt a blow when forward Neymar was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury. In a disappointing clash, Germany beat France 1-0 through Mats Hummels' early header. Later, Brazil won a scintillating encounter with Colombia 2-1, with David Luiz scoring the winner.