Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Jul 2014

1. LEON BRITTAN ‘QUIZZED ON RAPE CLAIM’

Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan has been interviewed by police over an historical allegation of rape, claims the Independent On Sunday. According to the report Lord Brittan was questioned last month about the claim, which relates to an incident in London in 1967. The Tory peer, now 74, strongly denies the allegation.

2. ARE WE COMPLACENT OVER TERROR THREAT?

The British public has grown complacent over the threat of a terrorist attack on UK soil, says chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee Sir Malcolm Rifkind. The former foreign secretary says the public’s lack of vigilance is “seriously disturbing”. He added that we face a new threat from jihadi bomb makers with “devilish technical skill”.

UK public 'disturbingly complacent' on terrorism

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3. HOME OFFICE LOST 114 CHILD SEX FILES

The Home Office admits that it has either lost or destroyed 114 files relating to allegations of historic child abuse by politicians. The missing files were part of an investigation into the handling of a dossier, compiled by late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens, which is believed to implicate political figures at the heart of national life.

Home Office 'loses' 114 Whitehall child sex files

4. BIRMINGHAM ‘IGNORED PLOT FOR 12 YEARS’

Did Britain’s biggest education authority ignore warnings of an Islamist school plot for 12 years? The official investigator into the Trojan Horse scandal will accuse Birmingham of not doing enough to safeguard children from radicals despite warnings dating back to 2002, sources close to the inquiry have told The Sunday Times.

5. OXFORD STREET HAS MOST NO2 ON PLANET

Oxford Street has the planet's highest recorded concentration of the toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), reveals The Sunday Times. The level recorded on the famous shopping street is more than three times the permitted EU maximum. High concentrations of NO2 can cause asthma and heart attacks in people exposed even for a short period.

6. 'SYMBOLIC' TURNING POINT IN UKRAINE

Ukraine's president has described the recapture of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk as a crucial turning point in the three-month conflict. Although Petro Poroshenko stopped short of describing the development as a total victory, he described it as a moment of "huge symbolic importance". Sloviansk was the military centre of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk.

7. US ‘TROUBLED’ BY ISRAEL TEEN BEATING

The US has told Israel it is "profoundly troubled" by reports that an American teenager was beaten by security forces in East Jerusalem. Israel’s justice ministry has opened an investigation into allegations that Tariq Khdair, 15, from Florida, was brutally punched and kicked by two officers. The alleged attack was caught on amateur video.

8. CAVENDISH CRASHES IN OPENING TOUR STAGE

Mark Cavendish’s dream of winning the opening stage of the Tour de France was dashed yesterday as he crashed during the sprint finish. The Briton dislocated his right shoulder and suffered ligament damage when he collided with Simon Gerrans. A decision will be made this morning on whether Cavendish can continue with the Tour.

9. KVITOVA WINS AS ROGER READIES

Petra Kvitova beat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard to win her second Wimbledon title. The Czech sixth seed, who first won in 2011, achieved her 6-3 6-0 victory in 55 minutes. Today, Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the men’s final. Seven-time champion Federer has lost just one set in the entire tournament and says he has “a lot of energy left in the tank” for today’s showdown.

10. DUTCH & ARGENTINA MARCH THROUGH

Netherlands and Argentina are through to the World Cup semi-finals. Argentina beat Belgium 1-0 through a Higuain goal. Netherlands progressed after goalkeeper Tim Krul came off the bench late in extra time and saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which his side won 4-3. The Dutch face Argentina in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.