Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 6 Jun 2015
- 1. DID THE SAUDIS FUND 9/11 ATTACKS?
- 2. TOP UK SCHOOL MAY BAN HOMEWORK
- 3. HAS YOUR NHS DATA BEEN SHARED?
- 4. JON SNOW: TARIQ AZIZ 'WAS A NICE GUY’
- 5. FA: WE WON’T HOST 2018 & 2022 WORLD CUPS
- 6. FEMALE VIAGRA IS COMING CLOSER
- 7. DAVID CAMERON: LET’S TACKLE CORRUPTION
- 8. NICK GIBBS TO MARRY SECRET PARTNER
- 9. BEETROOT SALES ENJOY PURPLE PATCH
- 10. EVRA: SUAREZ NEVER SAID SORRY
1. DID THE SAUDIS FUND 9/11 ATTACKS?
Barack Obama is facing increased pressure to release a top secret report that allegedly shows that Saudi Arabia directly helped to finance the 9/11 attacks. Libertarian Republican senator Rand Paul is demanding that the president declassify 28 pages that were redacted from a 2002 US Senate report into the 9/11 attacks.
2. TOP UK SCHOOL MAY BAN HOMEWORK
Homework could be abolished at a leading independent school to save pupils from depression. As part of a bid to stem an “epidemic” of teenage mental illness, Cheltenham Ladies’ College is considering getting rid of the “Victorian” practice of homework. From September, pupils will attend weekly meditation classes and be given twice as long to walk between lessons.
3. HAS YOUR NHS DATA BEEN SHARED?
Nearly one million patients are having confidential data shared against their wishes, reports the Daily Telegraph. There are calls for an official investigation after it was revealed that at least 700,000 patients opted out of having their GP data shared with third parties only to have their demands ignored. Peers called the blunders a “worrying situation”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
4. JON SNOW: TARIQ AZIZ 'WAS A NICE GUY’
Channel 4 presenter Jon Snow is under fire for describing former Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz as “a nice guy”. After Aziz died, Snow tweeted: “Nice guy in a nasty situation - made no better by Bush/Blair's Shock and Awe.” Snow’s remarks were described as an “insult” to the memory of the many thousands of people killed under Saddam Hussein’s regime.
5. FA: WE WON’T HOST 2018 & 2022 WORLD CUPS
The Football Association says England will not host either of the next two World Cup tournaments. Its chief executive told Sky News that the FA is "not interested" in hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if either is removed from Russia or Qatar. Culture secretary John Whittingdale said this week England was ready to step in if Qatar lost the 2022 event.
6. FEMALE VIAGRA IS COMING CLOSER
Female Viagra has moved one step closer, says the Daily Telegraph. A US panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers has voted in favour of recommending flibanserin, a daily pill nicknamed the “female Viagra”. Campaigners, who have fought for women’s sex drives to receive the same level of medical attention as men’s, are celebrating the victory.
7. DAVID CAMERON: LET’S TACKLE CORRUPTION
David Cameron is to urge world leaders to tackle the “cancer” of corruption. Speaking at a G7 summit this weekend, the prime minister will argue the bribery scandal in FIFA should spur the international community to target the "cancer" of corruption around the globe. He will say the Fifa scandal is “an opportunity to learn a broader lesson about tackling corruption”.
8. NICK GIBBS TO MARRY SECRET PARTNER
Schools minister Nick Gibb is to marry his long-term partner, who he has been with for 29 years. Gibb and Michael Simmonds, chief executive of the Populus polling organisation, kept their relationship secret until Gibb informed his family last week. “I think my mother was initially shocked – that’s an age thing – but then very supportive and what she wants is for me to be happy,” he said.
9. BEETROOT SALES ENJOY PURPLE PATCH
The beetroot industry is enjoying a purple patch, reports the Daily Telegraph. Sales have reached nearly £1m a week as the vegetable revels in its status as a "superfood". Fresh beetroot sales have risen from £42m in 2013 to £50m this year. The vegetable’s health benefits have become legendary, and its now a favourite ingredient for juices.
10. EVRA: SUAREZ NEVER SAID SORRY
Patrice Evra says Luis Suarez never apologised for their 2011 Premier League race row. Ahead of this evening’s Champions League final, which sees Evra’s Juventus face Suarez’s Barcelona, Evra has vowed to shake hands with the Uruguayan. The much-anticipated tie takes place at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 24, 2024
Daily Briefing Trump closes in on nomination with New Hampshire win over Haley, 'Oppenheimer' leads the 2024 Oscar nominations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 23, 2024
Daily Briefing Haley makes last stand in New Hampshire as Trump extends polling lead, justices side with US over Texas in border fight, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 22, 2024
Daily Briefing DeSantis ends his presidential campaign and endorses Trump, the US and Arab allies push plan to end Gaza war, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 19, 2024
Daily Briefing Congress averts a government shutdown, DOJ report cites failures in police response to Texas school shooting, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 18, 2024
Daily Briefing Judge threatens to remove Trump from his defamation trial, medicine for hostages and Palestinians reach Gaza, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 17, 2024
Daily Briefing The US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a third time, Trump's second sex defamation trial begins, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published