Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 9 Aug 2015

1. Are jihadis plotting to murder the Queen?

Terrorists are planning to blow up the Queen next weekend, claims the Mail On Sunday. The paper alleges that British jihadis will target the monarch at an event to mark the anniversary of the end of world war two. Police and MI5 are said to be involved in a frantic race against time to thwart the assassination plot being masterminded from Syria by Islamic State commanders.

2. Corbyn: I may restore clause four

Jeremy Corbyn may restore clause four, he has told The Independent On Sunday. The leadership contender said Labour could revive its historic commitment to public ownership of industry if he wins the race. The clause was scrapped by Tony Blair. Meanwhile, Labour’s biggest individual donors have pledged to stop giving money if Corbyn becomes leader.

3. Chief says care system ‘failing the elderly’

The chief inspector of adult social care has savaged the system for failing the elderly, reports The Observer. Andrea Sutcliffe has warned that a broken system is turning good people into bad carers. Massive cuts and a lack of political leadership in dealing with the realities of an ageing population, have left the social care sector under “stress and strain”, she said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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

4. Doping scandal hits the London marathon

The scandal over doping in athletics has now engulfed the London marathon, reports The Sunday Times. The iconic event was won seven times in 12 years by athletes who recorded suspicious blood scores indicating they could have doped. Meanwhile, Mo Farah wants his anti-doping blood test data made public, saying he will do what it takes to prove he is clean.

5. UN: ‘courageous’ migrants face ‘racism’

A UN envoy has slammed “racism” towards “courageous” migrants trying to cross the Channel from Calais. However, François Crépeau also compared migrants’ attempts to steal into the UK to westerners taking a “vacation in Thailand”. Reports suggest “mafia-style” gangs are targeting middle-aged couples as they seek to smuggle migrants.

6. Cyber attack hits the Carphone Warehouse

A cyber attack means the details of up to 2.4m Carphone Warehouse customers may have been accessed. Parent firm Dixons Carphone says names, addresses, dates of birth and bank details could be among the information in the security breach. Encrypted credit card data of up to 90,000 customers may also have been accessed in the hack.

7. British boozers move to smaller glasses

A new study suggests that a growing number of British boozers prefer smaller glasses when trying a new beer. The research found that more than one in three people choose to have a half when trying a new beer – compared with only a quarter of people opting for a full-blown pint. Some even choose to go only as far as a third-of-a-pint vessel.

8. Scotland wants to ban GM crops

Scotland will ban the growing of genetically modified crops, says the country's rural affairs secretary. Richard Lochhead said the Scottish government refuses to "gamble" with the future of the country's £14bn food and drink sector. He will request that Scotland be left out of any European consents for the cultivation of GM crops.

9. Cook: Ashes victory is ‘beyond belief’

Alastair Cook says England’s resounding Ashes triumph over Australia was "beyond belief". The captain’s pre-series underdogs completed a second straight three-day victory over their opponents at Trent Bridge to take a 3-1 lead in the series. England lost the last Ashes series 5-0 in 2013/14 and drew their last two Test series with West Indies and New Zealand 1-1.

10. Jose rattled as Chelsea draw on opening day

Reigning champions Chelsea had a tough start to the Premier League campaign, drawing 2-2 with Swansea City yesterday. Boss Jose Mourinho refused to comment on the dismissal of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but did complain that the Blues’ medical team was “naïve” to treat Eden Hazard. Today, Arsenal host West Ham United, and Liverpool travel to Stoke City.

Explore More