Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 10 Sep 2015
- 1. Hungarian army starts anti-migrant drills
- 2. Alzheimer’s ‘could be transmitted by surgery’
- 3. Labour leadership ballot closing today
- 4. Northern Ireland assembly near collapse
- 5. Up to 900 jobs to go as Morrisons restructures
- 6. Labour MPs ‘will support Syria air strikes’
- 7. Jonathan King arrested on child sex charges
- 8. Apple unveils iPad Pro, iPhone 6S and more
- 9. Bertie becomes world’s fastest tortoise
- 10. Briefing: Giant travelator 'would work better than the Circle Line'
1. Hungarian army starts anti-migrant drills
Hungary’s army has begun to practise defending the country’s southern border from would-be migrants, many of them fleeing the Syrian civil war. The government is building a razor-wire fence all along the border and intends to send soldiers to back up police there. Some 40,000 more refugees are expected by the end of the week.
2. Alzheimer’s ‘could be transmitted by surgery’
New research by UK scientists suggests that the ‘seeds’ of Alzheimer’s disease could be passed between patients by surgery. The research is “controversial” says Sky News. Previous experiments have always suggested that it is impossible for the disease to be passed between individuals.
Can Alzheimer's really be transmitted from person to person?
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3. Labour leadership ballot closing today
The vote to choose the next leader of the Labour party is ending today, with the winner to be announced on Saturday. The BBC says some voters claim they have still not received their ballot papers but Labour insists that they have all been sent out. Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, at fist seen as an outsider, remains the favourite.
Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking
4. Northern Ireland assembly near collapse
Northern Ireland’s devolved power-sharing government is facing collapse, with a second unionist party threatening to pull out because Sinn Feinn will not admit that the IRA still exists. Police believe a recent murder was carried out by the organisation. The DUP says its ministers will resign today unless the Assembly is adjourned.
Northern Ireland crisis: what's happening at Stormont?
5. Up to 900 jobs to go as Morrisons restructures
As many as 900 people will lose their jobs with Morrisons as the supermarket chain restructures, closing 11 stores and selling its convenience stores after they failed to compete with rivals. The firm has today announced its pre-tax half-yearly profits have fallen by 47% to £126m. A retail analyst told the BBC the chain was “old-fashioned”.
Morrisons 'baffled' to be named UK's worst shop
6. Labour MPs ‘will support Syria air strikes’
The government will get the backing it needs to start air strikes on Syria from Labour MPs, according to research by the BBC’s Newsnight programme. Humiliatingly defeated in a 2013 vote on bombing the Assad regime, David Cameron is expected to put forward proposals for new strikes on Islamic State in the next few weeks.
7. Jonathan King arrested on child sex charges
Former producer and pop music personality Jonathan King has been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences. The 70-year-old was arrested at his west London home on Wednesday morning by officers investigating historic sex offence allegations centring around a disco in Walton-on-Thames in the 70s and 80s.
8. Apple unveils iPad Pro, iPhone 6S and more
Tech giant Apple last night launched its latest products, including a new ‘Pro’ version of the iPad, an updated Apple TV set-top box and the latest iPhones, the 6S and 6S Plus. The iPad Pro came as a surprise to many industry watchers at a time when iPad sales are down 19%. It has a much bigger screen. A stylus and keyboard are available.
iPhone 7 Pro among three new headsets leaked
9. Bertie becomes world’s fastest tortoise
A tortoise in County Durham has been certified the world’s fastest by Guinness Records, breaking a record which has been held since 1977. Bertie, resident at the Adventure Valley attraction in County Durham covered 18ft in 19.59 seconds, a speed of 0.6mph, twice as fast at the previous record holder, Charlie, of South Yorkshire
10. Briefing: Giant travelator 'would work better than the Circle Line'
An architecture firm has unveiled a conceptual plan to turn London Underground's much-maligned Circle Line into a 17-mile-long moving walkway. The idea, from architects NBBJ, consists of replacing all of the trains on the route with a set of three travelators. Each walkway would move at a different speed, ranging from 3mph to 15mph. "The result would be considerably quicker, more enjoyable and healthier journeys," NBBJ said, with the Circle Line becoming "one of London's most efficient and unusual modes of transport".
Replace Tube trains with travelators, say architects
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