Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 11 Jun 2016

1. Rod Stewart and Tim Peake in Queen's birthday honours list

Singer Rod Stewart and British astronaut Tim Peake have both been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Major Peake becomes a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to space research and scientific education, while Stewart is knighted for services to music and charity. There are OBEs for television presenters Ant and Dec and actor Brian Blessed.

2. Sir Philip demands MP resigns from BHS investigation

Sir Philip Green has refused to appear in front of MPs examining the collapse of BHS unless Frank Field, the Labour MP who chairs the work and pensions committee, resigns from the inquiry. Writing to Field, Sir Philip said he is “not prepared to participate in a process… which has as its primary objective the destruction of my reputation”.

3. Sir James Dyson comes out for the Brexit campaign

Sir James Dyson has backed the Brexit campaign, saying the idea that Britain could not trade successfully outside the EU is "absolute cobblers". The inventor said the single market did not work because exporters had to adapt products to cater for different languages and different types of plugs. He said the UK "will create more wealth and more jobs by being outside the EU”.

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. Romney may vote Libertarian as Trump row intensifies

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says he will consider voting for the Libertarian party in the presidential election instead of Donald Trump. In fresh evidence of the GOP establishment’s unwillingness to accept the billionaire’s bid for the White House, Romney said it would be “very easy” to vote against his party if the right candidate was standing for the Libertarian party.

5. Fresh clashes between England fans and French police

England fans have been involved in fresh clashes with French police. Officers in Marseille have deployed tear gas for a second evening to disperse England fans who have travelled to the Euro 2016 football championships. Riot squad officers clashed with fans who threw bottles at police in the streets of the Old Port district. One England supporters and one local were arrested.

6. Lily Allen's stalker sectioned after break-in

A stalker who broke into the home of pop singer Lily Allen has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act. Alex Gray was sentenced at Harrow crown court after being convicted of burglary and stalking causing alarm and distress. The singer told the court the impact of the stalking “has been massive” and that the break-in was “absolutely terrifying”.

7. Pound sinks after poll shows Brexit support growing

The pound fell by more 1% against the dollar last night as traders responded to the latest poll showing public opinion moving towards a vote for Brexit. Within moments of the poll’s release, the pound fell from 1.4343 to 1.4234 – down 1.57% on the day. The Bank of England has made contingency plans to try and back up the currency by buying pounds from foreign reserves.

8. Pollution makes Milky Way invisible 'to third of planet'

Scientists say more than a third of the world's population can no longer see the Milky Way because of skies polluted by artificial light. A new study of light pollution shows that across many regions the Milky Way galaxy is obscured behind a blanket of luminous fog. In the US, around 80% of the population is affected by light pollution, with 60% of Europe hit.

9. 'Paranoid' Islamic State 'murders its own men'

Islamic State militants are murdering their own fighters as they face up to massive losses of territory and a surge in desertions, claims the US-led coalition. The Times says that “paranoia” and “chronic mistrust” have seen the jihadists execute their own wounded in Syria and Iraq. The once feared group has reportedly been plunged into “internal chaos”.

10. Euro 2016: Spain's de Gea denies sex party claims

Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea has rejected newspaper allegations he organised a party at which two women were forced to have sex. At a news conference in Saint-Martin-de-Re, the 25-year-old said: "I'm more surprised than anyone by this news. I want to deny it. It is a lie and a falsehood." De Gear is in France with the Spain squad for the Euro 2016 tournament

Explore More