Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 22 Jan 2017
- 1. Number 10 covered up Trident malfunction prior to vote
- 2. Theresa May to meet Donald Trump in the US on Friday
- 3. Dozens die in train crash in eastern India
- 4. Women's march on Washington exceeds inauguration numbers
- 5. Cross-party MPs plan to thwart PM's plan for hard Brexit
- 6. Lower speed limit and fines to cut M1 pollution
- 7. Pope Francis alludes to Hitler in populism warning
- 8. Study finds that 10% of people do not own a book
- 9. Brexit sterling crisis sees Nestle hike prices
- 10. Bobby Charlton hails record-breaking Wayne Rooney
1. Number 10 covered up Trident malfunction prior to vote
A serious glitch in Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons deterrent was covered up by Downing Street just weeks before the crucial House of Commons vote on the future of the system. A missile experienced a terrifying failure after being launched from a British submarine off the coast of Florida in June last year, reveals The Sunday Times. A source said "Downing Street decided to cover up the failed test".
2. Theresa May to meet Donald Trump in the US on Friday
Theresa May will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington DC on Friday, the White House has announced. The Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to meet the new president since his inauguration. A post-Brexit free trade deal will be high on her agenda as she travels to the US for talks. Nato, the defence and Russia are also likely to be discussed.
3. Dozens die in train crash in eastern India
At least 32 people have died after nine coaches of a passenger train derailed in eastern India. "Nine bogies [coaches] were derailed of which three have turned and fallen off the track," said a police spokesman. "Most of the casualties and deaths are from the three sleeper-class compartments." According to a government report, about 15,000 people are killed every year in train accidents.
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4. Women's march on Washington exceeds inauguration numbers
Hundreds of thousands of women demonstrated at Washington’s National Mall on Saturday. Signs waved by protestors featured slogans including: "Minority president", "Women roar" and "I’m afraid". The turnout in the US capital far exceeded that for Friday’s presidential inauguration. Millions more took to the streets of other cities in the US and around the globe for similar rallies.
5. Cross-party MPs plan to thwart PM's plan for hard Brexit
A cross-party group of MPs is plotting to foil Theresa May’s attempts to push through a hard Brexit. MPs are preparing for a verdict on Tuesday from the supreme court on whether ministers or parliament have the legal authority to trigger Brexit. If the court rules the issue should be voted on in parliament, the MPs will seek to amend the legislation to make an extreme Brexit option impossible.
6. Lower speed limit and fines to cut M1 pollution
Highways England may usher in Britain’s first pollution-related speed limit, with drivers on one of the busiest sections of the M1 facing fines if they exceed 60mph at peak times. The measures would be applied near Sheffield where air pollution already breaches UK and EU limits hundreds of times a year. Sheffield has closed two schools near the M1 because the pollution was so high.
7. Pope Francis alludes to Hitler in populism warning
Pope Francis has warned against a rise in populism and said that political crises can bring dictators like Adolf Hitler to power. Speaking to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the Pope said: "Hitler didn't steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people." Asked his opinion on Donald Trump, the Pope said he would "wait and see".
8. Study finds that 10% of people do not own a book
A new study reveals that one in 10 people do not own a single book. For those aged 18-24 the figure swells to one in five people. The same research found that the average household has more than eight devices linked to the internet. Andrew Holgate, the literary editor of The Sunday Times, said he was not surprised, but welcomed the news that "at least that means 90% of homes do have books".
9. Brexit sterling crisis sees Nestle hike prices
Nestle has become the latest company to hike prices after Brexit, according to reports. The Swiss company has asked the grocery industry to pay more for items such as Nescafé coffee and Pure Life mineral water. Reports this morning say the price of Nestle’s coffee has risen 14% as a result of the pound’s decline since the referendum result.
10. Bobby Charlton hails record-breaking Wayne Rooney
Sir Bobby Charlton has hailed Wayne Rooney as "a true great for club and country" after the striker broke his Manchester United all-time scoring record. Rooney's goal at Stoke was his 250th for United. "I would be lying to say that I'm not disappointed to have lost the record," Charlton told the club’s website. "However, I can honestly say that I'm delighted for Wayne.”
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