Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 24 Jun 2017
- 1. Hundreds of Camden homes evacuated after Grenfell fire
- 2. Corbyn wants to 'force' an early general election
- 3. Saudis foil terrorist attack on Islam's holiest site
- 4. Chinese rescuers called in after major landslide
- 5. Prince Charles 'wept' night before his marriage to Diana
- 6. Car insurance premiums raised by simple phone report
- 7. British police chiefs to discuss arming every officer
- 8. Nuclear plant bosses used insecure passwords
- 9. Ministers to launch new drone rules after near miss
- 10. White House says Depp's assassination remarks 'troubling'
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
1. Hundreds of Camden homes evacuated after Grenfell fire
Hundreds of flats on an estate in the Swiss Cottage area of north-west London have been evacuated because of fire safety concerns. Although Camden Council insisted it was booking hotels, around 100 residents slept on air beds in a local leisure centre. Camden is the first council to evacuate a building in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
2. Corbyn wants to 'force' an early general election
Jeremy Corbyn has said he will aim to "force an early general election", adding that it is "ludicrous" to suggest Theresa May could stay in power. As an opinion poll gives him lead for the first time, he said: "Mrs May called the election so not to have a coalition of chaos, but that is exactly what we have got."
3. Saudis foil terrorist attack on Islam's holiest site
Authorities in Saudi Arabia say they have prevented a "terrorist action" against the Grand Mosque in Mecca - Islam's holiest site. The interior ministry says a suicide bomber blew himself up when security forces surrounded the building he was in. Millions of Muslims from around the world have gathered in Mecca for the end of Ramadan. Saudi Arabia is a member of a US-led coalition fighting Islamic State.
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. Chinese rescuers called in after major landslide
Authorities in China fear that more than 140 people were buried in a landslide in Sichuan province in south-western China. Around 40 homes were destroyed in Xinmo village in Maoxian county, after the side of a mountain collapsed yesterday. State media says a couple and a baby were rescued and taken to hospital after teams of workers used ropes to move large rocks while dozens of others searched the rubble.
5. Prince Charles 'wept' night before his marriage to Diana
Prince Charles begged Camilla Parker Bowles to call off her wedding to her first husband and cried the night before his own marriage to Diana, according to a new book. The biography of Camilla claims that the night before Charles and Di's wedding, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen wept with him at a Buckingham Palace window as they watched the crowds in the Mall.
6. Car insurance premiums raised by simple phone report
Motor insurance companies are swelling premiums by hundreds of pounds for policy-holders who merely phone to report a problem without ever making a claim on their policies. As they calculate how much to quote potential consumers, firms now mine a central database called the Claims and Underwriting Exchange, where incidents recorded under the heading "notification only" prompt some insurers to increase premiums.
7. British police chiefs to discuss arming every officer
Armed police could become commonplace in England and Wales, as police chiefs consider the possibility of offering a gun to every frontline police officer in the wake of recent terror attacks. The National Police Chiefs’ Council will discuss the question at its next meeting. Traditionally, most police in Great Britain are unarmed and the question of routine arming of officers is controversial within the force.
8. Nuclear plant bosses used insecure passwords
Passwords used by bosses at nuclear power plants have been found in two lists of stolen credentials that were traded on Russian hacking sites. Two senior EDF Energy workers used the passwords "Nuclear1" and "Rad1at10n" - reportedly to sign up for a social network. EDF said it was "continually reviewing its defences and preparedness in this area".
9. Ministers to launch new drone rules after near miss
The government will crack down on drones after it emerged that a device came within a metre of a collision with a passenger jet. The UK Airprox Board says a drone was a metre away from hitting a passenger plane preparing to land at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport. Ministers are to publish new regulations including compulsory registration for owners.
10. White House says Depp's assassination remarks 'troubling'
The White House says Johnny Depp's quip about assassinating the Donald Trump was "troubling". After the film star joked about assassinating the US President while speaking at Glastonbury Festival, the White House said: "President Trump has condemned violence in all forms and it's sad that others like Johnny Depp have not followed his lead." Depp has apologised for the "bad joke".
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
The week’s best photojournalism
In Pictures A steaming volcano, a giant crater and more
By Anahi Valenzuela Published
-
Texas and Yelp are suing each other over crisis pregnancy centers
Talking Point A battle over free speech and abortion rights heads to court
By Joel Mathis Published
-
Dianne Feinstein, history-making Democratic US senator, dies at 90
The Explainer Her colleagues celebrate her legacy as a trailblazer who cleared the path for other women to follow
By Theara Coleman Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 29, 2023
Daily Briefing House committee starts Biden impeachment inquiry, court rejects Trump's request to delay civil fraud trial, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
'Moronic'
Today's Newspapers A round-up of the headlines from the UK front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 29 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 28, 2023
Daily Briefing Republican rivals clash as absent Trump tries to upstage debate, the Senate approves a formal dress code, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
Squirrel kebabs on London menu
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 27, 2023
Daily Briefing A New York judge rules Trump defrauded banks, Biden visits auto workers on picket line, and more
By Harold Maass Published