Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 14 Feb 2018

1. Boris Johnson warns that Brexit must go ahead

Boris Johnson will make a speech on Brexit tonight, sanctioned by Downing Street, in which he says it would be “a disastrous mistake” to reverse Britain’s decision to leave the EU and would create “ineradicable feelings of betrayal”. The speech will be conciliatory towards Remainers, says the BBC, admitting they may have “noble sentiments”.

2. Actor Minnie Driver leaves Oxfam after scandal

The British actor Minnie Driver has stood down from her post as a celebrity ambassador for Oxfam, saying she is “nothing short of horrified” by allegations that staff in Haiti and other countries paid for sex. Driver has been involved with the charity for 20 years. Oxfam said it was “grateful” for her work and hoped to learn from its mistakes.

3. Airliner loses engine mid-flight but lands safely

A Boeing 777 has safely made an emergency landing at Honolulu airport after one of its engines disintegrated in mid-air. Passengers on United Airlines flight 1175 from San Francisco to Hawaii filmed and photographed the dramatic incident, with one saying it was the “scariest flight of my life”. Aviation experts are investigating.

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4. London teacher in top ten for $1m global prize

An art and textiles teacher in a London community school has made a shortlist of ten finalists for a global prize for teachers worth $1m (£720,000). Andria Zafirakou has taught at Alperton school in Brent since qualifying in 2005 and is a member of the senior leadership team. She has organised extra tuition for pupils with difficult home lives.

5. Times table tests for children in England

Thousands of children in English primary schools will be examined to make sure they know times tables up to 12 by heart this spring, as the Government trials a new multiplication test. After the initial trial, in 290 schools, the test will be rolled out nationally over two years. Some teachers’ organisations say the test is unnecessary and futile.

6. Labour would ban badger culling and foie gras

Labour has unveiled a 50-point animal welfare plan, under which it would ban badger culling and the importing of foie gras – pate made by force-feeding geese or ducks. The plan also proposes mandatory CCTV in abattoirs and suggests that renting tenants should be given a right to have pets, whatever their landlords’ wishes.

7. Manhattan bomber Ahmad Rahimi gets life sentence

The bomber who detonated a pressure cooker device in Manhattan in September 2016, injuring 31 people but killing none, has been jailed for life. Ahmad Rahimi, originally from Afghanistan, also exploded a pipe bomb in New Jersey, causing no injuries. His own father had contacted the FBI before the attacks warning them of his views.

8. Women’s bare shoulders on TV news ‘demeaning’

A former Canadian prime minister sparked a Twitter row by saying she thinks female newsreaders should not wear sleeveless dresses when their male colleagues are more covered-up. Kim Campbell said the habit is “demeaning” and referred to a study which suggests the public assumes more fully-clothed people are more intelligent.

9. Peruvian twin drugged brother to escape prison

A Peruvian man who escaped from jail by drugging his identical twin and stealing his clothes is back behind bars, one year later. Alexander Delgado was serving a 16-year sentence for child sex abuse and robbery when his brother Giancarlo visited him. After the switch, Giancarlo was identified by fingerprints. He was not in on the plan.

10. Briefing: do e-cigarettes cause cancer?

E-cigarette devices are promoted as a safer alternative to tobacco but studies into the health impacts of vaping have reached conflicting conclusions.

New US research suggests that vaping is “far from harmless” and could pose a serious health risk. However, a Public Health of England evidence review published last week says swapping combustible tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes - which turn liquid nicotine into vapour - brings substantial health benefits.

Why everyone’s talking about vaping