Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 27 Jan 2019

1. Government gameplays post-Brexit martial law

The government has been rehearsing a state of emergency and the introduction of martial law in the event of disorder after a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, UK companies are planning a mass exodus if the UK crashes out of the EU, according to the British Chambers of Commerce. MPs have been told they may lose their February half-term break to ensure that Brexit is delivered on time.

2. Prince Philip tells crash victim he is 'very sorry'

The Duke of Edinburgh has written to apologise to a woman who was injured in a car crash in which he was involved earlier this month. The 97-year-old royal wrote: “I would like you to know how very sorry I am for my part in the accident at the Babingley cross-roads.” His Land Rover Freelander overturned and Emma Fairweather, one of the passengers in the other car, broke her wrist.

3. Venezuela’s envoy to UK defects from Maduro's side

Venezuela’s top military envoy to the United States has defected from the government of Nicolás Maduro. The crisis in the country is deepening after opposition leader Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself interim president amid social and economic chaos. He has been recognised by the US, Canada and other regional powers. The UK has called for Maduro to hold a “clean” election to decide the fate of the country.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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. One in 20 Brits do not believe the Holocaust happened

A survey has found that 5% of UK adults do not believe the Holocaust took place and one in 12 believes its scale has been exaggerated. Almost two-thirds of respondents either could not say how many Jews were murdered or “grossly” under-estimated the number. The poll was carried out by Opinion Matters for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

5. The UK's top taxpayers are named

Stephen Rubin, a majority stakeholder in JD Sports, has been named the UK's top taxpayer by The Sunday Times. Denise Coates, the Bet365 boss, and Sir James Dyson make up the top three. The newspaper estimated the tax due on business profits, share sales, dividends, house purchases and personal income. Also on the list is Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley.

6. Violent attack victims waiting nine days for 999 response

Victims of violent attacks are waiting up to nine days for police to respond to their 999 calls, according to figures obtained by The Sunday Times under freedom of information laws. Official targets that state officers should attend within an hour. The data also shows police are failing to respond to more than 3,000 calls a day within their target times.

7. Brexit groups anxious as watchdog seeks new powers

Pro-Leave groups fear they could be unfairly targeted for criminal charges after learning that the election watchdog is planning to hand itself powers of prosecution in time for a second Brexit referendum. The Sunday Telegraph says the Electoral Commission is planning to directly prosecute political parties and referendum campaign groups, rather than leaving it to the police.

8. Bomb explosions shake southern Philippine island

Two bombs have exploded outside a Roman Catholic cathedral on a southern Philippine island, killing at least 27 people and wounding 77. Authorities say the first bomb exploded in or near Jolo cathedral during a mass on Sunday, followed by a second blast in the area as government forces were responding to the attack. The region has a presence of Abu Sayyaf militants.

9. Banksy artwork stolen from Paris music hall

An artwork by Banksy painted as a tribute to the victims of the 2015 terror attack at the Bataclan music hall in Paris has been stolen. The controversial artist’s work was cut out and removed from one of the emergency doors at the venue. It portrayed a young female figure with a mournful expression. “We are today filled with a deep sense of indignation,” the Bataclan tweeted.

10. Mourning families blame social media for suicides

Dozens of grieving families have accused tech giants of abetting their children’s suicides in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell. Her father Ian says he felt “chill horror” as he investigated the social networks his daughter used, adding: “Pinterest has a huge amount to answer for.” The health secretary has told social media sites to take responsibility for their effect on young lives.