Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 13 Oct 2011
Confusion over MUTASSIM GADDAFI 'capture'There is confusion over reports that Mutassim Gaddafi (above), who has been leading the defence of his father's last stronghold in Libya, the city of Sirte, was captured yesterday. Some NTC officials made the claim yesterday, but the BBC reports that a military commander in Sirte has denied it. Has playboy Mutassim seen his last nightclub? In pictures: Sirte endgame DSK WILL NOT FACE SEX CHARGESFrench authorities say they will not bring charges against former head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn over claims he attempted to rape writer Tristane Banon in 2003. Strauss-Kahn admitted that there had been "sex acts" but it is now too late to bring a charge of sexual assault. He still faces a civil suit from the hotel maid he was accused of assaulting in New York. ENGLAND RUGBY TEAM 'ARROGANT AND RUDE'Members of England's already disgraced rugby team have been accused of being "arrogant and rude" to Land Rover personnel at a sponsor's day event during the World Cup. The "couldn't care less" attitude of 11 unnamed players meant Land Rover were unable to use much of the promotional footage they were shooting, according to the Daily Mail. Sponsors complain about ‘arrogant’ rugby players FOX CREATED MoD JOB FOR SECOND MANDefence Secretary Liam Fox insisted he was in "normal working mode" as the row over Adam Werritty continued. Werritty faces questions from MPs about his financial relationship with Fox and there were claims today that he was paid by Fox's backers. The Times alleged that the MP created a job in his private office for a second acquaintance, Lt-Col Graham Livesey. Liam Fox ‘gave MoD job to second friend’ How hard is Cameron fighting to save Fox? DAVID HAYE RETIRES FROM BOXINGFormer heavyweight boxing champion David Haye has announced that he is hanging up his gloves. The British fighter, who lost the WBA title to Wladimir Klitschko in his last bout in July, had always said that he would not fight on beyond the age of 30. He made the announcement on his 31st birthday. "I want to go into acting," Haye told Sky News. PRESSURE MOUNTS ON CAMERON OVER UNEMPLOYMENTDavid Cameron faces demands for radical action to boost the economy after official figures showed unemployment at 8.1%, the highest for 17 years. Labour's Ed Miliband demanded he admit that "his plan isn't working", experts warned the rate would rise to 10%, and the Bank of England said the outlook had "deteriorated very substantially". Stephen Overell: Jobless rise exposes coalition’s lack of strategy HACKER CHARGED WITH STEALING STARS' NUDE PHOTOSA hacker accused of stealing nude photographs of stars including Scarlett Johansson was arrested in Florida yesterday in 'Operation Hackerazzi', directed by the FBI in California, according to TMZ.com. Christopher Chaney, 35, is charged with hacking the computers and phones of more than 50 victims. He faces 121 years in jail. Man charged over Scarlett Johansson nude pictures IRANIAN PLOT: US CONSIDERS RETALIATIONVice-President Joe Biden yesterday warned that "nothing has been taken off the table" as America considers retaliation for the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington with a bomb planted in a restaurant. The US has already imposed sanctions on Mahan Air, an Iranian airline accused of transporting Revolutionary Guards. Alexander Cockburn: Is Iranian terror 'plot' just a pretext for war? BLACKBERRY services 'returning to normal'RIM founder Mike Lazaridis has said BlackBerry Messenger and email services are returning to normal following a three-day failure that has affected millions of users around the world. However, he could not say when services would be fully restored. A "core switch failure" at a data centre in Slough is thought to have been responsible. BlackBerry’s problems are only just beginning AMERICAN SURFER RIDES SHARK An American surfer ended up standing on the back of a great white shark after being knocked off his board by the predator. Doug Niblack was off the coast of Oregon when he had his close encounter. After hitting the beast he claimed to have spent several seconds balancing on the shark looking at its dorsal fin before it disappeared into the depths.
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 24, 2024
Daily Briefing Trump closes in on nomination with New Hampshire win over Haley, 'Oppenheimer' leads the 2024 Oscar nominations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 23, 2024
Daily Briefing Haley makes last stand in New Hampshire as Trump extends polling lead, justices side with US over Texas in border fight, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 22, 2024
Daily Briefing DeSantis ends his presidential campaign and endorses Trump, the US and Arab allies push plan to end Gaza war, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 19, 2024
Daily Briefing Congress averts a government shutdown, DOJ report cites failures in police response to Texas school shooting, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 18, 2024
Daily Briefing Judge threatens to remove Trump from his defamation trial, medicine for hostages and Palestinians reach Gaza, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 17, 2024
Daily Briefing The US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a third time, Trump's second sex defamation trial begins, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published