Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 17 Nov 2011

1. ARAB LEAGUE GIVES SYRIA 'THREE DAYS'

The Arab League meeting in Morocco yesterday gave Syria three days to "stop the bloody repression" of protesters and allow in teams of observers, or face sanctions. Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and France withdrew their ambassadors. King Abdullah of Jordan called privately on David Cameron to lead a Western effort to intervene.

2. VIRGIN MONEY TO BUY NORTHERN ROCK

The Government has agreed to sell bailed-out bank Northern Rock to Virgin Money for £747m, four years after it rescued the lender at the height of the financial crisis. So far taxpayers have pumped around £1.4bn into the bank, but despite facing a loss of up to £650m Chancellor George Osborne said the deal was "value for money".

Northern Rock sold to Virgin Money for a £400m loss

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

3. LEVESON: HUGH GRANT GIRLFRIEND THREATENED

The Leveson Inquiry into press ethics was told yesterday that Tinglan Hong, the former girlfriend of actor Hugh Grant, now the mother of his child, was threatened by an anonymous caller after he appeared on BBC Question Time this summer to talk about press intrusion. The caller said: "Tell Hugh Grant he must shut the f*** up."

Grant's girlfriend received threats after Question Time

4. BLATTER ON RACISM: JUST SHAKE HANDS

Under fire Fifa president Sepp Blatter has used Twitter to hit back at claims he is unconcerned about racism in football. PFA chief Gordon Taylor was among those who said Blatter should quit after he said racism could be sorted out with a handshake. Rio Ferdinand tweeted that Blatter's comments were "so condescending its almost laughable".

Say No To Blatter: reaction is swift after 'no racism' claim

5. ST PAUL’S OCCUPIERS GET 6PM DEADLINE

Eviction notices were attached to tents at the Occupy London Stock Exchange (OLSX) protest camp outside St Paul's Cathedral last night by City of London officials, telling the activists to clear the "public highway" by 6 pm tonight. But the notices, which would take court proceedings to enforce, do not apply to tents on Church property.

Thrown out of their camps, can the Occupiers return stronger?

6. GERVAIS TO HOST GLOBES AGAIN

Comedian Ricky Gervais has been confirmed as host of the Golden Globes for the third year running, despite a controversial turn last year that reportedly upset many Hollywood stars. The awards organisers were said to be divided over bringing Gervais back, and it has been reported that some stars could boycott the event.

Hollywood divided as Gervais returns to Golden Globes

7. BENETTON PULLS POPE KISS POSTER

Italian clothing brand Benetton has been forced to pull a poster of Pope Benedict XVI kissing a senior Egyptian imam a day after launching a global advertising campaign. A Vatican spokesman said the mocked-up image was "absolutely unacceptable". The campaign also features other world leaders, including Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez, locking lips.

Benetton forced to pull poster of Pope kissing an imam

8. LAWRENCE'S BEST FRIEND BREAKS DOWN IN COURT

Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen Lawrence on the night he was murdered in 1993, broke down in court as he told a jury how his best friend kept asking him "what's happened?" after being attacked by a gang of white youths armed with a foot-long knife. Brooks insisted on giving evidence at the trial of Gary Dobson and David Norris despite the death of his father last night.

Sobs as Stephen Lawrence's friend tells of fatal attack

9. MARC JACOBS COLLECTION STOLEN

Fashion designer Marc Jacobs has had to cancel a press day for his spring and summer collections in London after the samples were stolen from a train en route from Paris. Counterfeiters are thought to be responsible for the heist. Earlier this months thousands of copies of the new Call of Duty computer game were also hijacked in France.

Entire Marc Jacobs collection stolen en route to London

10. HOT TICKET: TERENCE CONRAN SHOW

A new exhibition celebrating Terence Conran's contribution to British design has opened at London's Design Museum. The Way We Live Now marks the 80th birthday of Conran, founder of design store Habitat, and features items of homeware, furniture and models from his architecture and design empire. Until 4 March.