Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 20 Nov 2011
- 1. GADAFFI SON TRIAL COULD SHAME BRITS
- 2. 'CHILLING' PEPPER SPRAY VIDEO EMERGES
- 3. DEFIANT ASSAD VOWS TO CONTINUE
- 4. DEADLY CLASHES IN EGYPT
- 5. BORIS CRITICISES CAMERON'S EURO PLAN
- 6. ADRIAN CHILES SLAMS 'DARK FORCES'
- 7. MUSLIMS ARE MOST PATRIOTIC BRITS
- 8. PRINCE PHILLIP SLAMS WIND FARMS
- 9. SHADOW MINISTERS FACE UNION QUIZ
- 10. WENGER SCOTCHES QUIT RUMOUR
1. GADAFFI SON TRIAL COULD SHAME BRITS
Libya's new Prime Minister promises that Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam will receive a fair trial after being captured in the country’s southern desert. Al-Islam's trial could prove uncomfortable for influential British figures who had links to Gadaffi's regime including Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson and Prince Andrew.
Where will captive Saif al- Islam Gaddafi face trial?
2. 'CHILLING' PEPPER SPRAY VIDEO EMERGES
A shocking video has emerged of police officers calmly pepper-spraying a line of seated protestors at a Californian university. Some of the students, demonstrating in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement at the University of California, Davis, were taken to hospital. The university chancellor described the footage as “chilling”.
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.
3. DEFIANT ASSAD VOWS TO CONTINUE
Syrian President Bashar Assad has vowed to continue the crackdown against anti-government unrest in his country, despite growing pressure to end it. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Assad warned that intervention would spark “an earthquake” across the Middle East. Rocket-propelled grenades hit a government building in Damascus overnight.
4. DEADLY CLASHES IN EGYPT
Clashes between protestors and security forces in Egypt have left at least two dead and over 600 injured. The fighting, in Cairo and Alexandria, began when demonstrators tried to start a tent camp to protest against the power given to the military in a draft constitution. Parliamentary elections are due to start in eight days.
5. BORIS CRITICISES CAMERON'S EURO PLAN
Boris Johnson believes David Cameron's European Central Bank 'big bazooka' solution to the eurozone crisis would leave Europe dominated by Germany. The London Mayor tells The Sunday Telegraph: "What I don't think you can do, is just pretend that you can create an economic government of Europe, effectively run by Germany."
6. ADRIAN CHILES SLAMS 'DARK FORCES'
Television presenter Adrian Chiles says he is "angry, upset and acutely embarrassed" that news of his and co-host Christine Bleakley's sacking from ITV's Daybreak has been leaked. Chiles said he is “p****d off” that an agreement to keep the news under wraps until they leave in 2012 was breached yesterday. He blamed "dark forces".
7. MUSLIMS ARE MOST PATRIOTIC BRITS
British Muslims are more patriotic and optimistic than the rest of the population, according to a poll produced by the think tank Demos. It found that 83% of Muslims agreed with the statement “I am proud to be a British citizen”, compared to a 79% average across the population. Only 31% of Muslims felt Britain's best days are in the past, compared with 45% of society as a whole.
8. PRINCE PHILLIP SLAMS WIND FARMS
The Duke of Edinburgh has attacked wind farms, describing them as “absolutely useless”. The outspoken royal accused people who support them of believing in a “fairy tale”. Asked by an MD of a wind turbine company if he would put wind farms on his land, he said: "You stay away from my estate young man".
9. SHADOW MINISTERS FACE UNION QUIZ
Ed Balls and three other senior Labour shadow ministers face a parliamentary inquiry after being accused of amending legislation in favour of unions from which they have received thousands of pounds. The four are accused of failing to register a potential conflict of interest, thereby breaching parliamentary rules.
10. WENGER SCOTCHES QUIT RUMOUR
Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger has confirmed his commitment to the north London club after reports emerged from France suggesting he was considering quitting at the end of the season. Wenger, who is contracted to Arsenal until 2014, said: "I'm completely committed to this club. I'm committed to my contract."
Wenger commits to Arsenal after ‘I could quit’ interview
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
-
Assad's fall upends the Captagon drug empire
Multi-billion-dollar drug network sustained former Syrian regime
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Sudoku medium: December 19, 2024
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: December 19, 2024
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff 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