Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 11 Feb 2012
- 1. MINISTER: STRIP TAX RELIEF FOR RICH
- 2. ARGENTINA IN NUCLEAR CLAIM
- 3. CHURCH FIGURES SLAM PRAYER BAN
- 4. LANSLEY SHRUGS OFF DISSENT
- 5. SHOPS TOLD TO SHUT DOORS
- 6. UK KIDS ARE 'CULTURE STARVED'
- 7. ROTHSCHILD LOSES LIBEL CASE
- 8. GREECE REACHES CRISIS POINT
- 9. DAMILOLA KILLER BEHIND BARS AGAIN
- 10. REDKNAPP WOULD CONSIDER FA OFFER
1. MINISTER: STRIP TAX RELIEF FOR RICH
Wealthy savers should be stripped of the higher-rate tax relief on pensions, says Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander. The Liberal Democrat minister told The Daily Telegraph he also wants workers on the minimum wage to pay no income tax. His remarks could open new tensions within the coalition.
2. ARGENTINA IN NUCLEAR CLAIM
Argentina has accused Britain of sending a nuclear-armed submarine to the South Atlantic. Lodging a formal complaint to the UN, Argentina's foreign minister Hector Timerman also accused Britain of treating the Falklands as the "last refuge of declining empire". Britain denies the claims.
3. CHURCH FIGURES SLAM PRAYER BAN
Church figures and groups have condemned the High Court ruling that banned prayers at council meetings. Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “I am horrified by this. It does look as though the Christian voice is being silenced." The Christian Institute said the ruling is an "assault upon our national heritage".
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.
4. LANSLEY SHRUGS OFF DISSENT
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has hit back at reported Cabinet dissent over his NHS bill, insisting the government is determined to push through the controversial reforms. Asked if he will resign, the under-fire minister said: "No... we as a government are committed to supporting the NHS."
5. SHOPS TOLD TO SHUT DOORS
Campaigners say high street chains are wasting £1bn a year by heating their stores to over 70f and then leaving the doors open. The Close The Doors campaign points says the bill is footed by the customer. It calls for Britain to follow New York's example and ban retailers from keeping their doors open.
6. UK KIDS ARE 'CULTURE STARVED'
Millions of British children have never visited a theatre, art gallery, or museum, claim researchers. The study found that 40% of children had never been to an art gallery and 25% had yet to visit the theatre. The researchers, commissioned by Visit Birmingham, say our youngsters are "culture starved".
7. ROTHSCHILD LOSES LIBEL CASE
Billionaire financier Nathaniel Rothschild lost his libel action yesterday over a Daily Mail report about a meeting he arranged between then EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson and Russian Oleg Deripaska on the eve of a £500 million deal. Rothschild said the story portrayed him as a "puppet master".
8. GREECE REACHES CRISIS POINT
Violent protests have returned to the streets of Greece as the Finance Minister says the country has until tomorrow to decide whether to bow to the new demands required for a €130bn (£108bn) bail-out. Five ministers resigned in protest at the scale of cuts demanded by the eurozone and IMF.
9. DAMILOLA KILLER BEHIND BARS AGAIN
One of the killers of schoolboy Damilola Taylor has been recalled to prison for the second time after breaching the conditions of his release. Ricky Preddie entered an exclusion zone in Southwark. He first broke his parole terms in March 2011. Damilola's father has called for an inquiry into the handling of the case.
10. REDKNAPP WOULD CONSIDER FA OFFER
Harry Redknapp would consider an offer to manage England if it were made. "At the moment there has been no approach, but if the opportunity comes, and I get asked, I’ll have to consider it," he said. The Spurs boss said the "aggro" that would come with the job would be nothing compared to the traumas of his recent trial.
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
-
Drugmakers paid pharmacy benefit managers to avoid restricting opioid prescriptions
Under the radar The middlemen and gatekeepers of insurance coverage have been pocketing money in exchange for working with Big Pharma
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A cyclone's aftermath, a fearless leap, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
The Imaginary Institution of India: a 'compelling' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Vibrant' show at the Barbican examines how political upheaval stimulated Indian art
By The Week UK 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