Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 20 Apr 2012
- 1. ABU QATADA COULD BE FREE 'IN DAYS'
- 2. MURDOCHS TO FACE LEVESON INQUIRY
- 3. BREIVIK PLANNED TO 'BEHEAD' PM
- 4. FRENCH ELECTION: THE FINAL HOURS
- 5. SYRIA: THREAT OF INTERVENTION
- 6. THE BAND'S LEVON HELM DIES AT 71
- 7. WAS NEIL HEYWOOD SPYING IN CHINA?
- 8. FEAR OF LIVE BULLETS AT BAHRAIN GP
- 9. BALLOT COULD DELAY TANKER DRIVERS' STRIKE
- 10. HOT TICKET: EWAN GOES FISHING
1. ABU QATADA COULD BE FREE 'IN DAYS'
Extremist cleric Abu Qatada could be re-released on bail within days, it emerged yesterday as Home Secretary Theresa May faced mounting evidence of a blunder over his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Justice Mitting said he would reconsider his detention order if deportation was "not imminent".
2. MURDOCHS TO FACE LEVESON INQUIRY
Rupert Murdoch and his son James will give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics next week, testifying separately over three days. Meanwhile the royal editor of The Sun, Duncan Larcombe, has been arrested by police investigating illegal payments to public officials.
Read more
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. BREIVIK PLANNED TO 'BEHEAD' PM
Anders Behring Breivik claimed at his trial yesterday that he had planned to behead former Labour Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland during his rampage in Norway last summer, and post a video of it on the internet. He also said he had hoped to kill the entire government with his bomb in Oslo.
Read more
4. FRENCH ELECTION: THE FINAL HOURS
Today is the final day of campaigning in the French presidential election before Sunday's first-round vote. President Sarkozy and Socialist Francois Hollande are neck and neck in opinion polls for round one. But the same polls suggest Hollande will win the second round run-off on 6 May comfortably.
In pictures: Adieu, Carla, France’s First Lady
5. SYRIA: THREAT OF INTERVENTION
Western leaders gathering in Paris last night threatened international intervention to set up "humanitarian corridors" in Syria after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council that President Assad's regime was flouting ceasefire terms with "grave abuses by government forces".
6. THE BAND'S LEVON HELM DIES AT 71
One of the legends of American rock music, Levon Helm, has died from throat cancer at 71. Helm was the drummer and singer of The Band, whose 1960s numbers The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down became rock standards. Martin Scorsese captured the group's 1976 farewell concert in his documentary, The Last Waltz.
7. WAS NEIL HEYWOOD SPYING IN CHINA?
MPs questioned Foreign Secretary William Hague last night over reports that Neil Heywood, the businessman murdered in China, had been a spy for MI6. Heywood is rumoured to have been an "agent of influence" passing information on Gu Kailai, arrested on suspicion of his murder, and her husband, Bo Xilai.
8. FEAR OF LIVE BULLETS AT BAHRAIN GP
Fears for F1 crews at the Bahrain GP grew yesterday amid reports of increasing use of birdshot and live bullets by the police in clashes with pro-democracy demonstrators targeting the race on Sunday. Tear gas and stun grenades were used against marchers in Manama, the capital, as hundreds of foreign journalists were turned away at the airport.
Read more
9. BALLOT COULD DELAY TANKER DRIVERS' STRIKE
Fuel delivery tanker drivers may have to hold-off strike action threatening petrol supplies until mid-May as Unite, their union, re-ballots workers at the firm Hoyer who failed to receive ballot papers when the strike vote was taken, it emerged last night. Acas, the arbitration service, said new talks would begin on Monday.
10. HOT TICKET: EWAN GOES FISHING
Brit rom-com 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' opens in cinemas today. Based on Paul Torday's best-selling novel, the film stars Ewan McGregor as an unhappy fisheries expert roped into a scheme to bring fly fishing to Yemen where he falls for Emily Blunt. "A delight," says Rolling Stone.
McGregor and Blunt charm in Salmon Fishing rom-com
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
-
Saint Paul de Vence: a paradise for art lovers
The Week Recommends The hilltop gem in the French Riviera where 20th century modernism flourished
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, 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