Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 23 Apr 2012
- 1. SARKOZY BEATEN INTO SECOND PLACE
- 2. WOMAN RUNNER DIES IN LONDON MARATHON
- 3. MINISTERS MUST FIND £16BN MORE CUTS
- 4. SKY CHIEF APOLOGISES FOR HACKING
- 5. FOOTBALL RAPE VICTIM ABUSED ON TWITTER
- 6. BODY-IN-BAG SPY WANTED TO LEAVE MI6
- 7. BREIVIK TRIED TO SURRENDER DURING MASSACRE
- 8. PREMIER LEAGUE RACE OPENS UP
- 9. STRICKEN BEE GEES STAR 'CONFOUNDS' DOCTORS
- 10. HOT TICKET: JACK WHITE GOES SOLO
1. SARKOZY BEATEN INTO SECOND PLACE
Socialist Francois Hollande won the first round of the French presidential election yesterday, taking 28.6% of the vote against 27.1% for incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. The big shock was that 18.1% voted for Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration National Front. The Hollande vs Sarkozy run-off will be on 6 May, with the Socialist the clear favourite.
Hollande beats Sarkozy, but one in five vote for Le Pen
2. WOMAN RUNNER DIES IN LONDON MARATHON
A woman runner aged 30 collapsed and died near Buckingham Palace about a mile from the finish line of the London Marathon yesterday. The 35th Marathon was won by Kenya's Wilson Kipsang in the men's race in 2.04.44 and by fellow Kenyan Mary Keitany in the women's in 2.18.37. Briton David Weir won the wheelchair race.
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. MINISTERS MUST FIND £16BN MORE CUTS
Government ministers are under orders to identify £16bn in potential further public expenditure cuts – five per cent - as David Cameron seeks to bring a month of political turbulence to an end and focus the coalition on its "core mission" of reducing the national debt. Labour called it "a relaunch from a panicking Prime Minister".
Read more
4. SKY CHIEF APOLOGISES FOR HACKING
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom is to investigate Sky News over email hacking. The Rupert Murdoch-owned news channel admitted earlier this month that it had hacked the accounts of 'canoe man' John Darwin and his wife, and a suspected paedophile "in the public interest". The head of Sky News, John Ryley, today apologised to the Leveson Inquiry.
5. FOOTBALL RAPE VICTIM ABUSED ON TWITTER
A TEAM-MATE of Ched Evans, the footballer jailed for rape last week, is under investigation after attacking the victim on Twitter. Connor Brown, who plays for Sheffield United, called the teenager a "money grabbing little tramp". Police are also investigating after the girl's anonymity was breached on the site.
6. BODY-IN-BAG SPY WANTED TO LEAVE MI6
The inquest into the death of spy Gareth Williams, whose body was found in a locked hold-all in his flat in 2010, has heard that he did not enjoy the culture of drinking and 'flash cars' at MI6. His sister Ceri Subbe told the inquest that he wanted to leave MI6 and return to his old job at GCHQ.
7. BREIVIK TRIED TO SURRENDER DURING MASSACRE
Norwegian killer Anders Behring Breivik has told his trial in Oslo that he rang the police to surrender during his gun rampage on Utoeya island last July but when they did not return his call he thought: "I will carry on until I die." He also accused those who claim he is insane are trying to discredit him.
8. PREMIER LEAGUE RACE OPENS UP
The Premier League title race has opened up again after Manchester United threw away a 3-1 lead over Everton on Sunday to finish 4-4. With Man City beating Wolves, it means that if City can win the 30 April Manchester derby, they will go top again on goal difference. As widely predicted, Robin van Persie won PFA Player of the Year.
Man City back in the race after United throw away victory
9. STRICKEN BEE GEES STAR 'CONFOUNDS' DOCTORS
Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has "confounded" his doctors by recovering from a coma brought on by pneumonia. Gibb, 62, had been undergoing treatment for cancer of the liver and colon when he deteriorated. Doctors at The London Clinic in London, said Gibb is now breathing unassisted, is lucid and speaking to his family.
Robin Gibb beats 'incredible odds' to recover from coma
10. HOT TICKET: JACK WHITE GOES SOLO
Former White Stripes singer and guitarist Jack White plays at London's HMV Forum tonight as part of an international tour to promote his new album, Blunderbuss. White's debut solo album fuses blues, rock, folk and country in songs about love gone wrong. "A masterpiece," says The Daily Telegraph.
Jack White's Blunderbuss a strange, thrilling masterpiece
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
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Parmigianino: The Vision of St Jerome – masterpiece given 'new lease of life'
The Week Recommends 'Spectacularly inventive' painting is back on display at the National Gallery
By The Week UK Published
-
5 unidentifiable cartoons about drones over New Jersey
Cartoons Artists take on national priorities, national security, and more
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