Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 7 Jun 2012
- 1. EURO CRISIS: 'SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE'
- 2. BRITAIN BRACED FOR MORE RAIN AND WIND
- 3. UN MONITORS 'FIRED UPON' IN SYRIA
- 4. CHINA CUTS INTEREST RATES, BOE HOLDS STEADY
- 5. 2,425 COMPLAINTS OVER BBC COVERAGE
- 6. UK GOVERNMENT BOYCOTTS EURO 2012
- 7. FORCED MARRIAGE TO BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE
- 8. FAR RIGHT MP ATTACKS FEMALE POLITICIANS
- 9. DEFIANT FRENCH LOWER RETIREMENT AGE
- 10. HOT TICKET: HENRY MOORE COMES INDOORS
1. EURO CRISIS: 'SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE'
David Cameron says "speed is of the essence" in dealing with the eurozone crisis, adding: "Every day that the European economies are stagnant are days when opportunities are lost." But the Prime Minister, who held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel today, said Germany could not be expected to solve the crisis on its own.
Eurozone crisis: is Germany about to go soft on Spain?
2. BRITAIN BRACED FOR MORE RAIN AND WIND
Hosepipe bans for millions of households could end after weeks of rain, the Environment Agency announced last night, saying the risk of drought was "considerably reduced" and reservoirs refilled. Britain is braced for more extreme weather with heavy rain and high winds expected this week.
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. UN MONITORS 'FIRED UPON' IN SYRIA
Scores of people, including at least 20 women and 20 children, are reported to have been killed in a massacre carried out by pro-government forces in Hama province, Syria, it has been claimed. Syrian authorities admitted finding "bodies" after attacking "terrorists". There have been reports that UN monitors trying to reach the site of the massacre were fired upon.
Children among 78 feared dead in fresh Syrian 'massacre'
4. CHINA CUTS INTEREST RATES, BOE HOLDS STEADY
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5% and left its £325bn quantitative easing programme unchanged despite pressure to try and stimulate the economy. Interest rates have now been unchanged for three-and-a-quarter years. In China the central bank cuts its interest rates in an attempt to avoid the effects of the global slowdown.
5. 2,425 COMPLAINTS OVER BBC COVERAGE
The BBC last night admitted receiving 2,425 complaints over its coverage of the Diamond Jubilee, some of which was dubbed "inane" by critics. Creative director Alan Yentob said it was "fair to criticise" some aspects of the corporation's coverage, but director-general Mark Thompson praised the "outstanding journalism" in an email to staff.
6. UK GOVERNMENT BOYCOTTS EURO 2012
The British government is to boycott the Euro 2012 football championships in protest at the "selective justice" imposed on Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister of Ukraine and opposition leader who was jailed for seven years last October after what her supporters described as a "show trial". There have also been allegations that she has been beaten while in custody.
7. FORCED MARRIAGE TO BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE
Arranging a forced marriage could become a criminal offence punishable by jail under moves to be unveiled by David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May today. Up to 8,000 children, almost all from southern Asia and one-in-five of them boys, are forced into marriage each year, which Cameron has called "little more than slavery".
8. FAR RIGHT MP ATTACKS FEMALE POLITICIANS
An MP and spokesman for Greece's far right Golden Dawn party assaulted two female politicians on live television this morning. Ilias Kasidiaris threw water over Rena Dourou, a deputy with the left-wing Syriza party after she said he would take the country back 500 years, and then slapped communist MP Liana Kanelli before fleeing the studio.
Far-right Golden Dawn spokesman assaults rivals on Greek chat show
9. DEFIANT FRENCH LOWER RETIREMENT AGE
France's Socialist government, under new president Francois Hollande, yesterday cut the country's retirement age to 60 in defiance of the eurozone's deepening crisis and demands for austerity, citing "social justice". Workers starting at 18 will retire at 60 rather than 62. Hollande had promised the move during his election campaign.
10. HOT TICKET: HENRY MOORE COMES INDOORS
A new exhibition of Henry Moore's sculptures, Large Late Forms, has opened in London's Gagosian Gallery. The show features nine large-scale, late-career bronze sculptures, some of which are being shown indoors for the first time. "Revelatory," says The Evening Standard. Until 18 August.
Gagosian brings Henry Moore's bronzes in from the cold
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
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
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