Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 3 Dec 2012
- 1. UK AND FRANCE CALL IN ISRAELI ENVOYS
- 2. 'MEGA MONDAY' FOR ONLINE RETAILERS
- 3. NEWS CORP LEG-UP FOR ROBERT THOMSON
- 4. TAX CHEAT 'HITMEN' TO TRACK SPENDING
- 5. TOLL MOUNTS AFTER TUNNEL COLLAPSE
- 6. THE POPE PUTS HIS FAITH IN TWITTER
- 7. NO CONFIDENCE VOTE IN CHURCH SYNOD
- 8. KATE MIDDLETON IS PREGNANT
- 9. ENGLAND GET TOUGH RUGBY DRAW
- 10. HOT TICKET: HOLIDAY HEART-WARMER MR TOM
1. UK AND FRANCE CALL IN ISRAELI ENVOYS
Britain and France have both called in Israeli ambassadors to protest at the construction of 3,000 new homes in the Occupied Territories and East Jerusalem. The UK said the proposed construction casts doubt on Israel's stated commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians.
UK and France summon Israeli ambassadors over settlements
2. 'MEGA MONDAY' FOR ONLINE RETAILERS
Spending online was expected to reach £10,000 every second today as Britain's retailers prepared for the biggest spending day of the year. Shoppers were due to use their end-of November pay packets to splash out £465 million in a day, with tablet computers such as the iPad Mini and Kindle Fire HD expected to be the hottest items.
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. NEWS CORP LEG-UP FOR ROBERT THOMSON
Rupert Murdoch has announced the promotion of Robert Thomson, a former editor of The Times, to head up a new publishing company being carved out of News Corp. He will run Murdoch’s worldwide newspapers and the book publisher HarperCollins under a plan to divide the publishing interests from News Corp’s film and TV concerns.
Robert Thomson to head up News Corp's publishing arm
4. TAX CHEAT 'HITMEN' TO TRACK SPENDING
Taxpayers are to have their credit files checked in secret so that their spending can be cross-checked against their declared income in the latest tax evasion clampdown by Chancellor George Osborne. Revenue & Customs was due to unveil the results of a pilot programme which it says has been successful in discovering those who cheat by under-declaring income.
'Immoral' multinationals face crackdown by taxmen
5. TOLL MOUNTS AFTER TUNNEL COLLAPSE
Police confirmed early today that at least nine people died when the roof of a Japanese road tunnel at Sasago, 50 miles west of Tokyo, collapsed, crushing cars and starting fires. Several drivers and passengers were also missing as fires hampered rescue attempts. Survivors described escaping the three-mile tunnel on foot amid choking smoke and drivers heading the wrong way.
6. THE POPE PUTS HIS FAITH IN TWITTER
Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Catholic Church, already has a billion followers in the real world. Now he aims to attract even more online using a new Twitter account called @Pontifex. The Pope won't start sending Papal tweets until December 12, but his account was followed by more than 10,000 people within hours of its establishment today.
Pope takes to Twitter, but the Papal account won't be banal
7. NO CONFIDENCE VOTE IN CHURCH SYNOD
The Bristol diocese of the Church of England has passed a vote of no confidence in the General Synod over its failure to secure reforms allowing women to become bishops. Fifty-one members voted for the resolution, with three against. Proposer the Rev Mat Ineson, a Kingsdown vicar, said: "The system has failed the people and urgently needs fixing".
8. KATE MIDDLETON IS PREGNANT
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child it has been announced. St James's Palace confirmed the news after the duchess was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in central London with severe morning sickness earlier today. William and Kate were married in 2011.
Kate Middleton is expecting a baby, the palace confirms
9. ENGLAND GET TOUGH RUGBY DRAW
England have been given a tough draw for the 2015 Rugby World Cup after finding themselves in a group with Australia and Wales. World Champions New Zealand must face Argentina and Tonga. Scotland were drawn with Samoa and South Africa and Ireland's group includes France and Italy.
Dazzling England rattle rugby rivals with win over All Blacks
10. HOT TICKET: HOLIDAY HEART-WARMER MR TOM
A stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian's modern children's classic, 'Goodnight Mister Tom', has opened at the Phoenix Theatre, West End. It tells the story of an abused boy who is evacuated to the English countryside during World War II and finds friendship with a recluse. "Enchanting", says The Independent.
Goodnight Mister Tom: not a dry eye in the house
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
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
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