Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 28 Dec 2012
- 1. GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF DIES
- 2. THATCHER WAS READY FOR FALKLANDS DEAL
- 3. 2012 IS WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD
- 4. SPIDERMAN’S PETER PARKER BOWS OUT
- 5. CALL FOR QUOTA ON WOMEN DIRECTORS
- 6. KATE WINSLET GETS MARRIED AGAIN
- 7. LANZA’S DNA TESTED FOR ABNORMALITIES
- 8. MAN PUSHED ONTO SUBWAY TRACKS
- 9. ROVERS MANAGER FIRED AFTER 57 DAYS
- 10. PEEING IN POOL IS NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL
1. GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF DIES
General Norman Schwartzkopf, the US general who commanded the allied forces in the 1991 Gulf War, has died at the age of 78 in Tampa, Florida. Nicknamed ‘Stormin’ Normin’, he became a household name when he led Operation Desert Storm, the campaign that pushed Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait.
2. THATCHER WAS READY FOR FALKLANDS DEAL
Margaret Thatcher was prepared to consider a deal with Argentina over the status of the Falkland Islands, newly released papers show. The British PM was put under intense pressure by the US following the 1982 invasion and was considering a "more flexible approach" to Argentina’s claim to sovereignty.
3. 2012 IS WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD
It’s official: 2012 is the wettest year in England on record and the downpour is set to continue through the weekend. The Met Office says a sodden Boxing Day pushed the year’s average rainfall past all previous records and "nearly a month’s rain" will fall in certain areas this weekend.
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. SPIDERMAN’S PETER PARKER BOWS OUT
Spoiler alert: fans of Spiderman’s alter ego, Peter Parker, should stop reading now. The character has been "killed off" in the final issue of 'The Amazing Spiderman' comic series causing outrage among devoted fans. Spiderman writer Dan Slott joked he may have to go into hiding after news of Parker’s demise leaked on the internet this week.
5. CALL FOR QUOTA ON WOMEN DIRECTORS
Quotas are needed to get more women directors onto the boards of UK companies, the head of the TUC says. Frances O’Grady, the first woman to lead the trade union organisation, says the only way to break the continuing male domination of boardrooms is for the government to step in and impose a quota system.
6. KATE WINSLET GETS MARRIED AGAIN
Actress Kate Winslet has married for the third time, it was confirmed yesterday. Her new husband is a nephew of Sir Richard Branson called Ned RocknRoll (he changed his name from Abel Smith). The couple met on Necker Island, and were there together when Branson’s luxury home was destroyed by fire in August 2011.
7. LANZA’S DNA TESTED FOR ABNORMALITIES
The DNA of Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old who shot 20 children and 6 adults dead at a Connecticut school, is to be tested for "abnormalities". Researchers at the University of Connecticut will examine the killer’s genetics for signs of any mutations that could "foretell a propensity toward violence".
8. MAN PUSHED ONTO SUBWAY TRACKS
Just weeks after shocking photographs of a man who was pushed onto the tracks of the New York subway outraged and sickened the city, another traveller has died in similar circumstances. The latest death occurred when a man was pushed onto the tracks at a station in Sunnyside, Queens, by an unidentified woman who has not yet been caught.
9. ROVERS MANAGER FIRED AFTER 57 DAYS
Blackburn Rovers have fired their new manager, Henning Berg, after only 57 days in the job. The Norwegian, who as a player helped Rovers win the Premier League in 1995, took over the club from Steve Kean on 31 October and has managed only one win in ten games since. The 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day was the last straw.
10. PEEING IN POOL IS NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL
Olympic champion Michael Phelps caused outrage during the London Olympics when he revealed that top swimmers often relieve themselves in the water. Now a scientist has weighed in on the argument revealing the activity does not pose a health risk because urine is "essentially sterile". US biochemist Stuart Jones said: "Urine is largely just salts and water with moderate amounts of protein and DNA breakdown products."
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
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, 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