Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 1 Feb 2013
- 1. FOOTBALLERS SMARTER THAN PHDS
- 2. CAMERON 'RISKS CONFIDENCE VOTE'
- 3. BLAST OUTSIDE US EMBASSY IN ANKARA
- 4. COURT OPENS WAY TO 'SHARIA' DIVORCE
- 5. BEYONCE PROVES TO CRITICS SHE CAN SING
- 6. WIND TURBINE MAY HAVE BEEN SABOTAGED
- 7. MET OFFICER APRIL CASBURN JAILED
- 8. FORMER NYC MAYOR ED KOCH DIES AT 88
- 9. ARSENAL SPEND £8.5M ON NACHO MONREAL
- 10. HOT TICKET: DENZEL WASHINGTON FLIES
1. FOOTBALLERS SMARTER THAN PHDS
A new study claims that footballers have better cognitive skills than undergraduates and even PhD students. Research by Jocelyn Faubert of the University of Montreal found that sports stars were able to "hyper-focus" when doing tests, thanks to physical differences in their brains. The study involved Manchester United footballers, Canadian hockey players, and French rugby players.
Footballers are smarter than PhD students, claims survey
2. CAMERON 'RISKS CONFIDENCE VOTE'
David Cameron faces a backbench Tory revolt to unseat him if he doesn't do something to increase the party's popularity, The Guardian reports. A confidence vote over his leadership will come in the summer of 2014, a year before the next general election, if his poll ratings fail to improve, sources have told the paper.
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.
Cameron warned to improve or face no-confidence vote
3. BLAST OUTSIDE US EMBASSY IN ANKARA
A security guard has been killed when a suicide bomber detonated a device in front of the side entrance to the US Embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara today. There are reports of a number of other casualties. Embassy staff were taken to secure rooms in the building, according to Turkish television, and police have sealed off the embassy. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
4. COURT OPENS WAY TO 'SHARIA' DIVORCE
The prospect of divorce cases being settled by Sharia law was opened yesterday by a landmark legal decision in the High Court in which a Jewish couple's divorce under Beth Din rabbinical process was approved under English law. The Muslim Council of Britain said: "If it leads to the eventual acceptance of Sharia court divorces, then Muslims will be very encouraged."
Are Sharia divorces on the way? Experts are sceptical
5. BEYONCE PROVES TO CRITICS SHE CAN SING
Pop star Beyoncé answered her critics yesterday by giving a cappella rendition of The Star Spangled Banner to a an audience of sports journalists in New Orleans for Sunday's Super Bowl, where she will perform at half-time. She then explained that she had lip-synched her performance at Obama's inauguration because she is a "perfectionist".
Beyonce answers critics with live anthem rendition - video
6. WIND TURBINE MAY HAVE BEEN SABOTAGED
A 115ft wind turbine in Bradworthy, Devon which collapsed last week during a 50mph gale may have been sabotaged. Local councillors say bolts were found to be missing. Suspicions were further raised after a second turbine was brought down less than 20 miles away. Local residents had campaigned fiercely against the Bradworthy turbine.
7. MET OFFICER APRIL CASBURN JAILED
Police officer April Casburn, the first person to be prosecuted as part of the investigation into payments by journalists to officials, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. Casburn, 53, claimed she made contact with the News of the World out of public interest. The judge at the Old Bailey said is was a straightforward case of corruption.
Met officer April Casburn gets 15 months for corruption
8. FORMER NYC MAYOR ED KOCH DIES AT 88
Ed Koch, the much-loved New York City mayor who helped turn round the Big Apple’s fortunes between 1978 and 1989, has died at the age of 88. He was known for asking New Yorkers: “How’m I doin’?” As the Washington Post reports, the question was delivered “in a whiny, nasal voice that was as recognisably New York as the screech of an A Train”.
Five reasons Mayor Ed Koch was the King of New York
9. ARSENAL SPEND £8.5M ON NACHO MONREAL
Football's January transfer window closed at 11pm yesterday. Among the big last-minute signings was Malaga defender Ignacio 'Nacho' Monreal, 26, who joins Arsenal in a £8.5m deal. Premier League clubs spent about £120m in the window, with struggling QPR among the big spenders, signing Jermaine Jenas from Spurs among others.
Arsenal sign Spanish defender Nacho Monreal from Malaga
10. HOT TICKET: DENZEL WASHINGTON FLIES
Robert Zemeckis's new drama 'Flight' opens in UK cinemas today. Denzel Washington stars as an airline pilot with an alcohol problem who is hailed as a hero after he crash-lands a plane, but has some explaining to do. Washington is up for the best actor Oscar for his role. "Compelling old-school melodrama," says Time Out.
Denzel Washington pilots gripping star vehicle Flight
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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 life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Assisted dying: will the law change?
Talking Point Historic legislation likely to pass but critics warn it must include safeguards against abuse
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: October 12, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff 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