Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 27 Feb 2013
- 1. N-BOMB: 'IRAN TRYING TO MAKE PLUTONIUM'
- 2. NICK CLEGG HITS OUT AT PRESS 'DETECTIVES'
- 3. BALLOON SURVIVOR JUMPED TO SAFETY
- 4. LILY ALLEN MAKES PARIS COMEBACK
- 5. PM RAISES O'FARRELL QUESTION IN HOUSE
- 6. 'DOVE' CHUCK HAGEL GETS PENTAGON
- 7. PISTORIUS ACCUSED OF 'PR STUNT' SERVICE
- 8. THREE PEOPLE DEAD IN SWISS SHOOTING
- 9. NEW ZEALAND POLICE SHOOT AT KILLER SHARK
- 10. HOT TICKET: MCAVOY'S 'MAD MAX' MACBETH
1. N-BOMB: 'IRAN TRYING TO MAKE PLUTONIUM'
Iran is not only seeking to enrich uranium – it is possibly developing a second path to nuclear weapons capability by producing plutonium, the Daily Telegraph claims. The paper has obtained satellite images showing a cloud of steam coming out of a plant at Arak, indicating the use of 'heavy water' needed to operate a nuclear reactor that can produce plutonium.
Does Iran have nuclear bomb 'Plan B' using plutonium?
2. NICK CLEGG HITS OUT AT PRESS 'DETECTIVES'
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg yesterday attacked journalists who have exposed claims of sexual impropriety against Lord Rennard as "self-appointed detectives". The Daily Mail responded: "It's called a free press for a reason, Mr Clegg". Former Lib Dem MP Sandra Gidley says she warned Clegg about the Rennard allegations when he became party leader in 2007.
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.
Nick Clegg angers press with 'self-appointed detectives' jibe
3. BALLOON SURVIVOR JUMPED TO SAFETY
The British man who survived yesterday's hot air balloon disaster in Luxor escaped by jumping from the cradle as it caught fire. Michael Rennie from Perth is recovering in a Cairo hospital. His wife Yvonne was among the 19 who died in the blaze, some of them jumping from 1,000ft to their deaths. All balloon flights have been cancelled for safety checks.
4. LILY ALLEN MAKES PARIS COMEBACK
Pop star Lily Allen, now using her married name Cooper, who quit singing in 2009 to get married and have two babies, has given her first solo performance in four years. She sang her 2006 hit 'Smile' during the Etam lingerie show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday, after tweeting fans to says: "Still know the words to Smile, which is good".
Paris Fashion Week - in pictures
5. PM RAISES O'FARRELL QUESTION IN HOUSE
David Cameron said in the Commons today that it was "staggering" that John O'Farrell was allowed to stand for Labour in the Eastleigh by-election after writing that that he felt "a surge of excitement" after the 1984 Brighton bomb at the "nearness" of Margaret Thatcher's demise and "disappointment that such a chance had been missed". O'Farrell said it "a fleeting bad thought" written 15 years ago.
John O'Farrell - the candidate who backed Argentine fascists
6. 'DOVE' CHUCK HAGEL GETS PENTAGON
Former Republican senator Chuck Hagel, considered a 'dove' because he decries the wasting of life in unnecessary wars, and who has criticised the power of the Israeli lobby, was confirmed last night as President Obama's new Defence Secretary. He will take charge of the Pentagon despite opposition from the right wing of his own party.
7. PISTORIUS ACCUSED OF 'PR STUNT' SERVICE
Oscar Pistorius, on bail awaiting trial for murder, has been accused of attempting to alter public perception by letting it be known that he was holding a private memorial service for his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Details of the service were "leaked", giving his PR agency the chance to issue a statement saying he remains in deep mourning.
Pistorius prays for Reeva: memorial or publicity stunt?
8. THREE PEOPLE DEAD IN SWISS SHOOTING
Three people are reported to have died today in a shooting at a wood processing plant in the town of Menznau in Switzerland. The shooting began in the canteen at 8 am UK time. Switzerland has a high rate of gun ownership, because men are able to keep their weapons after military service.
Three dead in Switzerland's second gun rampage of 2013
9. NEW ZEALAND POLICE SHOOT AT KILLER SHARK
Beaches around the New Zealand city of Auckland have been closed after a swimmer was killed in a shark attack. Police fired guns at the four-metre long great white after being alerted by fishermen and although the shark disappeared they could not save 47-year-old film maker Adam Strange.
Police shoot great white shark but can't save swimmer - video
10. HOT TICKET: MCAVOY'S 'MAD MAX' MACBETH
Jamie Lloyd's new production of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' has opened at Trafalgar Studios, London. 'X-Men' star James McAvoy appears as Scottish lord Macbeth, who embarks on a murderous path to fulfil his ambitions for power in a post-apocalypse world. Claire Foy is Lady Macbeth. "Gripping", says The Independent. Until 27 April.
McAvoy's 'Mad Max' Macbeth is 'noisy, urgent and populist'
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
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, 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