Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Oct 2013
- 1. US COMMANDOS IN AFRICA RAIDS
- 2. LABOUR MAY SUE HUNT OVER TWEET
- 3. MP CALLS FOR BBC INQUIRY OVER MILIBAND
- 4. UK’S NUCLEAR NEAR MISS IN 2012
- 5. GREEN TARGETS TO SPARK £400 HIKE
- 6. AFRIYIE PUSHES FOR EARLY EU VOTE
- 7. LORD SUGAR PROBED OVER ‘RACIST’ TWEET
- 8. THOUSANDS OF PUBS UNDER THREAT
- 9. M&S VOTED ‘MOST DIFFICULT STORE’
- 10. JANUZAJ SAVES MOYES’ BLUSHES
1. US COMMANDOS IN AFRICA RAIDS
US special forces have carried out raids in Africa targeting senior Islamist terrorists. In Libya, commandos captured an al-Qaeda leader accused of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In Somalia, commandos attempted unsuccessfully to capture the al-Shabab leader suspected of involvement in last month's attack in the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya's capital Nairobi.
2. LABOUR MAY SUE HUNT OVER TWEET
The Labour party is threatening to sue a Conservative cabinet minister over accusations of a cover-up about NHS failures, reports the Sunday Times. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, is preparing a writ against Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, over remarks made on Twitter. Hunt refused to delete the comments when contacted by Labour party lawyers.
3. MP CALLS FOR BBC INQUIRY OVER MILIBAND
A Conservative MP is calling for an inquiry into the scale of coverage that the BBC gave to Ed Miliband’s dispute with the Daily Mail. “I think that a large proportion of the country now see the BBC as being a mouthpiece for one political party,” said Andrew Bridgen, who has written to has written to the BBC Trust, asking if it to consider whether the corporation has breached guidelines.
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. UK’S NUCLEAR NEAR MISS IN 2012
A major nuclear incident was narrowly avoided at the heart of Britain's Royal Navy submarine fleet last summer, reveals the Independent on Sunday. Double defects left vessels without vital sources of coolant for their reactors. Experts have compared the crisis at the naval base with the Fukushima Daiichi power-station meltdown in Japan in 2011.
5. GREEN TARGETS TO SPARK £400 HIKE
British householders will pay an average of more than £400 in higher bills over the next six years to allow the government to hit controversial green power targets, says the Sunday Telegraph. The money raised by a hike in bills will go to cover the costs of otherwise uneconomic projects such as wind turbines, onshore wind farms, biomass plants and landfill gas sites.
6. AFRIYIE PUSHES FOR EARLY EU VOTE
A Tory backbencher, linked with a future leadership contest, has said he will try to force the government to hold an early vote on whether Britain should leave the EU. Windsor MP Adam Afriyie writes in the Mail on Sunday that "suspicious" voters are "not convinced" by the prime minister's promise to put the issue to an "in or out" referendum in 2017.
7. LORD SUGAR PROBED OVER ‘RACIST’ TWEET
Lord Sugar has been investigated by the police after a complaint that he posted a racist Twitter message. The businessman posted a joke about child workers in Chinese factories to his 3.2m Twitter followers. A Twitter user complained to the Metropolitan Police, who investigated and classified the tweet as a “hate incident”, which means no further action will be taken.
8. THOUSANDS OF PUBS UNDER THREAT
Alcohol consumption is continuing to fall, causing concern among breweries and pub landlords. The British Beer & Pub Association's Statistical Handbook found that last year the average adult drank eight litres of alcohol, compared with 8.2 the year before, a 3.3% fall. Almost 6,000 pubs have closed in the last year and there are warnings that 4,000 more are at risk.
9. M&S VOTED ‘MOST DIFFICULT STORE’
Queues at checkouts and blocked aisles have left Marks & Spencer voted as the most difficult supermarket to shop in. A quarter of those who took part in a survey said shopping at M&S demanded a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ effort. No-frills Iceland was rated best in terms of convenience, with 56% saying shopping there demanded ‘low’ or ‘very low’ effort.
10. JANUZAJ SAVES MOYES’ BLUSHES
Manchester United teenager Adnan Januzaj saved David Moyes from another embarrassing afternoon by inspiring a crucial win at Sunderland. Craig Gardener had given the hosts a deserved half-time lead at the Stadium of Light but Januzaj scored twice to earn victory for United. The result lifts Moyes’ team to ninth place. Leaders Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1.
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
-
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
-
Crossword: November 2, 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