Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 8 Feb 2014
- 1. PLEBGATE OFFICERS IN PORN ARRESTS
- 2. BATTERED BRITAIN BRACES FOR STORM
- 3. PUBLIC REPELLED BY ‘EXTREME’ TORIES
- 4. FLAKE FAIL AT WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONY
- 5. WOODY ALLEN DENIES DYLAN ALLEGATION
- 6. IS BORIS MEETING A LEADERSHIP BID?
- 7. HOFFMAN FUNERAL HELD IN NEW YORK
- 8. COWELL RETURNS TO UK X FACTOR
- 9. INTIMATE’ BIEBER FOOTAGE SOUGHT
- 10. FOOTBALL: GUNNERS FACE LIVERPOOL
1. PLEBGATE OFFICERS IN PORN ARRESTS
Armed police officers are being investigated over allegations that they exchanged hardcore pornography via their smartphones whilst on duty at Downing Street. Three officers have been arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing images “of an extreme sexual nature”, says Scotland Yard. The officers are from the unit at the centre of the ‘plebgate’ affair.
2. BATTERED BRITAIN BRACES FOR STORM
Southern parts of the UK are being warned of gales and further heavy rain. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for high winds in Wales and south-west England, with gusts of up to 80mph expected in some exposed locations. It has emerged that David Cameron was warned last summer of the danger of flooding in Somerset but rejected a request to help fund dredging.
3. PUBLIC REPELLED BY ‘EXTREME’ TORIES
“Extreme” Tory activists could repel voters, says an ousted Conservative MP. Tim Yeo says the party is increasingly dominated by a “shrinking band” of members with views on Europe and same-sex marriage which are at odds with wider public opinion. He became the second sitting Conservative MP in a week to be sacked by local activists.
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. FLAKE FAIL AT WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONY
The 22nd Winter Olympics opened last night with a spectacular ceremony in Sochi. There was a glitch when one of five giant snowflakes failed to transform into an Olympic ring, leaving the Games’ iconic symbol incomplete. "No normal person would get distracted by one snowflake that did not open from the story that is being told over two and-a-half hours,” said the ceremony director.
5. WOODY ALLEN DENIES DYLAN ALLEGATION
Woody Allen has denied abusing his adopted daughter. In a letter to the New York Times, the filmmaker says Dylan Farrow had been coached to make allegations against him by his former partner, Mia Farrow. He writes that Dylan has been “used as a pawn for revenge” against him. He adds that Mia orchestrated a “smear” against him.
6. IS BORIS MEETING A LEADERSHIP BID?
An aide to Boris Johnson says it is “poppycock” to suggest a meeting with Tory backbench group is part of a leadership bid. The London mayor is due to address a meeting of the ‘301 Group’ in the Commons on Tuesday. He will spell out what a Conservative-only government could achieve. The aide added that Boris is “110 per cent” behind David Cameron.
7. HOFFMAN FUNERAL HELD IN NEW YORK
Mourners gathered at the funeral of Philip Seymour Hoffman in New York City yesterday. Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Ethan Hawke, Spike Lee and other entertainment industry figures were at the Church of St Ignatius Loyola. The media was criticised yesterday for publishing and broadcasting images of Hoffman’s grieving children.
8. COWELL RETURNS TO UK X FACTOR
Simon Cowell is to return to the next series of the UK X Factor, it has been confirmed. He will lead the judging panel when the show returns for its 11th series in the autumn. “I'm excited to find a global superstar,” he said. Cowell quit the panel three years ago to launch the series in the US, but audience numbers there have been far lower than he hoped.
9. INTIMATE’ BIEBER FOOTAGE SOUGHT
Justin Bieber’s lawyers have asked a judge to block the release of images and videos featuring “intimate personal parts” of the troubled pop star. In a motion filed yesterday, they sought to block a video of Bieber “in various states of undress”, which was shot while he was in custody at Miami Beach police station following his arrest last month. News outlets have reportedly requested the footage.
10. FOOTBALL: GUNNERS FACE LIVERPOOL
All of the top four Premier League teams are in action today, with leaders Arsenal visiting fourth-placed Liverpool in the lunchtime kick-off. Later, second-placed Manchester City visit Norwich, while Chelsea host Newcastle United. Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic’s impending departure from the club is a “mutual decision” says David Moyes.
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
-
Today's political cartoons - October 13, 2024
Sunday's cartoons - the swing of things, fear of facts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 timely cartoons about climate change denial
Cartoons Artists take on textbook trouble, bizarre beliefs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Kris Kristofferson: the free-spirited country music star who studied at Oxford
In the Spotlight The songwriter, singer and film-star has died aged 88
By The Week UK 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