Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 11 Sep 2014
- 1. OBAMA: WE'LL BOMB ISLAMIC STATE...
- 2. SCOTS INDEPENDENCE: RBS WILL QUIT COUNTRY
- 3. OSCAR PISTORIUS NOT GUILTY OF MURDER
- 4. GATES FOUNDATION GIVES $50M TO EBOLA AID
- 5. OZONE LAYER ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
- 6. ... BUT RUSSIA ISSUES SYRIA WARNING
- 7. ‘JAWS’ BOND ACTOR KIEL DIES AT 74
- 8. DAMON ALBARN ON MERCURY PRIZE LIST
- 9. GEORGE CLOONEY TO APPEAR IN DOWNTON
- 10. HOT TICKET: BARKER'S STAGE REGENERATION
1. OBAMA: WE'LL BOMB ISLAMIC STATE...
Outlining his strategy to defeat the Sunni militants calling themselves Islamic State (IS), Barack Obama has said he would not hesitate to carry out air strikes in Syria as well as Iraq, where 150 have already been launched. The US president said 475 military personnel would be sent to Iraq, but not to fight.
US vows to 'take out' Islamic State wherever it exists
2. SCOTS INDEPENDENCE: RBS WILL QUIT COUNTRY
Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed that it will relocate its main office to London if Scots voters chose independence in next week’s referendum. The bank said it would keep a “significant level” of jobs in Scotland, however. Lloyds says it will shift business from Scotland but there will be no immediate changes.
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.
Scottish independence: UK party leaders pledge new powers
3. OSCAR PISTORIUS NOT GUILTY OF MURDER
Judge Thokosile Masipa has found Oscar Pistorius not guilty of murder, although he could still be convicted of culpable homicide after shooting dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. After ruling out murder the only two remaining outcomes for the Paralympian are a verdict culpable homicide or acquittal. The final decision will come tomorrow.
Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected
4. GATES FOUNDATION GIVES $50M TO EBOLA AID
The charitable foundation of Microsoft founder Bill Gates is to donate $50m to help the emergency response to the Ebola outbreak raging in west Africa. The donation will top up funds already donated by the UN, EU, UK and US. The money will be given to the UN and other aid agencies to spend.
Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa
5. OZONE LAYER ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
A UN report has found that the ozone layer is on track to recovery almost 30 years after the Montreal Protocol, which phased out chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone depleting substances. Two million cases of skin cancer and damage to wildlife have been averted. But scientists have warned that global warming is still a threat.
Ozone layer has begun to recover, say UN scientists
6. ... BUT RUSSIA ISSUES SYRIA WARNING
Russia has warned the US that air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria would be a "gross violation" of international law. Responding to President Obama's warning over IS, the Russian foreign ministry said action in Syria without UN or Syrian government support would be an "act of aggression". Russia backs Syria's embattled president Bashar al-Assad.
7. ‘JAWS’ BOND ACTOR KIEL DIES AT 74
Actor Richard Kiel, best known for playing metal-toothed villain Jaws in two James Bond films, has died in California at the age of 74. The Detroit-born star, who was 7ft 2in tall, also appeared in the sports comedy Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler in 1996. Kiel’s cause of death has not been revealed.
Richard Kiel: five unusual facts about the late Bond villain
8. DAMON ALBARN ON MERCURY PRIZE LIST
Blur singer Damon Albarn is one of the bookies’ favourites to win the Mercury music prize, nominated for his solo album Everyday Robots, thirteen years after he snubbed the prize by rejecting a nomination for an album he made as Gorillaz. Other nominees include Kate Tempest, FKA Twigs and Jungle.
Mercury Prize 2014: mixed reaction to 'obscure' shortlist
9. GEORGE CLOONEY TO APPEAR IN DOWNTON
Hollywood idol George Clooney has filmed a cameo role in period drama Downton Abbey, ITV has confirmed, playing an American guest at a wedding in a short special episode for a charity appeal. Rumours Clooney was considering getting married at Highclere Castle were a smokescreen to keep filming secret.
10. HOT TICKET: BARKER'S STAGE REGENERATION
A new stage adaptation of Pat Barker's WWI novel Regeneration has opened at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton. In a Scottish hospital, WWI soldiers including poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon are treated for shell shock. "Superb," says The Independent. Until 20 September, then touring UK.
Regeneration – reviews of 'superb' Pat Barker adaptation
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
-
Why is Putin 'de-exonerating' Stalin's victims?
Under the radar Russian president has 'insatiable impulse' to 'rewrite history', say commentators
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Shahnaz Habib's 6 favorite books that explore different cultures
Feature The essayist and translator recommends works by Vivek Shanbhag, Adania Shibli, and more
By The Week US Published
-
'Why is the expansion of individual autonomy necessarily always good?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, 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