Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 31 Oct 2015
- 1. Shaker Aamer plans to sue the UK government
- 2. Deadly fires sweeps Bucharest nightclub
- 3. Morrisons to donate leftover food to the poor
- 4. Deaths under microscope amid NHS 111 scandal
- 5. Did Harry/Louis rift tear One Direction apart?
- 6. Ukip to target Corbyn’s monarchy position
- 7. Sunny autumn enables record UK wine profits
- 8. Fashanu paid his brother to not come out
- 9. New bat species discovered at London museum
- 10. Rugby World Cup final will see history
1. Shaker Aamer plans to sue the UK government
Shaker Aamer, the UK resident released after spending almost 14 years incarcerated without trial at Guantánamo Bay, plans to sue the British government over its alleged complicity in his mistreatment. He will issue a claim for damages from the UK’s security and intelligence agencies, whose officers quizzed him three times while he was at the US detention facility in Cuba.
2. Deadly fires sweeps Bucharest nightclub
At least 27 people have been killed after fire broke out at a nightclub in Bucharest, officials say. Most of the victims were teenagers or young people. Emergency services say 155 people were being treated in hospitals in the Romanian capital. The blaze happened at the Colectiv club on Friday night, causing a panicked stampede for the exit.
3. Morrisons to donate leftover food to the poor
Morrisons is to become the first supermarket to donate all of its edible surplus food to charity. A report by the British Retail Consortium, which represents major traders, found that last year supermarkets threw away 180,000 tonnes of food. FareShare, a charity which redistributes surplus food, estimates that the figure for the food industry as a whole could be more than double that.
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. Deaths under microscope amid NHS 111 scandal
The deaths of up to 25 patients are being investigated following an NHS scandal which saw ambulances delayed deliberately for patients with “life-threatening” conditions, a whistleblower told the Telegraph. Senior managers at South East Coast Ambulance trust were warned repeatedly that their “rogue operation” to downgrade 111 calls was risking lives.
5. Did Harry/Louis rift tear One Direction apart?
One Direction are going their separate ways after a bitter rift between band members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson caused enormous tension in the band, claims The Sun this morning. “The biggest issues in the band can be traced back over three years to an irreconcilable falling-out between their two most influential members,” says the report.
6. Ukip to target Corbyn’s monarchy position
Ukip plans to home in on Jeremy Corbyn’s “disdain for the monarchy and the military” in a by-election vote triggered by the death of a veteran Labour MP. According to the Daily Telegraph, Ukip is preparing to go “hell for leather” as it attacks the Labour leader for being at odds with the values of working class voters in Oldham West and Royton.
7. Sunny autumn enables record UK wine profits
The UK wine industry is set to make £100m for the first time due to the unseasonably sunny autumn, claims The Express. Vineyards are expecting a bumper harvest after September saw 178.5 hours of sunlight – 25% increase on the average. “English wine makers across the country have increased by 50% the area under vine in the last three years,” said an expert.
8. Fashanu paid his brother to not come out
John Fashanu says he gave his brother Justin £75,000 to not come out as gay. The former Wimbledon striker made the admission to The Mirror a week after it emerged two top footballers – including an England star – plan to come out. “I gave him the money because I didn’t want the embarrassment for me or my family,” said Fash. “Had he come out now, it would be a different ball game.”
9. New bat species discovered at London museum
A new bat species has been discovered at Natural History Museum after 30 years. A museum spokesman said a CT scanner analysed its fragile bones. Zoologist Roberto Portela Miguez said the scan showed "spiky, sharp-edged teeth that would work like scissors". It has been named the Francis' Woolly Horseshoe Bat, after Charles Francis, who collected the specimen in 1983.
10. Rugby World Cup final will see history
History will be made way or the other at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon when Australia and New Zealand contest the final of the Rugby World Cup. No country has won the Webb Ellis Cup three times though the Aussies and Kiwis have two titles to their name. New Zealand are aiming to become the first team ever to retain the trophy.
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 real story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment
The Explainer 'Everything you think you know is wrong' about Philip Zimbardo's infamous prison simulation
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Is it safe for refugees to return to Syria?
Talking Point European countries rapidly froze asylum claims after Assad's fall but Syrian refugees may have reason not to rush home
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
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