Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 13 Dec 2015
- 1. Barack Obama hails climate change deal
- 2. Oxbridge attacked over state schools record
- 3. Saudi Arabia elects its first woman
- 4. Cameron attacked over migrant benefits ‘climbdown’
- 5. Lord Lucan ‘jumped off a boat after mistake’
- 6. ‘Hated’ American raises price of another drug
- 7. Gordon Banks battles kidney cancer
- 8. Released Guantanamo man slams jihadists
- 9. Moderates plan new members to oust Corbyn
- 10. Euro 2016: Hodgson welcomes Wales draw
1. Barack Obama hails climate change deal
David Cameron will abandon his demand for a four-year ban on foreign workers claiming in-work benefits as he prepares to meet fellow European Union leaders this week. The Sunday Times, quoting Downing Street sources, says the prime minister will make it clear that he is open to alternatives. Critics described the development as a “climbdown”.
2. Oxbridge attacked over state schools record
Oxford and Cambridge universities are facing unprecedented condemnation from government advisers over their failure to increase the number of state school pupils studying at Oxbridge colleges. The institutions’ track records will be criticised and individual colleges named and shamed in a bombastic annual report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.
3. Saudi Arabia elects its first woman
Saudis have elected their first woman politician, reports the BBC. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi has become the first woman to take a seat on a municipal council after the kingdom lifted its bar on women taking part in elections. Votes are still being counted in the municipal polls, which were the first where women could vote and stand as candidates.
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. Cameron attacked over migrant benefits ‘climbdown’
David Cameron will abandon his demand for a four-year ban on foreign workers claiming in-work benefits as he prepares to meet fellow European Union leaders this week. The Sunday Times, quoting Downing Street sources, says the prime minister will make it clear that he is open to alternatives. Critics described the development as a “climbdown”.
5. Lord Lucan ‘jumped off a boat after mistake’
Lord Lucan killed himself after murdering the family nanny by mistake, a friend is claiming. The close friend of Lord Lucan tells the Sunday Telegraph that, contrary to the popular perception that the aristocrat disappeared abroad, he simply jumped off his boat and drowned himself in Newhaven Harbour. He had intended to murder not the nanny, but his wife.
6. ‘Hated’ American raises price of another drug
Martin Shkreli, dubbed the 'most hated man in America', is raising the price of another form of drug, reports the Independent On Sunday. Shkreli, who increased the cost of an effective HIV drug by 5,500%, has now increased the price of medicine used to treat Chagas disease, a parasitic infection that can cause heart failure, from $13.50 to $700.
7. Gordon Banks battles kidney cancer
England legend Gordon Banks is battling kidney cancer, he has told the Sunday Mirror. The 77-year-old World Cup winner has been warned by medics that the remains of his kidney will have to be removed if his cancer grows. Banks is taking chemotherapy tablets to try and avoid a transplant. He says he is using his World Cup spirit in his battle with the disease.
8. Released Guantanamo man slams jihadists
Shaker Aamer, the UK's last Guantanamo Bay detainee who returned home in October after being held for 14 years, has called on jihadists to "get the hell out" of the country. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he denounced terror attacks like the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby, saying: "you cannot just kill anybody". He also said he was tortured during his years of captivity.
9. Moderates plan new members to oust Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour opponents are planning to flood the party with 100,000 new moderate members in a bid to get rid of him, claims the Sunday Telegraph. After privately admitting they will have to wait until 2017 to oust him as leader, centrist MPs expect Corbyn to survive next year because the EU referendum will draw attention away from his performance.
10. Euro 2016: Hodgson welcomes Wales draw
England boss Roy Hodgson and Wales manager Chris Coleman have both welcomed the draw for Euro 2016 which put both home nations together in Group B. Hodgson told the BBC: "I feel good about it. We know all the Wales players, but what we know most of all is their team is very organised." Coleman said: "We look forward to it."
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
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, 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