Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 24 Dec 2015
- 1. Death sentences for Thai backpacker killers
- 2. Cameron: Christian values in a Christian country
- 3. UK imam has US business visa revoked
- 4. Engineering works to hit London airport routes
- 5. At least 25 killed in Saudia Arabia hospital fire
- 6. Storm Eva brings further flooding fears to Cumbria
- 7. Black Lives Matter protests disrupt shoppers
- 8. Three-year-old girl saves pregnant mum with 999 call
- 9. Bieber tells fans to buy NHS charity single
- 10. Briefing: What is Britain's role in Yemen?
1. Death sentences for Thai backpacker killers
Two Burmese men have been sentenced to death in Thailand for the murder of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. DNA evidence was used to convict Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo. Doubts have been raised in the media over the integrity of the trial, with fears the men were scapegoated because they were foreigners.
Anonymous hacks Thai police websites over death sentences
2. Cameron: Christian values in a Christian country
David Cameron has issued a Christmas message, in which he tells the UK public to "reflect" on the "Christian values" which have made a "Christian country" tolerant of immigration. Jeremy Corbyn writes in a newspaper article that a similar ethos to Christ's "It is more blessed to give than to receive" inspired Labour party founders.
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Reflect on Christian values at Christmas, says David Cameron
3. UK imam has US business visa revoked
A British Muslim, Ajmal Masroor, says the US is enacting the racist policies of Donald Trump "before he has received a single vote". The imam says he has had his business visa revoked by the US without explanation. The news comes after a British Muslim family were prevented from flying to Disneyland in Florida for a holiday.
4. Engineering works to hit London airport routes
Passengers travelling to Gatwick and Heathrow over the festive period will face major delays as engineering works are carried out. Gatwick Express services are to be stopped for the next ten days while Heathrow rail services will be inaccessible for four days. Network Rail said there would be 500 engineering works in the UK.
Christmas travel: cheap fuel may cause road delays
5. At least 25 killed in Saudia Arabia hospital fire
At least 25 people are dead and 100 injured after a fire at a hospital in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The blaze, in the intensive care and maternity wards, has been put out and the injured moved to other hospitals. Jazan is near the border with Yemen and rockets have been fired at the town - though there is no indication the fire was related.
6. Storm Eva brings further flooding fears to Cumbria
There are fears that parts of Cumbria could be flooded for the fourth time since last month. Appleby, Glenridding, Keswick and Kendal are all still clearing up after rivers burst their banks on Tuesday this week. The environment secretary, Liz Truss, said the military and 700 Environment Agency workers would be on hand to help.
7. Black Lives Matter protests disrupt shoppers
Fifteen people have been arrested at protests by the US equality group Black Lives Matter which targeted an airport and a mall on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The demonstrations took place in Minesotta, where there have been daily protests since the death of a black man, Jamar Clark, at police hands last month.
8. Three-year-old girl saves pregnant mum with 999 call
Emergency services in Somerset have released a recording of an 11-minute 999 call made by a three-year-old girl - Emma, whose surname has not been made public - after her pregnant mother fell downstairs and was knocked unconscious. The toddler managed to give ambulance staff her name and address and unlock the door.
9. Bieber tells fans to buy NHS charity single
Pop star Justin Bieber has asked his fans to make sure an NHS charity song beats his latest single to number one in the UK charts. The Canadian, who once told Rolling Stone the US healthcare system was "evil", said he had heard the race was close but it was "OK not to be number one" for one week, so fans should "do the right thing".
10. Briefing: What is Britain's role in Yemen?
As the civil war in Yemen continues, Britain's role in the conflict is a source of growing concern. According to The Independent "British-supplied planes and British-made missiles have been part of near-daily air raids in Yemen carried out by a nine-country, Saudi Arabian-led coalition." The UK was the number one supplier of major weapons to the Saudi kingdom last year and scores of British-made fighter jets are currently being flown by the Saudi royal air force, making the UK’s involvement "irrefutable", the paper says.
What is Britain's role in Yemen?
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