Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 11 Jan 2016
- 1. David Bowie dies of cancer at age of 69
- 2. RMT calls more London Underground strikes
- 3. Labour to lose £6m funding after Tory changes
- 4. DiCaprio's The Revenant triumphs at Golden Globes
- 5. Anglican leaders meet in Canterbury amid gay row
- 6. Winter flooding to cost the nation £1.3bn
- 7. Partner of EastEnders actress due in Ghana court
- 8. Cologne suspects 'almost exclusively' from migrant background
- 9. Shadow attorney general quits over Labour 'direction'
- 10. Briefing: Gold's 'safe-haven' rally stumbles
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1. David Bowie dies of cancer at age of 69
Rock star David Bowie died yesterday of cancer, two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his 29th album, Blackstar. His son, Duncan Jones, said his father had died "peacefully today surrounded by his family after an 18-month battle with cancer". Rumours of ill health had dogged the singer, born David Jones, for years.
David Bowie, 'master of reinvention', dies aged 69
2. RMT calls more London Underground strikes
London Underground staff are to stage three 24-hour Tube strikes amid disputes over pay and the already-delayed introduction of the Night Tube. The first strike, called by the RMT union, is due to begin at 9pm on Tuesday 26 January, with two others starting at the same time on Monday 15 February and Wednesday 17 February. Aslef and Unite members will also strike.
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Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action
3. Labour to lose £6m funding after Tory changes
A leaked Labour document reveals the party expects to lose £6m funding annually - making it impossible for it to maintain its current structure, staffing or offices - under changes to trade unions being introduced by the government. Labour describes the proposals, to be debated by in the House of Lords today, as "wholly partisan".
4. DiCaprio's The Revenant triumphs at Golden Globes
The Revenant last night won three Golden Globes including best actor for leading man Leonardo DiCaprio, best dramatic film and best drama director for Alejandro G Inarritu. There were two awards for The Martian: best comedy or musical film, and best director of that category. Briton Kate Winslet won best supporting actress.
Golden Globes 2016: the winners, the highs and the lows
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
5. Anglican leaders meet in Canterbury amid gay row
The leaders of the Anglican church from all over the world are meeting in Canterbury today, where they will discuss their division over the acceptance of gay clergy. It is thought the worldwide church may split over the issue. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has proposed turning the organisation into a loose federation.
Church of England takes 'step towards gay marriage'
6. Winter flooding to cost the nation £1.3bn
The final bill for the floods which hit the north of England and south of Scotland in December and over the New Year will be £1.3bn, the Association of British Insurers estimates. The figure covers damage to homes, businesses and motor vehicles. Even so, the cost will be just half of that of the devastating floods which hit in 2007.
7. Partner of EastEnders actress due in Ghana court
Arthur Simpson-Kent, the 48-year-old partner of the late EastEnders actress Sian Blake, is due in court in Ghana today, where he was arrested at a beach resort on Saturday. He went missing from the UK shortly after reporting the disappearance of Blake and her two sons. They were found buried in her back garden days later.
Sian Blake: Boyfriend admits killing actress and 2 children
8. Cologne suspects 'almost exclusively' from migrant background
The suspects in the Cologne New Year's Eve attacks are "almost exclusively" migrants and are mainly North African and Arab, according to the region's interior minister. There have been more than 500 criminal complaints in relation to attacks and 40% are of a sexual nature. Of 19 suspects under investigation, ten are asylum seekers and the others may be in Germany illegally.
Cologne attacks were coordinated, says German minister
9. Shadow attorney general quits over Labour 'direction'
Shadow attorney general Catherine McKinnell has resigned from the Labour front bench, citing concerns about "internal conflict" within Labour and the party's "increasingly negative path". She is the fourth front bencher to step down since leader Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle last week. Labour MPs meet today for the first time since the reshuffle.
Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking
10. Briefing: Gold's 'safe-haven' rally stumbles
Gold gained about 4 per cent at the end of last week, hitting a nine-week high above $1,110 an ounce, with prices benefitting from major upheaval on the stock markets this week. But it then fell back sharply amid a recovery for Chinese equities after Beijing allowed some appreciation in its currency. Questions are now being asked about whether its 'safe-haven' rally is over.
Gold price waits for rates clues from Jackson Hole