Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 19 Aug 2016
- 1. US apologises for 'robbed' swimmers
- 2. Bolt wins eighth gold while Jones triumphs
- 3. Corbyn: I'll win over Tory voters
- 4. Amber Heard donates Depp's $7m to charity
- 5. Gawker to close down after bankruptcy
- 6. London: Night Tube service begins at last
- 7. Water voles return to England's highest lake
- 8. Three-year-old boy killed in dog attack
- 9. Naked Trump statues appear in US cities
- 10. Briefing: Can Specsavers really trademark a verb?
1. US apologises for 'robbed' swimmers
The US Olympic Committee has apologised for the "unacceptable behaviour" of four swimmers who falsely claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint in Rio. Three are now back in the US, while the last one, James Feigen, remains in Brazil. Police say one or more vandalised a toilet in a petrol station and then offered to pay for the damage.
Ryan Lochte 'gets ten-month ban for false robbery claim'
2. Bolt wins eighth gold while Jones triumphs
Usain Bolt has taken the eighth Olympic gold of his career, winning the 200m in Rio in 19.78secs - a time which disappointed the Jamaican. Meanwhile, Team GB now has 22 Rio golds – and 56 medals in total – after Jade Jones retained the title in the 57kg Taekwondo. She is the third British woman ever to retain an individual title.
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Olympics 2016 diary: Team GB finish second in medal table
3. Corbyn: I'll win over Tory voters
Jeremy Corbyn yesterday told Labour members he can win over "some people that have been tempted to vote Tory". The Labour leader was speaking at a hustings with his challenger, Owen Smith, who said the party at present was not on a "trajectory to win power". Corbyn also refused to promise he would back a Nato ally if they were invaded by Russia.
Resignations plunge Labour back into turmoil
4. Amber Heard donates Depp's $7m to charity
Actor Amber Heard is donating her entire $7m (£5.3m) divorce settlement from Johnny Depp to two charities, saying she wants to "help those less able to defend themselves". The money is to be split between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Heard had accused Depp of hitting her during a row.
5. Gawker to close down after bankruptcy
Gossip website Gawker is to close next week, the company has announced just days after its parent company found a buyer at a bankruptcy auction. Media firm Univision will maintain Gawker Media's other sites, including Gizmodo and Jezebel, but not Gawker.com. The firm was bankrupted by a libel suit brought by wrestler Hulk Hogan.
6. London: Night Tube service begins at last
London Underground's first Night Tube trains will start running after midnight tonight, nearly three years after the plan was first announced. The service will be on the Victoria and Central lines only on Friday and Saturday nights. The launch was delayed by nearly a year because of strikes by drivers over pay.
Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action
7. Water voles return to England's highest lake
Water voles are being reintroduced to England's highest lake, 50 years after they were wiped out by feral American mink. Around 100 of the animals will be released at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire dales, owned by the National Trust, on Friday. Once found all over the UK, water voles are now thought to have lost 90% of their range.
8. Three-year-old boy killed in dog attack
A three-year-old boy has died after being bitten by an American bulldog in Essex. Dexter Neal was attacked by the animal on Thursday evening in Halstead. He was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but died of his injuries. A 29-year-old woman was arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control. The dog was seized by police and placed in kennels.
9. Naked Trump statues appear in US cities
A series of naked statues of Donald Trump have appeared in New York, Los Angeles and other major US cities. Created by the Indecline artists' collective, they were installed in public squares without permission and soon removed by the authorities. The nude sculptures bore an unflattering assessment of his credentials for the presidency.
Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives
10. Briefing: Can Specsavers really trademark a verb?
Perhaps Specsavers' rivals should've seen this coming: they're set to be banned from using the common contracted verb "should've" in their adverts. On Tuesday, the UK Intellectual Patent Office approved the optician's application for the sole right to use the word, which features in its tag line, "should've gone to Specsavers".
Can Specsavers really trademark a verb?
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