Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 22 Feb 2017
- 1. IS bomber was British Guantanamo detainee
- 2. Cressida Dick named Metropolitan Police chief
- 3. Storm Doris to bring 80mph winds and rain
- 4. Amnesty criticises aggressive political rhetoric
- 5. Street parties to remember murdered Jo Cox
- 6. Author's fiance found guilty of murder
- 7. Murderer on run after hospital escape
- 8. Average life expectancy to top 90 years
- 9. Iceland's President clarifies pineapple stance
- 10. Briefing: Famine declared in South Sudan as civil war rages
1. IS bomber was British Guantanamo detainee
A suicide bomber who attacked coalition forces near Mosul, Iraq, on Monday has been identified as a former British inmate of Guantanamo Bay detention centre. Jamal al-Harith, born Ronald Fiddler, of Manchester, was paid £1m compensation by the UK government when he was released from the camp in 2004.
Islamic State 'suicide bomber' identified as Brit paid £1m by government
2. Cressida Dick named Metropolitan Police chief
Cressida Dick has been appointed the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner. She is the first woman to take charge of London's police force and replaces Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who announced his retirement last year. Dick spent 31 years with the Met and worked in counter-terrorism before leaving in 2014 for a role in the Foreign Office.
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.
3. Storm Doris to bring 80mph winds and rain
Winds of up to 80mph, heavy rain and snow are forecast to hit the UK tomorrow as Storm Doris sweeps in from the Atlantic. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind in north Wales and the Midlands and a yellow warning for the south. An amber warning for snow is in place for northern England and much of Scotland.
4. Amnesty criticises aggressive political rhetoric
Amnesty International says aggressive political language around the world is dehumanising entire groups and has echoes of 1930s hate speech. In particular, it highlights a 57% spike in reported hate crime in the week after the Brexit vote as a particular low and criticises government rhetoric.
5. Street parties to remember murdered Jo Cox
Street parties will be held on 17 and 18 June to remember MP Jo Cox, who was murdered during the EU referendum campaign last year by far-right extremist Thomas Mair. The royal family and several charities will help publicise the community events, which are being termed the Great Get Together.
6. Author's fiance found guilty of murder
The fiance of children's author Helen Bailey has been found guilty of her murder at St Albans Crown Court. Ian Stewart, 56, drugged and suffocated Bailey and hid her body in a cesspit at their home in Hertfordshire. He hoped to inherit her £4m fortune. Police will now investigate the death of Stewart's wife, Diane, in 2010.
7. Murderer on run after hospital escape
A convicted murderer is on the run after armed men helped him escape his guards during a visit to a Liverpool hospital. Shaun Walmsley, 28, was given a life sentence for his role in a fatal stabbing in Aintree in 2014. Police have warned the public not to approach him or the two men who threatened his guards.
Shaun Walmsley: Murderer on the run after guards are ambushed
8. Average life expectancy to top 90 years
South Korean women are leading the charge in life expectancy, which will will soon exceed 90 years, says an international study funded by the UK and US. Women born in 2030 in the country are expected to live an average of 90.8 years, as opposed to 84.2 years for those born in 2010.
9. Iceland's President clarifies pineapple stance
Iceland's President Gudni Johannesson has been forced to clarify his stance on a biting question - pineapple on pizza - after saying last week he would ban the topping if he could. In an online post entitled A Statement on the Pizza Controversy, the politician said he liked pineapple but not on pizza. "For pizzas, I recommend seafood," he said.
Iceland's President clears up his call for a pineapple pizza ban
10. Briefing: Famine declared in South Sudan as civil war rages
Famine has been declared in South Sudan, with a million people said to be at risk of starvation. Unicef, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation said on Monday that 100,000 people are "already starving", while a further one million are classified as being on the brink of famine.
South Sudan: Famine declared as civil war rages
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
-
Drugmakers paid pharmacy benefit managers to avoid restricting opioid prescriptions
Under the radar The middlemen and gatekeepers of insurance coverage have been pocketing money in exchange for working with Big Pharma
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A cyclone's aftermath, a fearless leap, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
The Imaginary Institution of India: a 'compelling' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Vibrant' show at the Barbican examines how political upheaval stimulated Indian art
By The Week UK 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