Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 11 Apr 2018

1. Russia vetoes Syria chemical weapons inquiry

Russia yesterday used its veto on the UN Security Council for the 12th time since the Syrian civil war began, this time to block a proposed investigation into a chemical weapons attack allegedly carried out by the Assad regime. Moscow’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, urged the US not to take military action in response to the attack on civilians in Douma on Saturday.

2. Video shows Israeli soldiers celebrating shooting

A video apparently filmed by Israeli soldiers has emerged showing snipers celebrating shooting a Palestinian man as he approaches a border fence. The snipers are heard saying, “Wow, what a video”, call the victim a “son of a bitch”, and praise the shooter for hitting him in the head. According to Sky News, the footage was filmed on 22 December last year.

3. Zuckerberg tells of Facebook ‘arms race’ with Russia

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg yesterday told US senators that his company in an “arms race” with Russia, as Moscow tries to find new ways to exploit the social network. Zuckerberg warned: “They’re going to keep getting better.” The 33-year-old wore a suit and tie to give evidence, instead of his trademark jeans and T-shirt, and seemed nervous.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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.

Sign up

4. Tesco profits up 28% as rebound continues

Britain’s biggest retailer, Tesco, is continuing its recovery, announcing today that profits for the year to 24 February have risen by 28% on the previous 12 months, to reach £1.64bn. Sales rose by 2.8% to £57.5bn. The firm’s performance has improved slowly since 2014, when it posted the worst results in its history, with a pre-tax loss of £6.4bn.

5. Gay couple turned away from Leeds bar

A gay couple were turned away from a bar in Leeds by bouncers who said they were only letting in “mixed-sex couples”, it has emerged. It is not clear whether the men were discriminated against because of their sexuality or their gender. Jake’s bar said the “externally supplied” door staff were behind the decision to refuse the couple entry last month.

6. New centrist political party ‘has links to Blair’

Britain’s nascent centrist political party has links to Tony Blair and his son Euan, who runs a start-up firm, The Guardian claims. LoveFilm founder Simon Franks has been approaching potential donors, telling them that Euan Blair is on the board of the fledgling organisation, and that his father has been helping by recommending sources of funding.

7. Man and woman shot in legs on Merseyside

A man and a woman were found with gunshots to their legs yesterday in Huyton, Merseyside, after police responded to reports of gunfire. The pair, both in their 20s, are being treated in hospital. They were found alongside a burning car in the town’s Belton Road. Police have appealed for witnesses.

8. Airbus to let passengers sleep in cargo hold

Aeroplane manufacturer Airbus is planning to develop sleeping compartments in the cargo hold of its A330 passenger plane, and says airlines are positive about the idea. The new deck, for passengers in economy class, would use sleeping modules that would be “easily interchangeable with regular cargo carriers”. It is slated to be offered from 2020.

9. Dec to host Britain’s Got Talent shows alone

Declan Donnelly will host the live shows in the upcoming series of Britain’s Got Talent without his long-term screen partner Ant McPartlin, ITV has confirmed, after McPartlin was charged with drink-driving. McPartlin has already recorded the audition shows, which are not broadcast live and were filmed before his three-vehicle accident.

10. Briefing: ‘largest ever’ sea monster found in UK

The remains of what experts believe may be the largest sea monster known to science have been discovered on the shore of the Bristol Channel.

The find is believed to be the jawbone of a giant ichthyosaur that, scientists estimate, “may have measured up to a whopping 85 feet long - approaching the size of some blue whales, the largest animal ever known to exist”, says Newsweek.

Remains of ‘largest ever’ prehistoric sea monster found in UK