Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 17 August 2021
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
- 1. Biden defends Afghan pullout
- 2. Hydrogen heating could raise bills
- 3. FTSE slips after China slowdown
- 4. Malaysian cabinet ‘steps aside’
- 5. Homophobic attack in Birmingham
- 6. Dylan denies abuse accusation
- 7. Geronimo given stay of execution
- 8. North dominates restaurant awards
- 9. Beatrice calls stepson ‘bonus son’
- 10. Barcelona reveals €1.35bn debt
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
1. Biden defends Afghan pullout
Joe Biden says he stands “squarely” behind his decision to pull US troops out of Afghanistan. Speaking after the Taliban entered Kabul, the US president admitted that the collapse of Afghanistan’s government unfolded “more quickly” than he expected. He blamed the Taliban’s ascendancy on political leaders who fled the country and the Afghan army’s unwillingness to fight. He also pointed the finger at his predecessor, Donald Trump, for leaving the Taliban “in the strongest position militarily since 2001”.
2. Hydrogen heating could raise bills
About three million households in the UK could begin using low-carbon hydrogen to heat their homes and cook rather than fossil fuel gas under new government proposals. The government has said that hydrogen will play a “critical” role in meeting Boris Johnson’s pledge to hit net-zero emissions by 2050. However, household gas bills are expected to rise under the scheme.
3. FTSE slips after China slowdown
The FTSE 100 dropped 1% yesterday, after a slowdown in China scared investors. Industrial production growth slipped from 8.3% year-on-year in June to 6.4% in July, the weakest pace in almost a year, while retail sales slowed to 8.5% in the same month, down from 12.1% in June. Other factors blamed for Beijing’s stutter include resurgent Covid cases, global shortages and severe flooding in July.
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.
4. Malaysian cabinet ‘steps aside’
Malaysia’s prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet have tendered their resignation to the king, according to a minister’s post on Instagram. If confirmed, the resignations would end a “tumultuous 17 months in office”, says CNN, but could also “hamper Malaysia's efforts to reboot a pandemic-stricken economy and curb a resurgence in Covid-19 cases”. Malaysia’s ringgit currency fell to a one-year low and the stock market slipped.
5. Homophobic attack in Birmingham
Two men in Birmingham have been attacked with bottles in what is believed to be a homophobic attack, police have said. The two men, who are in their thirties, were outside the Missing Bar in the city’s Gay Village on Sunday, when abuse came from a group of four men in a black SUV, who then got out and assaulted the victims. One of the victims said: “The Gay Village should be a safe area to be who you want and not have to tolerate people yelling homophobic remarks at you.”
6. Dylan denies abuse accusation
Bob Dylan has been accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl at his home more than 50 years ago. According to papers filed at a US court, Dylan gave the girl drugs and alcohol at his apartment in New York in 1965. He is accused of grooming the girl “as part of his plan to sexually molest and abuse” her. Dylan’s spokesman told USA Today that “the 56-year-old claim is untrue and will be vigorously defended”.
7. Geronimo given stay of execution
Geronimo the condemned alpaca may be spared after he was granted a stay of execution for a High Court judge to reexamine the case. Helen Macdonald, the alpaca’s owner, said that she was thrilled by the “safety window” for the animal, who had been ordered to be slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis. Macdonald questions the accuracy of the results and the fate of her creature has prompted support and headlines around the world.
8. North dominates restaurant awards
A restaurant in Lancashire has been named the UK’s best for the second time running. Two-Michelin-starred Moor Hall in Aughton has landed the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Award two years after first winning it. With outlets in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Newcastle also in the top five, the outcome marks a “strong showing for the north of England”, parts of which have become destinations for “food lovers from across the globe,” says The Telegraph.
9. Beatrice calls stepson ‘bonus son’
Princess Beatrice says that she refers to her stepson as her “bonus son”. The Princess became stepmother to Christopher Woolf Mozzi, known as Wolfie, last year when she married his father, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. She is following the trend of using the terms “bonus child” and “bonus parent,” rather than “stepchild” and “step-parent”. Greetings cards retailers have begun selling “bonus son” and “bonus daughter” cards as the term grows in popularity.
10. Barcelona reveals €1.35bn debt
The president of Barcelona has revealed that the Spanish club is €1.35bn (£1.15bn) in debt. Joan Laporta, who described the situation as “very worrying”, blames predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu for the debt, accusing him of leaving a “terrible inheritance”. He blamed the club’s “dramatic” situation for Lionel Messi's departure. Messi announced an emotional exit from the Nou Camp last week and signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year contract.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Why the Roman Empire is suddenly everywhere online
The Explainer It fell more than 1,500 years ago — so why is it dominating social media?
By Justin Klawans Published
-
How climate change is going to change the insurance industry
The Explainer Some regions will soon be 'uninsurable'
By Devika Rao Published
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Loki' to 'The Fall of the House of Usher'
The Explainer Celebrate spooky season with some eerie streaming shows
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 26 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 25, 2023
Daily Briefing GOP leaders pressure far-right holdouts to help prevent a shutdown, Hollywood writers reach tentative deal to end strike, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 24, 2023
Daily Briefing Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian population to leave region amid fears of persecution, Atlantic coast remains under flood warnings from Ophelia, and more
By Justin Klawans Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 22, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy visits Washington as Biden unveils more Ukraine aid, Rupert Murdoch steps down at Fox and News Corp., and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 21, 2023
Daily Briefing Biden extends temporary protections to 470,000 Venezuelans, Republicans grill Garland on Biden and Trump investigations, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Woman reunited with egg she signed in 1951
It Wasn't All Bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 20, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy, Biden urge UN members to oppose Russian aggression, hardline Republicans block spending bill as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 19, 2023
Daily Briefing Iran, US swap prisoners in a complex deal, Canada accuses India of role in Sikh leader's assassination, and more
By Harold Maass Published