10 things you need to know today: June 30, 2019

(Image credit: Handout/Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images)

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1. Trump makes history by crossing into North Korea
2. U.S., Taliban begin new round of talks in Doha
3. Protesters return to the streets in Khartoum
4. 9/11 responder, advocate Luis Alvarez dies at 53
5. Talks to resume between Venezuelan government, Guaidó's opposition
6. Skirmishes between Antifa, Proud Boys break out in downtown Portland
7. Trump campaign consultant behind faux Democratic candidate websites
8. Migrant rescue ship captain arrested after ramming Italian police boat
9. Women's World Cup semifinals set
10. NBA free agency begins

last updated 30 June 2019

1. Trump makes history by crossing into North Korea

President Trump on Sunday became the first sitting U.S. president to step foot on North Korean soil. Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, where the two shook hands before Kim invited Trump to cross the boundary into North Korea — Trump said it was an "honor" to enter the country. The two leaders then met for over 50 minutes which reportedly resulted in an agreement to reignite negotiations over North Korea's denuclearization process which stalled after two previous meetings between Trump and Kim. Trump said he spontaneously decided to ask on Saturday whether Kim would be willing to meet while Trump was in Seoul for a scheduled visit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The U.S. and Taliban sat down for the second day of talks in Doha on Sunday with the aim of finding a peace agreement for the conflict in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen called the negotiations "critical." The talks are reportedly revolving around the withdrawal of U.S. troops and a Taliban guarantee to prevent Afghanistan from hosting militants who can stage global attacks. Both sides say they have come to an understanding on the larger goals, but have not yet ironed out the details. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said the agreements with the Taliban will come hand in hand with understandings of an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent cease-fire. The talks are expected to continue into next week.

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Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Khartoum on Sunday to call for civilian rule in Sudan while marching toward the homes of those killed since the uprising began. The demonstrations come amid a weeks-long standoff between the ruling military council and protest leaders, who are at odds over how the country should transition to democracy after the military ousted longtime president Omar al-Bashir. Talks between the two sides collapsed earlier in June when security forces violently stormed a protest camp, resulting in a high number of civilian casualties. The military council on Friday said it was open to resuming negotiations. Prior to the protests, security forces were patrolling the streets and reportedly raided the office of Sudan's main opposition group.

Luis Alvarez, a retired New York Police Department bomb squad detective who fought for ailing 9/11 first responders before Congress, died on Saturday at a hospice in New York. He was 53. Earlier in June, Alvarez, who developed cancer years after working at Ground Zero, urged Congress to extend the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, which provides financial assistance to first responders who developed illnesses. Alvarez appeared on Capitol Hill on the eve of his 69th round of chemotherapy. "I should not be here with you, but you made me come," he said during the hearing. "You made me come because I will not stand by and watch as my friends with cancer from 9/11 like me are valued less than anyone else." Alvarez is survived by his wife, three children, mother, and two brothers.

Negotiations will reportedly resume next week between representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guiadó, who is backed by the U.S. and other countries. Neither side has publicly confirmed their participation. The two sides have already held two rounds of talks, but both proved unsuccessful in finding a solution to the political crisis in Venezuela. Norway's government, which has been leading the mediation is likely to choose the location of the talks, which is expected to be Barbados. The decision to resume talks comes after Maduro's government on Saturday released 59 Colombians who rights groups said were arbitrarily detained in 2016, prompting praise from the United Nations. Guaidó is reportedly not expecting a major breakthrough in negotiations.

Clashes between far-right protesters, including members of the Proud Boys, and anti-fascist counterprotesters led to several injuries and multiple arrests in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, police said. Authorities believe some demonstrators hurled milkshakes that were actually cups filled with quick-drying concrete. The alt-right groups reportedly gathered in protest when people had taken to the streets to commemorate Pride Month, which prompted the counterprotests. When the violence broke out, police declared a "civil disturbance," ordered people to leave and shut down the streets. Among those injured were a journalist and two police officers. The area cleared out by late afternoon on Saturday.

A man who makes videos and digital content for President Trump's re-election campaign reportedly created fake websites for Democratic presidential candidates, including former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). Patrick Mauldin, the man behind the websites, said he built them himself and they are not related to his work with the Trump campaign, although the campaign is aware of them. Biden's faux website, in particular, has gained traction. It contains GIFs of the Democratic frontrunner touching women and children and mocks his policies such as his support for the Iraq War and the 1994 crime bill. The website reportedly has been successful in duping people.

Carola Rackete, the German captain of a humanitarian rescue ship carrying 40 migrants, risked 10 years' imprisonment when she rammed an Italian police motorboat off the coast of Lampedusa on Saturday. No one was injured. Rackete reportedly was tired of waiting for permission to dock after 17 days at sea and a multi-day standoff with Italian authorities. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is known for his anti-immigrant stances, refused to let Rackete's ship dock in Lampedusa until other European Union countries agreed to take in the migrants on board — five countries pledged to do so. Rackete was arrested for her actions, which excited "jeering" onlookers though others applauded when the migrants disembarked. The migrants reportedly hugged the ship's crew for their rescue efforts. Rackete's arrest has split opinions in Europe.

The semifinals for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup are set. The Netherlands defeated Italy 2-0 on Saturday to advance to their first ever World Cup semifinal. That game was followed shortly by Sweden's 2-1 victory over Germany. The two winners will face against one another on Wednesday for the right to play in the final. The defending champion United States, fresh off a 2-1 victory over host nation France, will take on England in the other semifinal slated for Tuesday at 3 p.m. The U.S., England, and Netherlands have all yet to lose in tournament play, while Sweden only lost to the U.S. 2-0 in the group stages.

NBA free agency will kick off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, with a flurry of stars expected to sign with new teams. Players cannot officially sign contracts until July 6, but they can reach agreements starting on Sunday evening. The jury is still out on where superstars Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard will land, though they have reportedly discussed playing together. Kyrie Irving is expected to leave the Boston Celtics for the Brooklyn Nets, while the Celtics appear to have found his replacement in Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker. Not everyone is headed for greener pastures, though — Klay Thompson is reportedly set to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.