Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 2 Jun 2019

1. Michael Gove would be willing to delay Brexit until 2020

Michael Gove has told ministers he is prepared to delay Brexit until late 2020 rather than leave without a deal on October 31. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s plan for a dream team alliance looks set to fail as Amber Rudd prepares to support Matt Hancock and then Michael Gove in the Tory leadership battle. Another hopeful, Sajid Javid, says he is prepared to scrap the top rate of income tax.

2. China says that a war with the US would be 'disastrous'

China’s defence minister has said conflict or war with the US would be a disaster. Wei Fenghe slammed Washington for its support for self-ruled Taiwan and for naval operations in the disputed South China Sea saying that China would “fight to the end” if anyone tried to split China from Taiwan, which Beijing considers a sacred territory to be taken by force if necessary.

3. Trump tells Britain to send Farage to Brexit negotiations

Britain should walk away from the EU without a deal if it cannot secure the terms it wants, says Donald Trump. The US President also suggests that the UK should include Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage in talks with the EU. Trump describes Farage as “a very smart person”. He said Britain should not pay the Brexit “divorce bill”.

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4. Austerity cuts caused 130,000 deaths, says new report

Austerity cuts are to blame for 130,000 preventable UK deaths, according to a study by the Institute for Public Policy Research. The report argues that after two decades in which preventable diseases were reduced through spending, there has been a seven-year “perfect storm” in which state provision has been slashed, leading to a rise in deaths.

5. Dissident republicans blamed as bomb found in Belfast

A “viable” bomb has been found underneath a police officer's car in Belfast. Police say the bomb was “clearly intended to kill the police officer”, and that it was “very fortunate” it did not explode. A spokesman says it is believed that “violent dissident republicans” were responsible, and called the incident an “attack on our democracy”.

6. Russia fears ban from Olympics amid new doping claims

Russia could be banned from the 2020 Olympics over doping allegations. It is claimed that a leading athletics officials oversaw the cover-up of a doping offence by a high jumper who had been tipped to win gold at the Games. The revelation is a blow to efforts by Vladimir Putin to persuade the world to allow his country back into international competition.

7. Farage vows to ‘smash two-party system’ as he tops polls

Nigel Farage says that if Brexit is not delivered by October 31 “a political revolution is coming”. He vows that his Brexit Party will “smash the two-party system”. The Brexit party has topped an opinion poll with 26% of the vote. Labour came in second place on 22%. The Tories were third on 17%.

8. Three from the UK among missing group in the Himalayas

At least three people from the UK are among a group of eight climbers who have gone missing in the Himalayas after an avalanche. The climbers failed to return to base camp after their attempt to reach the summit of Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest mountain. “We always have hope, but to be practical, we have to be prepared for bad news,” said the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

9. Philippines president says he was ‘cured’ of being gay

The president of the Philippines says that was “cured” of being gay by beautiful women. Speaking to members of the Filipino community in Tokyo, Rodrigo Duterte said he “became a man again” after meeting his first wife Elizabeth Zimmerman. He closed the speech by inviting several women up on stage to kiss him, as long as they were not “married or a minor”.

10. Liverpool win the Champions League after beating Spurs 2-0

Liverpool won the Champions League for the sixth time with victory over Tottenham in Madrid. Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi were both on the score-sheet in the 2-0 victory. “It was an intense season with the most beautiful finish I ever could have imagined,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he hopes to reach the final “again as soon as possible”.