Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 8 Jun 2019

1. Michael Gove says he ‘regrets’ taking cocaine 20 years ago

Michael Gove has said he “deeply regrets” taking cocaine more than 20 years ago. The Tory leadership hopeful told the Daily Mail that he had taken the class-a drug at several “social events” while working as a journalist. He added: “I think all politicians have lives before politics.”

2. Olivia Colman made a CBE in Queen's Birthday Honours

The actress Olivia Colman has been made a CBE and adventurer Bear Grylls an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. The Oscar-winner says she is “humbled” and “totally thrilled”. The musicians Elvis Costello, Feargal Sharkey and Andrew Roachford, were handed gongs. The comedian Griff Rhys Jones, and rapper MIA, real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, are also on the list.

3. Mexico agrees to fresh steps on migration to avoid tariffs

Mexico has avoided the trade tariffs threatened by Donald Trump by agreeing to take “unprecedented steps” to help stem the flow of migrants to the US. The President revealed on Twitter that a deal had been agreed to suspend the tariffs “indefinitely”. Trump had threatened to impose import duties of 5%, rising every month, unless Mexico acted on migration.

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4. Corbyn says Labour not ready to push for second referendum

Jeremy Corbyn has again shrugged off calls for a second referendum, after Labour beat the Brexit party in the Peterborough by-election. The Labour leader told supporters in the city centre the party “is not at the stage yet” to push for a public vote but called for the “squabbling contenders” of the Tory leadership race to give the public a general election.

5. Teenagers held over homophobic attack on women

Four teenagers have been held over homophobic attack on two women on London bus. The Metropolitan police said: “Four males aged between 15 to 18 have been arrested on Friday 7 June on suspicion of robbery and aggravated GBH.” The women, who were left needing hospital treatment, have blamed a rise in rightwing populism for growing hate crime and called on people to stand up for each other.

6. Nuclear experts warn against reopening two Scottish reactors

Experts have warned that two Scottish reactors should not be reopened because of cracks that could force both Glasgow and Edinburgh to be evacuated. Although EDF Energy wants the reactors put back into service, after they were closed in October 2018, a nuclear expert said: “This is a serious matter because if an untoward incident were to occur… the barrels could become dislodged and/or misaligned.”

7. Patients die after listeria outbreak linked to sandwiches

Three hospital patients have died following a listeria outbreak linked to pre-packed sandwiches. Public Health England revealed that the victims were among six patients affected in England and the deaths occurred in Manchester and Liverpool. Sandwiches and salads linked to the cases have been withdrawn and the supplier, The Good Food Chain, which supplies 43 NHS trusts in the UK, has voluntarily paused production.

8. Surprise choice is named as Britain's best costal destination

The tiny village of Bamburgh in Northumberland has been named Britain's best coastal destination in a new Which survey. The village earned a full five stars for scenery, peace and quiet and value for money. Wales has four entries in the top 20, including second-placed Portmeirion. At the bottom of the table are Bognor Regis in West Sussex and Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

9. Eyebrows raised as Trump claims moon part of Mars

Donald Trump has announced that he believes the moon is part of Mars. Taking to Twitter, the US President said: “For all of the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago. They should be focused on the much bigger things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and Science!”

10. Scottish university pushes Oxford into third place in new ranking

Oxford has been pushed into third place in the latest edition of the Guardian University Guide. The University of Cambridge retains the overall top spot but St Andrews has narrowly beaten Oxford to second place. “For a small Scottish university to be competing among the very best universities in the United Kingdom says much,” remarked Sally Mapstone, vice-chancellor and principal of St Andrews.