Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Jun 2019

1. US launched a cyber-attack on Iranian weapons systems

Washington launched a cyber-attack on Iranian weapons systems on Thursday as Donald Trump pulled out of air strikes on the country, according to US media. The Washington Post says the cyber-attack disabled computer systems controlling rocket and missile launchers in retaliation for the shooting down of a US drone and attacks on oil tankers.

2. Boris Johnson's neighbour defends reporting loud row

The neighbour who reported a noisy row at Boris Johnson’s house to the police and The Guardian says: “I hope that anybody would have done the same thing.” Meanwhile, new video evidence suggests close links between Johnson and Donald Trump’s controversial former campaign manager Steve Bannon, despite the Tory leadership hopeful’s denials of such an association.

3. Kim Jong-un receives ‘excellent’ letter from Trump

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un says he has received an “excellent” personal letter from US President Donald Trump. Mr Kim said he would “seriously contemplate the interesting content,” according to state media. The leader also praised Trump's “extraordinary courage”. Talks between the US and North Korea stalled after a meeting in Vietnam in February ended without agreement.

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4. Jets escort flight back to Stansted due to ‘disruptive passenger’

A woman has been arrested after two RAF jets were scrambled to escort a plane back to Stansted Airport. A spokesman for the Jet2 airline said there had been an “extremely disruptive passenger” on board its flight from Stansted to Dalaman in Turkey. Essex police said a 25-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and endangering an aircraft.

5. Army leader shot during failed coup in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s army chief of staff has been shot as part of an attempted coup, says the prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. The leader appeared on national television in the early hours of the morning dressed in military fatigues to make the announcement. The internet was cut in the country. It was not immediately known who was behind the failed coup.

6. Climate protestors storm a coal mine in Germany

Hundreds of environmental activists have stormed an open cast coal mine in Germany to protest against fossil fuels. Despite warnings about safety, the activists broke through a police cordon to get into the Garzweiler mine. Although Germany has vowed to go carbon neutral by 2050, activists say this is not soon enough. Surveys have shown that climate change tops a list of concerns in the country.

7. ‘Dangerous’ heat wave set to hit Europe next week

Europe will face a “potentially dangerous” heat wave next week, according to forecasters. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and Thursday. However, before that a “mammoth, 60-hour long thunderstorm” will hit the UK, according to The Sun. Yellow weather warnings are in place.

8. Railway bosses swap trains for planes to cut costs

Railway bosses and workers are being told to fly around Britain for some journeys because it is cheaper than taking the train. Network Rail has admitted that its expenses policy dictates that staff should take the plane rather than the train when it is cheaper to do so. Rail fares rose 3.1% this year, despite the worst punctuality figures for more than 10 years.

9. Eleven skydivers die as plane crashes after take-off

Eleven skydivers died after a plane that was carrying them crashed shortly after take-off, say the authorities in Hawaii. Firefighters arrived at the scene of the incident near Dillingham Airfield on Oahu's north shore to find the twin engine King Air plane engulfed in flames. There were no survivors in the crash.

10. India poised to become most populated country on Earth

India is forecast to overtake China as the most populated country in the world within a decade, according to the UN. China and India currently have populations of 1.43bn and 1.37bn respectively. However, India is forecast to overtake China by 2027, according to the UN’s 2019 World Population Prospects report. Combined, the two countries currently account for 38% of the world’s population.