Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 29 Jun 2019
- 1. Trump invites Kim Jong-un to meet him at DMZ
- 2. EU agrees an historic trade deal with South America
- 3. Poll finds Hunt more popular among voters than Boris
- 4. US white supremacist jailed for life for car attack
- 5. London Bridge relatives anger as M15 cleared at inquest
- 6. Chris Williamson suspended by Labour again
- 7. Islamic State believed to be behind Philippine bombing
- 8. Temperatures hit record high in France as heatwave hits
- 9. Environmentalists attack Rachel Riley for backing Shell
- 10. Stormzy hailed for historic Glastonbury performance
1. Trump invites Kim Jong-un to meet him at DMZ
Donald Trump has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to meet him at the fortified frontier that divides North and South Korea. Writing on Twitter, the US President suggested the pair could “say hello” during the US leader's visit to South Korea. North Korea has described it as a “very interesting suggestion” but added “we have not received an official proposal in this regard”.
2. EU agrees an historic trade deal with South America
The EU and South American economic bloc Mercosur have agreed a major trade deal after 20 years of negotiations. EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said it was the bloc's biggest ever deal and showed that “we stand for rules-based trade”. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro added it was “historic” and “one of the most important trade deals of all time”.
3. Poll finds Hunt more popular among voters than Boris
Jeremy Hunt is more popular among voters than Boris Johnson, according to a new poll. As the Tory leadership race rolls on, the study found that 41% of those questioned would prefer Hunt to become the prime minister, with just 29% preferring Johnson. However, amongst Tory voters, Johnson leads by 48% to 39%.
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4. US white supremacist jailed for life for car attack
A white supremacist in America who drove his car at a crowd of anti-racism protesters, killing a woman and injuring dozens of other people, has been jailed for life. James Alex Fields Jr was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to hate crime charges following the attack during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He told the court he regretted his actions.
5. London Bridge relatives anger as M15 cleared at inquest
The families of the London Bridge victims have reacted with anger and disappointment after a coroner cleared MI5 and police of failing to prevent the terror attack despite having the ringleader under investigation. The inquests into the deaths of the eight victims of the June 2017 attack concluded that they had been unlawfully killed. “I think they could have done a better job,” said one grieving relative of the authorities.
6. Chris Williamson suspended by Labour again
Chris Williamson has had his suspension as a Labour MP reimposed two days after it was lifted, after an outcry over the party’s handling of his comments about antisemitism. More than 60 Labour MPs signed a motion to have Williamson again suspended from the parliamentary party. “They say a week is a long time in politics: it seems two days is even longer,” he tweeted.
7. Islamic State believed to be behind Philippine bombing
Islamic State have claimed a bombing which killed five people in the Philippines’s south. IS said the bombing was the work of two suicide attackers, according to tweets from Rita Katz, the director of SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist activities. Officials believe local affiliate Abu Sayyaf was behind the blast that targeted an elite army unit.
8. Temperatures hit record high in France as heatwave hits
France has recorded an all-time highest temperature of 45.9C as a heatwave grips much of Western Europe. The French state weather forecaster, Météo-France, said the temperature in Gallargues-le-Montueux in the Gard département reached 45.9C yesterday afternoon. It was the first time a temperature in excess of 45C has been recorded in France.
9. Environmentalists attack Rachel Riley for backing Shell
Rachel Riley has been accused of “greenwashing” by promoting Shell. After the Countdown co-presenter tweeted pictures of herself at a Shell event with the winners of the company’s Bright Ideas Challenge for schoolchildren, environmental groups warned that celebrities “should be thinking very carefully about any association with oil and gas companies” due to climate change.
10. Stormzy hailed for historic Glastonbury performance
Stormzy has made history as the first British rapper to headline Glastonbury. He wore a stab-proof Union Jack vest and used his performance to highlight inequality in the justice system and the arts. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: “The performance was political, iconic and the ballet was beautifully powerful.” Stormzy said: “This is the most legendary night of my entire life.”
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