Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 8 Jul 2019

1. Trump slates UK ambassador over leaked emails

US President Donald Trump says that the British ambassador who criticised his administration in leaked emails “has not served the UK well”. Sir Kim Darroch called Trump’s White House “inept” and “uniquely dysfunctional” in private messages sent between 2017 and 2019 that were obtained by The Mail on Sunday. The British government says it does not agree with Darrock’s opinions and has launched an investigation into the leak.

‘Inept, insecure and incompetent’: what the UK ambassador thinks of Donald Trump

2. Greece: centre-right back in power after snap election

Greece’s centre-right New Democracy party has won a snap general election following a historically low turnout of 57% that has been blamed on hot weather and voter fatigue after six elections in recent years. Left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has conceded victory to opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose party is expected to have an outright majority.

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Greek election results: centre-right regains power

3. London: four murder probes launched over weekend

A fourth murder investigation in the space of 48 hours has been launched in London after a man in his 20s was discovered dead in Wembley on Sunday night. The victim, reported to have suffered serious head injuries, was found streets away from where a man of 30 was shot dead on Friday night. A woman was also found dead on Friday in Blackheath, and a man in his 20s was shot dead in Leyton on Sunday morning.

4. ‘Africa’s first astronaut’ killed in motorbike crash

A member of the South African air force who was to have become the first black African in space has died in a motorbike accident. Mandla Maseko, 30, who called himself a typical “township boy” from Pretoria, beat one million entrants to win a place at a space academy in the US.

5. British Airways faces record £183m for data breach

British Airways has been handed the biggest fine ever given by the Information Commissioner’s Office, over a customer data breach last year. BA chair Alex Cruz said the company was “surprised and disappointed” after being ordered to pay £183m. Personal and financial details of BA customers were stolen from the firm’s website and app between 21 August and 5 September last year.

British Airways hack: why record £183m fine could have been far greater

6. NHS waiting lists soar after doctors’ pension change

Waiting lists for routine operations have increased by as much as 50% in England after senior doctors began turning down extra shifts because it is no longer worthwhile to work overtime under new pension rules. Consultants who earn more than £110,000 have faced limits on how much they can contribute to their schemes since 2016.

7. BA begins talks with pilots over summer strike

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) and British Airways are today beginning talks mediated by conciliation service Acas in a bid to avert a strike by pilots this summer. Balpa rejected a pay increase worth 11.5% over three years that the airline says is “fair and generous”. If pilots vote to strike, they could walk out as soon as 5 August.

8. Disney actor Cameron Boyce dies at 20

US actor Cameron Boyce has died at the age of 20 after suffering a seizure in his sleep. The former child star is best known for his roles in Disney’s Descendants franchise and TV show Jessie. His death was the result of “an ongoing medical condition”, according to a statement from his family.

9. British Gas and SSE to switch to electric vehicles by 2030

British Gas and SSE have signed a pledge organised by campaign organisation The Climate Group that commits the energy giants to using electric vehicles only by 2030 - ten years before the UK government will ban the sale of new petrol or gas vehicles. British Gas currently has 12,500 vans, the third largest fleet of vehicles in the country.

Best electric cars on sale in 2019: Porsche Taycan, Audi E-tron and more

10. Briefing: who will be the next head of the IMF?

George Osborne is reportedly considering throwing his hat into the ring to become the next chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), replacing Christine Lagarde.

According to The Guardian, the former chancellor has “told allies he would be well suited to succeed Lagarde”, after it emerged this week that she has been nominated to succeed Mario Draghi as head of the European Central Bank.

Who will be the next head of the IMF?