Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 27 Jun 2014
- 1. EU CONFIRM JUNCKER IN BRUSSELS VOTE
- 2. ELLIOT RODGER: KILLER’S FATHER SPEAKS
- 3. POLICE DENY FAILURE TO STOP RADICALISATION
- 4. FORMER SOVIET STATES SIGN EU DEAL
- 5. OBAMA SEEKS $500M FOR SYRIA REBELS
- 6. PISTORIUS PSYCHIATRIST SUFFERS HEART ATTACK
- 7. BITTEN ITALIAN SAYS SUAREZ BAN 'EXCESSIVE'
- 8. FIFTH OF BRITONS THINK NAZIS FOUGHT WW1
- 9. KAISER CHIEFS OPEN DAMP GLASTONBURY
- 10. HOT TICKET: CULINARY COMEDY CHEF
1. EU CONFIRM JUNCKER IN BRUSSELS VOTE
EU leaders have backed Jean-Claude Juncker, former PM of Luxembourg, as the next president of the EC today, despite fierce opposition from David Cameron. The British PM forced a vote but only he and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban voted against him at the meeting in Brussels. Cameron is concerned that Juncker wants closer political union and might block EU reform.
Cameron defeated as EU backs Jean-Claude Juncker
2. ELLIOT RODGER: KILLER’S FATHER SPEAKS
The father of mass murderer Elliot Rodger has spoken publicly for the first time since his son killed six people and took his own life in California. Peter Rodger, who is a filmmaker, told ABC news no one in the family had any idea Elliot might be violent. He said each day since the crimes is a living nightmare.
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3. POLICE DENY FAILURE TO STOP RADICALISATION
Police in Wales have denied that they have failed to stop youths being radicalised, saying they could not “keep a hold of everybody”, after a video emerged showing two young Cardiff men urging others to travel to Syria and Iraq for jihad. The father of one said police failed to win the trust of Welsh Muslims.
4. FORMER SOVIET STATES SIGN EU DEAL
Former Soviet states Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the EU, in a move that has angered Moscow. Closer ties with the West caused the current unrest in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin warned that the issue could tear the country in two. A senior adviser to Putin called Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, a “Nazi".
5. OBAMA SEEKS $500M FOR SYRIA REBELS
US president Barack Obama has asked Congress to release $500m (£294m) to train and equip Syrian rebels fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Obama described the rebels as “moderates” and said aiding them would also counter Islamist militants including the ISIS forces currently sweeping Iraq.
Obama seeks $500m to train 'moderate' Syrian opposition
6. PISTORIUS PSYCHIATRIST SUFFERS HEART ATTACK
One of the psychiatrists evaluating Oscar Pistorius has suffered a heart attack, but it is not expected to delay his trial, due to recommence on Monday. Dr Leon Fine was one of the three psychiatrists asked to assess the Paralympian's state of mind after claims during his murder trial that he suffers from Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected
7. BITTEN ITALIAN SAYS SUAREZ BAN 'EXCESSIVE'
Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini, bitten by Luis Suarez at the World Cup, has said that Fifa's four-month ban for the player is "excessive". Argentine Diego Maradona called the ban "shameful", but the Uruguayan has been dropped as a worldwide ambassador for gambling firm 888.com, and his contract with Adidas could be in doubt.
Liverpool and Uruguay furious as Fifa treat Suarez 'like a dog'
8. FIFTH OF BRITONS THINK NAZIS FOUGHT WW1
A survey commissioned by The Times has revealed that nearly one fifth of Britons believe we fought WW1 to defeat the Nazis. One tenth think Winston Churchill was PM at the time. However, 57% knew a treaty with Belgium drew the UK into the war and 36% correctly identified Herbert Asquith as PM.
9. KAISER CHIEFS OPEN DAMP GLASTONBURY
Kaiser Chiefs got the first full day of music underway at a rain-soaked Glastonbury this morning when they made a surprise appearance on the Other Stage. The headline act on the main Pyramid Stage tonight is Arcade Fire. Wet and stormy weather is forecast for the weekend and there have already been two deaths on the site.
10. HOT TICKET: CULINARY COMEDY CHEF
American comedy Chef is released in UK cinemas today. Jon Favreau stars as a chef who loses his job at a leading Los Angeles restaurant after a bad review and sets up a food truck to recover his passion for cooking and life. "Hits the spot," says Empire.
Chef – reviews of 'tasty' culinary comedy

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