Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 30 Jun 2014
- 1. ISIS REBELS DECLARE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ
- 2. CAMERON TO 'WORK WITH' JUNCKER
- 3. COULSON AND GOODMAN FACE RETRIAL
- 4. ROLF HARRIS GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULTS
- 5. FACEBOOK SLAMMED FOR USER EXPERIMENT
- 6. N KOREA TO PUT US CITIZENS ON TRIAL
- 7. OSCAR PISTORIUS NOT MENTALLY ILL
- 8. UK TO ASK USA TO ALLOW HAGGIS IMPORTS
- 9. GLASTONBURY CLEAN-UP GETS UNDERWAY
- 10. HOT TICKET: VIRGINIA WOOLF REVIVAL
1. ISIS REBELS DECLARE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ
Islamist fighters ISIS yesterday declared they had founded an Islamic caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, with their figurehead, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and “leader for Muslims everywhere”. Iraq’s army is continuing an offensive to retake the northern city of Tikrit, seized by ISIS on 11 June.
Iraq picks Fouad Massoum as president in bid to unite nation
2. CAMERON TO 'WORK WITH' JUNCKER
David Cameron has vowed to "work with" in-coming European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, despite opposing his appointment. Juncker is a supporter of closer political union and Cameron fears that will make it "harder" for Britain to stay in Europe. Joaquin Almunia, vice-president of the European Commission, says "it would be very bad news" if the UK left the EU.
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Can Cameron prevent Juncker snubbing next commissioner?
3. COULSON AND GOODMAN FACE RETRIAL
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson and the paper's one-time royal editor Clive Goodman must face a retrial on a charge of buying royal telephone directories from police officers. A jury at the Old Bailey failed to reach a verdict on the charges last week. It had earlier convicted Coulson of conspiracy to hack phones. He will be sentenced this week.
Andy Coulson and Clive Goodman to face a retrial
4. ROLF HARRIS GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULTS
Entertainer Rolf Harris faces jail after he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults against four girls, one as young as eight, over an 18-year period. The guilty verdicts came after a six week trial during which the 84-year-old was portrayed as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character. One of his victims was a childhood friend of his daughter. He will be sentenced on Friday.
Rolf Harris: victims hit back over 'slimy woodworm' lyrics
5. FACEBOOK SLAMMED FOR USER EXPERIMENT
Social networking giant Facebook has been fiercely criticised after it admitted it ran a psychology experiment on 700,000 users without their knowledge or consent. The test manipulated news feeds to see if reading more ‘happy’ stories led them to post more. Labour MP Jim Sheridan called for an investigation.
Was Facebook's 'creepy' study funded by the US military?
6. N KOREA TO PUT US CITIZENS ON TRIAL
Two American men detained in North Korea are to be put on trial for “committing hostile acts”. Jeffrey Fowle is said to have been arrested for leaving a bible in a hotel, while the reason for Matthew Miller’s arrest is unknown. North Korea has used US citizens as diplomatic bargaining chips in the past.
North Korea to put US tourists on trial
7. OSCAR PISTORIUS NOT MENTALLY ILL
The trial of Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has resumed after pychological reports found that he did not have a mental disorder when he shot her dead at his home in Pretoria. He says he mistook her for an intruder, the prosecution claims he must be criminally responsible for his actions.
Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected
8. UK TO ASK USA TO ALLOW HAGGIS IMPORTS
Environment secretary Owen Paterson is to hold talks with his US opposite number, Tom Vilsack, in Washington this week in an attempt to persuade Americans to overturn a 40-year-ban on importing haggis because it contains sheeps’ lungs, a market potentially worth millions to Scottish producers.
9. GLASTONBURY CLEAN-UP GETS UNDERWAY
A huge clean-up operation has begin at Glastonbury after the music festival finished yesterday. Highlights included country music icon Dolly Parton, who drew a bigger crowd to the Pyramid Stage than Saturday’s headliners Metallica. In a white diamante trouser suit, Parton sang hits including 9 to 5, Jolene and a new song about festival mud.
Dolly Parton wows Glastonbury crowds – but was she miming?
10. HOT TICKET: VIRGINIA WOOLF REVIVAL
A revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf has opened at Theatre Royal, Bath. Tim Pigott-Smith and Clare Higgins star as George and Martha, an unhappy academic couple who subject their party guests to their cruel game-playing rituals. "Superb," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 5 July.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – reviews of 'superb' revival
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