Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 19 Jun 2016
- 1. PM warns of 'existential choice' as Leave stalls in polls
- 2. 'Death to traitors' rages Jo Cox suspect
- 3. Microsoft 'avoids £100m tax a year' through sweetheart deal
- 4. Islamists attack Turks for listening to Radiohead
- 5. Tim Peake back on Earth after 'best ride' of his life
- 6. Prince William urges fathers to open up on mental health
- 7. Mother opens lion's mouth to save her child's life
- 8. Cliff Richard accuser was arrested over blackmail plot
- 9. Iraqi government ends Islamic State's Fallujah reign
- 10. Glastonbury goes organic and phases out 'Tardis' toilets
1. PM warns of 'existential choice' as Leave stalls in polls
The UK faces an "existential choice" in the EU referendum from which there would be "no turning back", says David Cameron. New polls suggest that the Leave campaign’s recent gains have stalled.The Observer has both Remain and Leave on 44%, The Sunday Times has Remain one point up, while the Mail on Sunday has Remain up by three points.
2. 'Death to traitors' rages Jo Cox suspect
The man accused of murdering Labour MP Jo Cox gave his name as “death to traitors, freedom for Britain” at his first court appearance. During the hearing it was revealed that he allegedly told police officers that he was a political activist when they arrested him. Thomas Mair is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm and possession of an offensive weapon.
3. Microsoft 'avoids £100m tax a year' through sweetheart deal
Microsoft has avoided up to £100m a year in UK corporation tax by sending billions of pounds of sales to Ireland under a secret deal with HMRC. More than £8bn of such UK deals have been funnelled through Ireland since 2011. The corporation tax rate in Ireland is 12.5%, compared with 20% in the UK. Microsoft said it complied with all tax rules and regulations.
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4. Islamists attack Turks for listening to Radiohead
Radiohead have condemned an attack on people listening to their new album at a record store in Istanbul. Around 20 suspected Islamists beat up customers and staff for drinking alcohol and listening to the UK rock band’s music during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A subsequent demonstration against the attack was dispersed by police using water cannon and tear gas.
5. Tim Peake back on Earth after 'best ride' of his life
Tim Peake is back on Earth after a historic six-month stay on the International Space Station. The UK astronaut called the journey back "the best ride I've been on ever", adding: "The smells of Earth are just so strong.” He said: "It is going to be quite tricky for me to adapt. It's probably going to take me two or three days before I feel well.”
6. Prince William urges fathers to open up on mental health
Prince William has urged fathers to be more open about their own feelings and to discuss mental well-being with their children. As he celebrates his third Father's Day as a parent, the Duke of Cambridge said that when left unresolved, mental health problems can "alter the course of a child's life forever”, adding that a "generational shift" had taken place in attitudes to mental health.
7. Mother opens lion's mouth to save her child's life
A Colorado mother has saved her five-year-old son by prying open a mountain lion's mouth after the animal attacked the boy in their front yard. After hearing screams, the woman found the animal on top of her son, officials said. The boy suffered face, head and neck injuries but was said to be in fair condition at a hospital in Denver. Two lions were killed.
8. Cliff Richard accuser was arrested over blackmail plot
One of the men who accused Sir Cliff Richard of sex abuse in the 1980s was arrested over a plot to blackmail the pop icon. Police and the CPS are facing mounting scrutiny over the handling of the allegations made against the singer. Earlier this week it was revealed that another of Sir Cliff’s accusers was a convicted rapist and one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders.
9. Iraqi government ends Islamic State's Fallujah reign
Iraqi forces have ended Islamic State’s two-year occupation of the city of Fallujah, according to reports. Interior ministry police units say they raised the Iraqi flag over the main government buildings on Friday, including the police station and court houses, in the latest stage of a mission that began last month. IS has held the city, 40 miles west of Baghdad, for two-and-a-half years.
10. Glastonbury goes organic and phases out 'Tardis' toilets
This year’s Glastonbury festival will see the derided plastic portable toilet replaced almost entirely by organic compost toilets designed to minimise the infamous odours of rock gatherings. The festival management team felt the plastic “Tardis-like” toilet - which filled up too quickly and frequently overflowed causing a “pyramid of poo” - had passed its sell-by date.
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