Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 1 Jun 2017

1. Election: Tory lead is slashed to three points

The Conservative lead over Labour has fallen to just three points, according to a poll in The Times. Meanwhile, Theresa May has been criticised for not attending last night’s BBC election debate. Her absence is described as an "arrogant miscalculation by a panicking prime minister". The Guardian says the debate saw "open pack warfare" on May’s stand-in, Amber Rudd.

2. Donald Trump to reveal climate change accord decision

Donald Trump will announce his decision on the Paris Agreement today. The US President tweeted that he will reveal his decision in the White House Rose Garden, adding: "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Chinese and EU leaders are to pen a joint statement on the Paris climate agreement saying it is "an imperative more important than ever".

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

EU and China strengthen Paris climate deal as Trump eyes withdrawal

3. UK has joint lowest growth rate of G7 nations

The UK has the joint-lowest economic growth rate among the G7 nations. Britain's economy, which has proved resilient since the Brexit vote last June, was confirmed last week to have expanded just 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year – the same as strugglers Italy. Canada. The last nation to declare its figures, came out top with 0.9% growth, followed by Germany, Japan, France, and the US.

Services sector to see 'steady but sluggish' growth

4. Kabul death toll reaches 90 after rush-hour bombing

Yesterday's bomb attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least 90 people and wounded more than 461, Afghan officials have said. Most of the casualties of the massive explosion are expected to be civilians. The blast yesterday morning took place at the peak of rush hour when the streets were packed with commuters. Intelligence officers accused a Taliban-affiliated network of being behind the attack.

5. Stop blaming immigration, says Manchester relative

The brother of one of the victims of the Manchester bombing has asked for people to stop using the tragedy to criticise immigration. Dan Hett, whose brother Martyn was one of 22 people who died in the blast at an Ariana Grande concert last week, said: "The idea that somebody would say, 'Oh, this is an immigration problem' frustrates me. How is this an immigration problem?"

6. Record numbers dragged into high tax bracket

New data shows that a record number of people are now paying the highest rate of income tax. Officials at HMRC estimate that by the end of the current tax year some 364,000 workers will be paying 45% income tax, a 10% rise on the previous year. Wage inflation has pushed incomes above the tax threshold of £150,000 a year.

7. Coronation Street actor Roy Barraclough dies

Coronation Street actor Roy Barraclough, who played Rovers Return landlord Alec Gilroy, has died aged 81. He first appeared in the soap in the 1960s, landed the role of Gilroy in the 1970s and joined the cast permanently in 1986. Barraclough, who left the show in 1998, was also known for his work with Les Dawson, with who he played gossiping housewives Cissie and Ada.

8. Dashcam footage of Tiger Woods released

Police in Florida have released dashcam footage of golfer Tiger Woods being arrested for DUI after failing a series of roadside sobriety tests. Woods was found asleep in his car by the side of the road with the engine running on Monday morning. The footage shows him swaying and slurring his words. Woods said he was affected by prescription medicines and he tested negative for alcohol.

Tiger Woods: Police release 'shocking' dashcam footage

9. Clinton says Trump 'guided' Moscow bid to derail her

Hillary Clinton says Donald Trump "guided" Russian efforts to keep her out of the White House. She said that Facebook had been used to circulate "fake news" about her with "1,000 Russian agents involved in delivering those messages". Meanwhile, former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is reportedly a "person of interest" in the FBI's investigation into Trump's links with Russia.

Nigel Farage is a 'person of interest' in FBI's Trump-Russia investigation

10. More than 200 people killed in Sri Lankan flooding

At least 203 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been made homeless after flooding and mudslides in Sri Lanka. After torrential hit the island, more than 1,500 homes have been destroyed and 16 hospitals evacuated. A minister blamed houses built on slopes, adding: "If we don't stop this madness, we are going to end up with a bigger disaster very soon."

Explore More