Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 29 Jun 2017

1. Vatican treasurer denies sex offence charges

Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell has denied any wrongdoing after being charged with multiple historical sex offences in his home country Australia. He said he had been subjected to "relentless character assassination" during the police's two-year investigation. Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the allegations had been made by a number of people.

2. Sir Martin Moore-Bick to lead Grenfell Tower inquiry

A retired Court of Appeal judge has been appointed to lead the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. Sir Martin Moore-Bick has a "controversial" history, says The Guardian, and once ruled a council tenant could be rehoused 50 miles away from her home, a decision later overturned. The Daily Telegraph says he was recommended by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.

3. Trump to hold first meeting with Putin

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold their first meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, next month. According to two former officials, the US President has asked his team to come up with concessions he could offer the Russian leader, including rolling back sanctions imposed on Russia after it annexed Crimea.

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

4. Woman 'kills boyfriend in YouTube stunt'

A 20-year-old woman has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly filming herself shooting her boyfriend dead in Minnesota for a YouTube stunt. Monalisa Perez said her partner Pedro Ruiz, 22, believed a book he was holding in front of his body would stop a bullet from a gun. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

5. Adele hints she may retire from touring

Adele dedicated her song Make You Feel My Love to the Grenfell Tower victims last night as she began the first of four concerts at Wembley Stadium in London. Earlier, the singer hinted these might be her last gigs, tweeting to fans: "I wanted my final shows to be in London because I don't know if I'll ever tour again and so I want my last time to be at home." Around 98,000 fans were at last night's show.

6. Brexit could 'cost the EU €20bn annually'

Brexit could leave the EU's remaining member states with a €20bn (£18bn) black hole in their annual budget, says the European Commission. Gunther Oettinger, the commissioner for the budget, said the bloc will need to spend less or find new money to fill the gap. A report from the House of Lords this year said the UK contributed 12 per cent of the EU's budget.

7. Stalking victim rejects police apology

A woman stabbed in the face by her stalker has said an apology from Devon and Cornwall police "didn't do anything" to help her. Helen Pearson reported her neighbour Joseph Willis to police 125 times before the incident in 2013. Three officers were found guilty of misconduct in an internal investigation.

8. Apple iPhone celebrates its tenth anniversary

Apple's iPhone celebrates its tenth anniversary today. Over a billion of the smartphones have been sold since its debut in 2007, making it one of the most successful products ever manufactured. Justin McGurk, chief curator or the Design Museum, London, said the iPhone was "one of the most significant pieces of design of the early 21st century".

9. Emir of Dubai saves Cornish village church

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai has donated tens of thousands of pounds to help a Cornish village buy the local Methodist chapel, which is in need of restoration. Villagers in Godophin wrote to the Emir in a last-ditch attempt to find the fund because his world-famous racing stables shares the same name. "It's a fairy tale really," said Richard McKie, chairman of the Godolphin Cross Community Association.

10. Briefing: Is Jacob Zuma running out of political lives?

South African President Jacob Zuma is facing his fifth vote of no confidence, with even his most powerful political allies calling for his resignation following a string of scandals.

The motion has been tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA), the largest opposition party, after Zuma sacked finance minister Pravin Gordhan against the wishes of senior members of his African National Congress (ANC) party.

Gordhan was replaced by Malusi Gigaba, a Zuma loyalist with no business or financial experience.

Fact Check: Is Jacob Zuma running out of political lives?

Explore More