Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 19 Jun 2018

1. White House scrambles to defend child separation

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen yesterday insisted immigration officials are only enforcing existing laws when they separate the children of illegal immigrants from their parents at the southern US border. The number of separations has dramatically increased under Donald Trump’s zero tolerance policies.

2. Hague calls for legalisation of cannabis

Former Tory leader William Hague has called for a “decisive change” in the law on cannabis, arguing that the drug should be sold legally in shops. In an article in The Daily Telegraph today, Hague writes that “any war” on cannabis is “irreversibly lost”. Other senior Tories are calling for the legalisation of the drug for medical purposes in light of the plight of 12-year-old epilepsy sufferer Billy Caldwell.

3. Government loses Lords vote on Brexit bill

The House of Lords has voted against the Government on Brexit - again. A landslide result saw a new amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve passed by 354 to 235, with 22 Tory rebels joining Labour in supporting the call for the Commons to be given a veto on leaving the EU if no replacement trade deal is agreed.

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4. Minute’s silence for Finsbury Park victims

A one-minute silence will be held today on the first anniversary of the terror attack outside London’s Finsbury Park Mosque, in which one man lost his life and nine others were injured. Darren Osborne, from south Wales, was jailed for 43 years for deliberately driving his van into a crowd of worshippers, killing Makram Ali.

5. England win World Cup opener with Kane double

Harry Kane scored twice as England beat Tunisia 2-1 last night in their first World Cup match. Tottenham striker Kane scored the winner in the 91st minute with a header. Both teams were plagued by a swarm of flies in the stadium in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad. The next England game is on Sunday 24 June against Panama at 1pm.

6. Kravitz: ‘I lost role because of colour’

Musician and actor Lenny Kravitz claims that he lost a role on Big Little Lies because he would have been the only black man on the TV drama series – and producers were therefore uneasy about him playing a villain. Kravitz did not say which part he auditioned for on the hit HBO show but it seems likely that it was abusive husband Perry, a role that went to Alexander Skarsgard.

7. Health conditions ‘make tattoos inadvisable’

A new report by British doctors warns people with weakened immune systems – including those taking drugs for cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis – against getting tattoos. Writing in the BMJ, the medics also say tattooing is inadvisable for those living with diabetes, who risk being left in chronic pain.

8. Trump: My tariffs are bigger than your tariffs

US President Donald Trump has threatened to sharply escalate his trade war with China, saying he will impose 10% import taxes on an additional annual $200bn (£151bn) of Chinese goods. Stock markets fell around the world as a result of the suggestion. Economists warn the tariffs will cost US consumers dearly.

9. Reid reveals ‘daily battle’ with co-host Morgan

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has said working with Piers Morgan is a “constant battle for airtime”, adding: “Sometimes I open my mouth to ask a question and hear Piers’s voice come out.” The Strictly Come Dancing finalist admitted she frequently comes off the air in tears and compared her co-host to a hedgehog.

10. Briefing: what is HPV and how is it treated?

Hundreds of thousands of teenage boys are to be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to protect them against potentially life-threatening infections.

The HPV vaccination programme was introduced for girls in 2008, and more than 80% of females aged between 15 and 24 in the UK have now been vaccinated. Girls are offered their first injection at the age of 12 or 13, with a second dose between six and 12 months later. The jabs are free on the NHS up until the age of 18.

What is HPV and who can have the vaccine?