Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 28 August 2021

1. US drone kills ‘IS planner’

The US military believes it has killed a planner for a branch of Islamic State in a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan. The suspected member of the group was targeted in Nangahar Province. A military spokesman said he knew of “no civilian casualties”. The strike came as the White House said there are indications that IS plans to strike again as the Washington-led evacuation from Kabul airport moved into its final days.

2. PM ‘ignored phone guidance’

Boris Johnson was warned two years ago not to conduct official business on his personal phone but he ignored the advice. Legal documents have shown that since receiving the guidance, Johnson has texted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Sir James Dyson, the businessman, on his personal mobile phone. Johnson’s personal mobile number had been freely available online for 15 years.

3. Robert F Kennedy killer gets parole

The man who killed Robert F Kennedy has been granted parole after two of the former attorney general, senator and presidential hopeful’s sons said they approved of his release. However, the ruling by the two-person panel at Sirhan Sirhan’s 16th parole hearing will be reviewed over 90 days by the California parole board. It will then be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant it, reverse it or modify it.

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4. TikTok bans milk crate challenge

The viral craze of stacking milk crates in a pyramid and trying to climb them like stairs has been banned by TikTok. The app has deleted search results for the hashtag “milk crate challenge”. Following reports that people were injuring themselves when attempting the challenge, the app said: “TikTok prohibits content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts, and we remove videos and redirect searches to our Community Guidelines to discourage such content.”

5. Self-driving bus hits Paralympic athlete

Toyota has apologised for the “overconfidence” of a self-driving bus after it ran over a Paralympic judoka in the athletes’ village in Tokyo. Aramitsu Kitazono will be unable to compete in his 81kg category after being left with cuts and bruises following the impact with the “e-Palette” vehicle. Toyota has been showcasing its autonomous vehicles via a shuttle service at the athletes’ village.

6. Ministers to ban single-use cutlery

The government plans to ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups in England as part of a “war on plastic”. A public consultation will launch in the autumn and the ban could be in place in a couple of years. Although the development was welcomed by campaigners, they said overall progress on cutting plastic waste was “snail-paced”. Ministers said the move would help to reduce litter and cut the amount of plastic waste in oceans.

7. Man accused of injecting food

A solicitor has appeared in court accused of injecting syringes filled with blood into food items at three supermarkets in London. Leoaai Elghareeb, 37, is charged with contaminating or interfering with goods with intent at three stores on Wednesday. The stores were a Tesco Express, Little Waitrose and Sainsbury’s Local in Fulham Palace Road. The suspect indicated no plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon.

8. Queen to attend climate gathering

The Queen will join world leaders at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow in November. The gathering is expected to attract 120 heads of state, including US President Joe Biden, as well as Pope Francis and climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg. Alok Sharma, the president of Cop26, posted on Twitter that he was “absolutely delighted” about the Queen’s planned presence at the event.

9. Scientists discover new island

Researchers have discovered a new island off the coast of Greenland, which they believe is the world’s northernmost point of land. The island, measuring roughly 30 metres (100ft) across and a peak of about three metres, consists of seabed mud as well as moraine – soil and rock left behind by moving glaciers. One of the scientists who found it said: “It was not our intention to discover a new island.”

10. Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford

Manchester United have reached an agreement to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus. The Premier League giants have agreed to pay £12.8m for the 36-year-old, with the deal subject to personal terms, a visa and a medical. In his first spell at Old Trafford, Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games. The deal comes after the club’s rivals, Manchester City, had looked to be one of the favourites to land the forward.