Manchester terror attack +++ Trump meets Abbas +++ Flynn ‘misled’ investigators +++ Trial of ex-President Park begins

23. Juni 2017, 02:00

Manchester terror attack

At least 22 people have been killed and about 60 others injured in a suspected suicide attack in the English city of Manchester. The blast happened following a pop concert at the Manchester Arena by the US singer Ariana Grande. Children were among those who died. The police chief in Greater Manchester, Ian Hopkins, says the attacker was among the dead: "We have been treating this as a terrorist incident, and we believe at this stage the attack last night was conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone, or as part of a network. The attacker, I can confirm, died at the Arena." It's the worst terror attack in Britain since the London bombings in July 2005, when more than 50 people died. The Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham condemned it: "These were children, young people and their families, that those responsible chose to terrorize and kill. This was an evil act. Our first thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured, and we will do whatever we can to support them." All of Britain's major political parties have suspended campaigning for next month's general election, in response to the explosion in Manchester.

Trump meets Abbas

In other news, the US President Donald Trump has held talks with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Trump spoke of his readiness to try and reach a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, but neither of the leaders gave any detail as to how an agreement might be reached.

Flynn ‘misled’ investigators

New allegations have emerged suggesting that President Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn misled US officials about his connections with Russia. According to documents Flynn claimed his overseas trips were paid for by US companies, but one high profile visit to Moscow was in fact financed by an arm of the Russian government. Meanwhile the Washington Post is reporting that Trump asked two of his most senior intelligence officials to publicly deny that there was any evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia during the presidential election. They refused.

Trial of ex-President Park begins

The trial of South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye has begun in Seoul. The court heard that she pressured companies to pay tens of millions of dollars in bribes. Park was impeached in March following mass protests. She pleaded not guilty. The trial has now been adjourned until Thursday.

No deal for Greece

Greece has failed to secure a deal to unlock the next installment of its bailout funds after talks with Eurozone finance ministers broke down on Monday. Last week Greek lawmakers approved new austerity measures, but Eurozone finance ministers are insisting on additional steps before agreeing to release funds needed to repay nearly seven and a half billion euros of debt which matures in July.

The weather

Partly sunny, but with some scattered rain showers and thunderstorms especially in the south and in the mountains. Highs today ranging from 18 to 26 degrees.

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