These are some of the stories making world headlines today.
Top North Korean official Kim Yong Chol heading to US
Trump himself confirmed the news of Kim Yong Chol’s trip to the US early Tuesday, tweeting: “We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York.
Belgium shooting: Two police officers, passerby killed
The incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET) when an assailant stabbed two policemen from behind before stealing their service weapons and using them on the officers, Liege Prosecutor Philippe Dulieu said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Two of the world’s biggest brands are now Chinese
Alibabahas joined the top 10, alongside Chinese tech group Tencent, as well as stalwarts such as Google and Apple . Ranked at No. 9., Jack Ma’s Alibaba has seen its brand value nearly double to $113 billion as the e-commerce company has expanded further into fields such as mobile payments and cloud computing.
Roman Abramovich granted Israeli citizenship, reports say
Israel’s Interior ministry told CNN that Abramovich had arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, but wouldn’t confirm his citizenship status. Israel’s Absorption Ministry, which is responsible for immigrants during their first three years in the country, also declined to comment on the case as it’s a private matter.
Oil prices are falling fast. Here’s why
Oil prices surged to their highest level in over three years last week, and strategists were marveling that prices had shot up so quickly. Now prices are slumping. US crude oil futures have dropped by nearly 10% to trade around $66.50 per barrel, down from about $73 last week.
Two South Carolina journalists killed while covering hazardous weather
Anchor Mike McCormick and photojournalist Aaron Smeltzer were out covering hazardous weather conditions in Polk County, North Carolina, when a tree crushed their news van, the station reported. Both men were killed. The incident has not been directly attributed to subtropical storm Alberto.
Europe plans ban on plastic cutlery, straws and more
The European Commission wants to ban 10 items that make up 70% of all litter in EU waters and on beaches. The list also includes plastic plates and drink stirrers. The draft rules were unveiled Monday but need the approval of all EU member states and the European Parliament.
England striker defends gun tattoo
England footballer Raheem Sterling has defended his new tattoo of a gun, saying it has a “deeper meaning” and refers to his late father. Anti-gun campaigners criticised the Manchester City forward after he shared a photo of himself with the tattoo of an M16 assault rifle on his leg.
Four-year hunt for missing MH370 ends
The four-year hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has ended with the latest, privately funded search coming to a close. US-based Ocean Infinity had been using a deep-sea vessel to survey a vast area of the southern Indian Ocean. But it found nothing and Malaysia’s government says it has no plans to begin any new searches.
Paris boy’s family thank Mali ‘Spiderman’
The family of a small boy dramatically rescued after dangling from a balcony in Paris have expressed their gratitude the Malian man who saved him. “He’s truly a hero,” the boy’s grandmother said of migrant Mamoudou Gassama, who scaled four floors to pluck the child from danger.
Italy crisis hits European markets
European shares have slumped over continuing political upheaval in Italy. The prospect of elections as early as September, with the prospect of eurosceptic parties strengthening their position, hit markets. Italy’s benchmark FTSE MIB sank in morning trade, down 3%. The UK’s FTSE was down 1.37%, Germany’s Dax down 1.85%, and France’s Cac down 2%.
Fortnite sued for ‘copying’ rival game
The makers of Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular video games, have been accused of copying rival title PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). The studio behind PUBG has asked a court in South Korea to determine whether Epic Games copied its intellectual property.
‘World’s oldest man’ wants to stop smoking
Fredie Blom spent most of his life as a labourer – on a farm and in the construction industry – in apartheid South Africa but he might soon be recognised as the world’s oldest man, as the BBC’s Mohammed Allie reports from Cape Town.
Search For Malaysia Airlines Jet That Disappeared 4 Years Ago Comes To An End
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s new government has promised to release a long-awaited report into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as a privately funded underwater search ended on Tuesday. Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, vanished enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, becoming one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries.
Trump Confirms North Korean Official Is Headed To New York To Discuss Nuclear Summit
President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee, was on his way to New York to discuss a proposed nuclear summit between the countries. We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea.
Fire Chief Finds TV Journalists Dead Minutes After They Interviewed Him
Minutes after he was interviewed by two television journalists, the fire chief of Tryon, North Carolina, found them dead inside an SUV that had been crushed by a falling tree. The journalists, Mike McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer of WYFF News 4 in Greenville, South Carolina, were covering severe weather in the area on Monday when the tree fell across a highway and struck their vehicle.
Ted Cruz’s Attempt At Tweeting Sports Did Not Go Well
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tried to show some support on Twitter for the Houston Rockets as the team faced the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. The Warriors won, 101-92, eliminating the Rockets. Golden State now advances to the NBA finals, where they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Taylor Swift Told To Shower By Cheeky Interviewer And Fans React
A bit of dry British humor on a muggy day did not amuse some Taylor Swift fans. BBC Radio 1′s Greg James lightheartedly told the pop superstar “I think you need to have a shower now” after she performed at the The Biggest Weekend festival in Swansea, Wales on Sunday.
Soccer player takes to Instagram to defend gun tattoo
England footballer Raheem Sterling has taken to Instagram to defend his new tattoo, after an article published in The Sun on Monday highlighted criticism made against it by anti-gun campaigners. The tattoo, which extends down the striker’s right leg, appears to be of an M16 assault rifle.
Student dresses up as grandma to buy booze, goes viral
It may sound like something out of The Inbetweeners, but apparently this is real life. This is Reema, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University: On Sunday, she tweeted four throwback photos of the time she apparently dressed up as her grandma for a very specific reason.
Teachers make their own epic version of Carpool Karaoke with yodelling and floss dancing
Teachers work hard, and they deserve to let their hair down and have some fun. And fun is precisely what was had by the teachers of Wragby Primary School in Lincolnshire, northern England when they made their own rendition of Carpool Karaoke.
Apple to use OLED for all iPhones in 2019, report claims
Apple is about to ditch LCD and use OLED screens for its entire 2019 iPhone lineup, a new report from ET News (via MacRumors ) claims, quoting several unnamed Apple officials. Right now, the Cupertino phone maker only has an OLED screen in its top-of-the-range iPhone X model, while iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have a cheaper, LCD screen.
