BRIEF – ME! – UK NEWS BRIEFING

In today’s briefing update, the odds of the UK striking a Brexit deal are ‘touch and go’ says PM Johnson.

 Prince Andrew is now willing to talk to the FBI over the Jeffery Epstein case. The Palace has strongly denied the claims made against Andrew and says he will co-operate with police on both sides of the Atlantic. 

A 21-year-old man has been stabbed to death on a high street in Maidstone. Four men, aged between 19 and 23 have been arrested.

The UK revelled in record-breaking temperatures on Sunday. Britain was hotter than Barcelona and Spain!

All in today’s UK news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.

…………………………………………………….

BREXIT: ODDS OF STRIKING A DEAL ‘TOUCH AND GO’ SAYS JOHNSON

BBC News reports Boris Johnson has said the odds of the UK striking a Brexit deal are ‘touch and go’. The PM had previously said the odds of a no-deal Brexit were “a million to one.” During an interview at the G7 summit in France, Johnson said a deal “all depends on our EU friends and partners.” Adding, “I think it’s going to be touch and go. But the important thing is to get ready to come out without a deal.” The EU is said to be open to “realistic” and “immediately operational” alternatives to the Irish backstop.

Read the full story on BBC News

…………………………………………………….

EPSTEIN: PRINCE ANDREW WILLING TO TALK TO THE FBI

The Daily Mail says Prince Andrew is now ‘willing to talk to the FBI if requested’ over the Jeffery Epstein case. Buckingham Palace aides have made clear the Duke of York will help authorities in the US and UK if asked, saying ‘Members of the Royal Family would always co-operate with the police in an appropriate way.’ The Palace has denied Andrew had ‘any form of sexual contact or relationship’ with Virginia Roberts, who has made the allegations against him. The Independent says PM Boris Johnson has defended the Prince in light of the Epstein controversy.

Read the full story on The Daily Mail 

…………………………………………………….

MAIDSTONE STABBING: MAN, 21 KNIFED TO DEATH, FOUR ARRESTED 

The Evening Standard says four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 21-year-old was knifed to death. The incident took place on a high street in Maidstone at around 3 am on Sunday. The 21-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. From footage posted on social media, it appears a fight broke out between a group of men as others watched on. A man is seen lying motionless on the ground as a group of people check on him. The four arrested are between 19 and 23-years-old and are from London. The four men remain in custody.

Read the full story on The Evening Standard 

…………………………………………………….

BRITONS SIZZLE  IN RECORD-BREAKING SUNSHINE

iNews reports the UK revelled in record-breaking temperatures on Sunday. The Met Office said Heathrow Airport reached 33C in the afternoon – surpassing the 31.5C set there is Agust 2001. Britain was hotter than Barcelona, Spain; the Cuban capital and Lagos in Nigeria. Sunseeker’s filled the nation’s parks, beaches, took rides down the river and cooled down in lilos to make the most of the scorching weather. On Monday, temperatures are expected to reach 33C.