Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 1 Jun 2019

At least 12 people were killed on Friday in a mass shooting at a
government building in the US state of Virginia. Several people
were injured, including a police officer. The suspect, a long-term
and current Virginia Beach city employee, fired
“indiscriminately” in a public
utilities building, said the authorities. He was killed in an
exchange of gunfire with police.

Donald Trump says Boris Johnson would be an “excellent” choice
for the Conservative Party leadership. Speaking to The Sun, the US
President said: “I think Boris would do a very good job.” He said
other candidates had sought his endorsement, adding: “I could help
anybody.” A multi-million-pound security operation is underway
ahead of Trump’s visit to the UK next week.

Four charges of misdemeanour assault have been brought against
Sir Philip in the US. A pilates instructor, Katie Surridge, alleges
the 67-year-old retail tycoon touched her inappropriately during
classes at the Canyon Ranch luxury resort in Tucson, Arizona, in
2016 and 2018. Green “strenuously denies” the charges, says his
lawyer. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 30 days in
jail.

The obesity epidemic will eventually cause 100 cancer cases a
day, say doctors. The NHS says that cancers caused by obesity will
increase by 62% by the end of the next decade. “This is a global
problem. At the moment the US has higher levels of obesity but the
UK is catching up,” added Jennifer Ligibel, of the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute at Harvard University. 

David Cameron tries to settle scores with “backstabbing” Michael
Gove in his memoirs, reports the Daily Telegraph. Allies of the
former prime minister say they want to prevent the “untrustworthy”
Environment Secretary winning the Tory leadership race. Cameron is
said to be still angry that his attempts to negotiate a better deal
with Europe were undermined by Gove.

The most senior female Islamic State captive has been pivotal in
the hunt for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, reports The Guardian. Nisrine
Assad Ibrahim, also known as Umm Sayyaf, helped identify safe
houses used by the fugitive terrorist leader and pinpointed his
location in Mosul. “I told them where the house was,” she said.

Former drug lord Frank Lucas, whose life inspired the film
American Gangster, has died at the age of 88. Lucas had been in
declining health, according to his former lawyer. A notorious
heroin dealer in Harlem in the 1960s and 1970s, he later turned
informant. “I did some terrible things. I’m awfully sorry that I
did them. I really am,” he said in 2007.

Private renters will save hundreds of pounds as a new law
banning letting fees finally comes into force in England. Under the
Tenant Fees Act, renters will no longer have to pay fees that add
up to £13m every month in England. Citizens Advice says that some
£234m has been paid out in letting fees since the government
committed to outlawing them in 2017.

US government scientists are investigating what has caused the
deaths of an unusually high number of gray whales on the west coast
of North America. About 70 dead whales have washed up so far this
year on the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska –
the most since 2000.  The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration fisheries agency has declared the deaths
an “unusual mortality event”.

Sir Elton John has slammed censors in Russia for cutting gay sex
scenes from the hit musical biopic Rocketman. An estimated five
minutes of footage was reportedly removed from the film, which
includes scenes of sex between men, ahead of its debut in Moscow.
Sir Elton released a joint statement with the makers of the film to
accuse censors of being “cruelly unaccepting of the love between
two people”.