Donald Trump backtracks on Russia joint cybersecurity unit

Donald Trump has backtracked on a proposal to work with Russia to create an "impenetrable" cybersecurity unit to prevent election hacking.

Hours after promoting the idea on Sunday, the US president said that he did not think it could actually happen.

The idea of a partnership with Russia was ridiculed by senior Republicans.

It comes after Mr Trump's first face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Germany on Friday, in which the pair discussed the issue.

Mr Trump described the outcome of the talks as positive and suggested closer co-operation between the two nations.

"Putin and I discussed forming an impenetrable cybersecurity unit so that election hacking, and many other negative things, will be guarded and safe," he said.

The initial proposal immediately prompted derision from Democrats, as well as some Republicans who questioned why the US would work with Russia after the Kremlin's alleged meddling in the 2016 US election.

Mr Trump shifted his position on Sunday night.

"The fact that President Putin and I discussed a cybersecurity unit doesn't mean I think it can happen. It can't," he tweeted.

However, he stressed that another issue discussed in his talks with Mr Putin, a ceasefire in south-western Syria, had come into effect.

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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had sought to defend the proposed cyber unit after Mr Trump's initial announcement.

Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, he described it as a "significant accomplishment" for Mr Trump.

"What we want to make sure is that we co-ordinate with Russia," he added.

However, Republican Senator Marco Rubio suggested that such an initiative would be like partnering with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on chemical weapons.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: "It's not the dumbest idea I've ever heard, but it's pretty close."

Media captionTrump to Putin: "It's an honour to be with you"

A special prosecutor is investigating whether Trump associates colluded with alleged Russian efforts to influence the 2016 US election.

Both Mr Trump and Mr Putin said the allegations had been discussed.

However, the two sides described the content of the meeting differently.

Mr Trump said he "strongly pressed" the issue with Mr Putin, who had "vehemently denied" interfering in the US election.

He also said it was time to work more "constructively" with Russia.

President Putin said he believed President Trump had accepted his assurances that Moscow had not interfered in the vote.

However, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said interference in the 2016 election remained an impediment to better relations with Russia, while the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US "can't trust Russia" and "won't ever trust Russia".

'Comfort women': Researchers claim first known film

South Korea has released what it says is the first known footage of "comfort women" forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War Two.

Filmed by US troops in China, the clip was found by government-funded researchers at Seoul National University in US archives.

The 18-second clip shows several women lined up talking to a Chinese soldier.

South Korean activists estimate 200,000 women were forced into brothels for Japan's military.

They are believed to have been mainly from Korea, but also from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Until now, the only records of women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War Two had been photographs and survivor testimonials.

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The research team says the footage was filmed by joint US-Chinese troops in China's Yunnan province which was previously occupied by Japan.

The seven Korean women were freed in 1944 and the officer speaking with them has been identified as a Chinese captain of the China-US Combined Force, the team said.

The issue has long strained the relationship between South Korea and Japan over a perceived lack of adequate apology and compensation from Japan.

In 2015, the two countries reached a settlement whereby Tokyo formally apologised and agreed to pay 1bn yen ($8.3m, £5.6m) to fund victims.

The issue though continues to plague ties, most recently when Japan temporarily withdrew its ambassador to South Korea over a "comfort women" statue placed outside the Japanese consulate in Busan.

A similar statue has also been placed outside Japan's consulate in Seoul, and Tokyo wants both these statues to be removed.

Brexit: Theresa May's offer to EU citizens 'falls short'

Theresa May's offer to give EU citizens in the UK "settled status" after Brexit has been described as being "far short of what citizens are entitled to".

MEPs, including European Parliament chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt say the proposal is a "damp squib".

It offers Europeans in the UK fewer rights than Britons in the EU, they say in a joint letter to newspapers.

Cabinet Office minister Damian Green said the "basic rights" of EU citizens living in the UK would be "preserved".

He urged Mr Verhofstadt to "read our proposal", which the UK government insists would allow about three million EU citizens to stay on the same basis as now.

EU migrants who had lived in the UK for five years would be granted access to health, education and other benefits.

But the prime minister's proposals would be dependent on EU states guaranteeing Britons the same rights.

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The leaders of the four political groups who have signed the joint letter account for two-thirds of the votes in the European Parliament.

Their letter points out that that they have the power to reject any Brexit deal before it can go ahead because the parliament must approve the withdrawal agreement.

The leaders said they would not endorse anything that removed rights already acquired by citizens.

They said the UK proposal "falls short" because it would take away rights citizens currently have, and create new red tape and uncertainty for millions of people.

The letter said this contradicted promises made by the Leave campaign that EU citizens would be treated no less favourably after Brexit.

By contrast, the letter said the EU's offer - already on the table - was simple, clear and fair because it promised that all citizens, including UK nationals living in Europe, would be treated equally and lose no current rights.

'Rights and values'

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Verhofstadt said EU citizens in the UK - and Britons living on the continent - should keep their current rights, rather than the government "inventing a new status".

"It creates a type of second class citizenship for European Citizens in the UK," he added. "We don't see why their rights should be diminished and that would be the case in the proposal.

"In the end, it is the European Parliament that will say yes or no, and I can tell you it not will be a yes if the rights of European citizens - and also the rights of UK citizens living on the continent - will be diminished [and] cut off, like it is at the moment."

The letter stated: "The European Parliament will reserve its right to reject any agreement that treats EU citizens, regardless of their nationality, less favourably than they are at present.

"This is a question of the basic fundamental rights and values that are at the heart of the European project."

'Form-filling'

It added: "In early 2019, MEPs will have a final say on the Brexit deal. We will work closely with the EU negotiator and the 27 member states to help steer negotiations."

A spokesperson for the UK government said the letter contained a "number of inaccuracies" which could cause unnecessary and needless concern to UK and EU citizens.

Mr Green, who as first secretary of state is a close ally of Theresa May's, told BBC Radio 4's Today that it was clear that EU citizens would have to comply with "basic" immigration rules after the UK leaves the EU to establish their identity and nationality.

But he insisted: "That is not an insuperable barrier. We all fill in forms when we go on holiday and have to get visas and all that."

He suggested the UK was doing "precisely" what the EU was calling for.

"Somebody who is here now will keep the rights they already have and we hope that British citizens living in other EU countries will keep the rights they already have...The basic rights will be preserved so that should not be an obstacle to a final deal."

Rail strikes to hit Northern, Southern and Merseyrail

Passengers on three train companies across England are to see action by striking union members on Monday.

Northern staff are on the last day of a three-day strike, while Merseyrail staff are on strike for the day and also plan action on 23 July.

Southern workers plan to walk out on a one-day strike.

The RMT union is in dispute with the companies over driver-only-operated trains, which it says would be unsafe and lead to widespread job losses.

"The threat to abolish guards and introduce driver-only-operated trains is only part of the wider attack on rail services," said the RMT.

The union said the dispute is not about pay or conditions but strike action is over "concern about passenger safety".

In April RMT members demonstrated against the proposals and to mark the one-year anniversary of its dispute with Southern rail.

• Northern strike timetable
• Merseyrail strike timetable
• Southern strike timetable

Sharon Keith, regional director at Northern, said: "We are doing everything we can to keep our customers on the move during the three days of industrial action affecting our network."

Northern said it expected to run more than 40% of its timetable and it would have additional rail replacement buses

However, all services are expected to be extremely busy and travellers should allow extra time for their journeys, the company said.

Most services are to run between 7:00 and 19:00 BST with many routes winding down from late afternoon.

Merseyrail trains are to run from 07:00 to 19:00 but some stations will be closed. There will be no trains running on the Ellesmere Port, Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines.

Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director, said customers were urged to check before travelling.

He added: "The team has put together the best possible timetable that we can to provide a limited train service on both strike days."

According to Southern, the industrial action on 10 July is "not expected to have any further affect on services".

An ASLEF union driver overtime ban continues.

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East London acid attack: John Tomlin arrested

A man named as the chief suspect in an acid attack in east London has handed himself in to police.

Two people suffered "life-changing" injuries when a corrosive substance was thrown on to them through their car windows.

Cousins Resham Khan and Jameel Muhktar, 37, had been celebrating Ms Khan's 21st birthday before the attack.

John Tomlin, 24, has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, the Metropolitan Police said.

He walked into an east London police station on Sunday and remains in custody.

Ms Khan, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Mr Muhktar suffered severe burns to the face and body in the attack on 21 June.

Police said they had stopped at traffic lights when a man approached them and threw the toxic substance at Ms Khan through the window.

The attacker then threw more of the acid at Mr Muhktar before fleeing the scene.

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Charlie Gard: High Court to hear new evidence in case

The High Court will hear fresh evidence in the case of terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard later.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has referred the case back to court after reports of new data from foreign healthcare facilities.

Charlie's parents had made several unsuccessful challenges to a decision to end the 11-month-old's life support.

On Sunday his parents handed in a 350,000-signature petition calling for him to travel to the US for treatment.

Charlie inherited the faulty RRM2B gene, affecting the cells responsible for energy production and respiration and leaving him unable to move or breathe without a ventilator.

GOSH describes proposed experimental therapies as "unjustified" and said the treatments being offered are not a cure.

However, the hospital's decision to go back to court came after researchers at two international healthcare facilities said they have "fresh evidence about their proposed experimental treatment".

Charlie's mother Connie Yates and father Chris Gard, from Bedfont in west London, said they are determined to continue their fight for their son to have nucleoside therapy.

Mr Gard said they needed a specialist in Charlie's condition and therefore need to send him to America to "give him the chance he deserves".

Ms Yates added: "We have seven doctors supporting us from all around the world.

"There is up to 10% chance that this treatment may work and that's a chance worth taking.

"He's our son, he's our flesh and blood. We feel that it should be our right as parents to decide to give him a chance at life.

"There is nothing to lose, he deserves a chance."

US President Donald Trump and the Vatican have supported the parents' campaign for Charlie to be treated abroad, but a leading expert has described interventions from high-profile figures as "unhelpful".

Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said in an open letter that Charlie's situation is "heartbreaking" for his parents, but added that even well-meaning interventions from outsiders can be unhelpful.

Mr Gard said: "If we won the court case and we got to America, and then within the first week of treatment he started suffering and he was in pain, we would let him go.

"This isn't about us. This is about Charlie and giving him the chance he needs."

Mr Justice Francis is due to hear fresh submissions on Monday afternoon.

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Camden Lock Market fire: Seventy firefighters at blaze

Seventy firefighters have been tackling a "significant" blaze at the famous Camden Lock Market in north London.

London Fire Brigade said 10 fire engines were sent to the site, which is a popular tourist attraction.

One eyewitness said the fire was moving "very fast" and there were fears of an explosion in nearby buildings.

London Ambulance Service said it had not treated any patients but remained at the scene. The Metropolitan Police also attended the incident.

Explosion fear

Witness Joan Ribes, 24, said: "I was just passing by when I saw the fire and they started to get firefighters and police, it was all very fast.

"We called the police to close the street to the traffic because it was very dangerous, the fire was flying through the air to the surrounding areas.

"The fire was moving very fast. People were watching, but we were scared the building could explode at any time since there are restaurants with kitchens nearby."

The ambulance service said it sent a clinical team leader and a Hazardous Area Response Team.

A police spokeswoman said: "London Fire Brigade were already at the scene when officers arrived. It is unknown at this stage if any persons are injured."

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