North Korea long-range missile test: Trump slams China

President Donald Trump has hit out at China following North Korea's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The US leader has been attempting to get Beijing to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

But he pointed to a big rise in trade between China and North Korea as evidence that America should not rely on Beijing.

Mr Trump tweeted: "Trade between China and North Korea grew almost 40% in the first quarter. So much for China working with us - but we had to give it a try!"

The missile test was a "new escalation of threat" to the world, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has warned.

Image:Kim Jong Un celebrates the launch with military officers

Calling for Pyongyang's "provocative" test to be discussed by the UN Security Council, Mr Tillerson said the White House intends to "enact stronger measures to hold DPRK accountable".

The secretary of state added that the US "will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea" and said President Trump and his national security team are "continuing to assess the situation".

The missile launch occurred just hours before US Independence Day celebrations and days before G20 leaders were due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea's weapons programme.

In response, US and South Korean soldiers fired "deep strike" precision missiles into South Korean territorial waters.

Military officials said the launches were a show of force to demonstrate US-South Korean solidarity.

:: The North Korea dilemma: Trump's five options

Image:The missile reached an altitude of 2,802km and flew 933km, North Korea claimed

Analysts said North Korea's "landmark" Hwasong-14 missile, which was launched from North Pyongan Province, could reach Alaska.

North Korea said the ICBM reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,740 miles) and flew 933km (580 miles) for about 40 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan.

Japan's data appeared to back up these claims, with the defence ministry claiming the altitude "greatly exceeded" 2,500km (1,550 miles).

According to North Korean state media, the missile is capable of carrying a "large, heavy nuclear warhead" that can withstand re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

David Cameron calls austerity opponents 'selfish'

David Cameron has dramatically deepened the Cabinet split on public sector wages by claiming those who want to lift the 1% pay cap are "selfish".

The former Prime Minister, who with George Osborne was the architect of the policy, controversially re-ignited the row among top Tories in a speech in the Far East.

Opponents condemned him for opposing pay rises for groups like nurses and firefighters when - it is claimed - he is now earning up to £100,000 for making speeches abroad.

His remarks, coming just hours before this week's Prime Minister's Questions, will almost certainly also be exploited by the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in his weekly Commons clash with Theresa May.

Speaking at an Asia Leadership Conference in Seoul, South Korea, Mr Cameron said: "The opponents of so-called austerity couch their arguments in a way that make them sound generous and compassionate.

"They seek to paint the supporters of sound finances as selfish, or uncaring. The exact reverse is true.

"Giving up on sound finances isn't being generous, it's being selfish: spending money today that you may need tomorrow."

:: Cabinet ministers pile pressure on Theresa May to ease austerity

His attack was no doubt aimed at Cabinet Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who have led calls to scrap the public sector cap, and was immediately condemned by the Conservatives' political opponents.

Mr Cameron's comments also reveal the extent of his bitterness at what his allies regard as their treachery in opposing him in last year's EU referendum, which prompted his immediate resignation as PM after he was defeated.

Earlier this week Mr Osborne published a cartoon in the London Evening Standard, which he now edits, showing the Foreign Secretary jumping on an anti-austerity bandwagon being pulled by Mr Corbyn.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell led the backlash against the former PM, declaring: "Only David Cameron would say that hard working people seeing their living standards fall back and their pay suppressed is good for them.

"It just further shows how out of touch he was then, and still remains today.

"The austerity measures such as the public sector pay cuts that he brought in, which Theresa May has continued, were meant to divide communities and undermine working people.

North Korea claims first intercontinental ballistic missile launch

North Korea claims to have successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) - contradicting US and South Korean officials who earlier said it was an intermediate-range missile.

The latest in a series of test-firings appears to be the secretive state's longest-range ballistic missile launch to date - and comes as America prepared to mark its independence day.

US weapons analysts said the missile was capable of reaching Alaska, as US President Donald Trump urged China to "end this nonsense once and for all".

In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boasted the country was in the final stages of preparing to test launch its first ICBM - a further step towards his declared goal of a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.

"It won't happen," Mr Trump vowed at the time.

If Tuesday's launch is confirmed as an ICBM, it would be considered a game-changer by countries looking to check North Korea's attempts to build a nuclear-tipped missile that could reach the United States.

The "landmark" Hwasong-14 missile launch from Pyongyang's North Phyongan province was overseen by Mr Kim, state TV said.

A female broadcaster proclaimed the North "a strong nuclear power state" which had "a very powerful ICBM that can strike any place in the world".

It reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,740 miles) and flew 933km (580 miles) for about 40 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said: "We assume it a medium long-range ballistic missile. But we still plan to devise necessary measures assuming it may have been an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile).

"If it is ICBM, we will need to come up with the corresponding measures."

Grenfell Tower fire inquiry head Sir Martin Moore-Bick 'to increase probe's scope'

The chair of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry is reportedly prepared to increase the scope of his investigation and consider the "broad" causes of the blaze.

Campaigners have called for Sir Martin Moore-Bick to be replacedafter he said the inquiry would be "pretty well limited" to examining the causes of the fire, how it spread and how to prevent similar fires in future.

However, a source told the Press Association the retired judge was also looking to examine issues tracing back to building regulations at the time the block was erected.

"He is very happy to look at why there were warnings that weren't listened to, these were the allegations," the source said.

Narendra Modi to become first Indian PM to visit Israel

Narendra Modi will become the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel when he arrives on Tuesday.

Mr Modi, who recently said India and the Jewish state share a "deep and centuries-old" connection, is expected to agree military and cyber security deals.

Observers note he will not travel to Ramallah or meet Palestinian leaders, as visiting dignitaries often do.

The visit is seen by some as a turning point on India's position on Israel.

Here is what the focus will be on over the next three days:
Defence deals will be top of the agenda

For years, Israel and India have been working closely together on counter-terrorism and defence issues and India has been a regular customer of arms from the Jewish state.

Working to modernise its military to counter China and Pakistan, India is now Israel's biggest arms market, thought to be worth about $1bn (£770,000) per year, according to Reuters news agency.

YouTube Star Stevie Ryan Dies at 33

YouTube star Stevie Ryan died over the weekend in her Los Angeles home, in what authorities have ruled a suicide.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office ruled Ryan's death on Saturday a suicide by hanging. Ryan, who was 33, became known for her Little LocaYouTube series and celebrity impersonations. She starred in the VH1 comedy series Stevie TV and was a co-host on Brody Jenner's talk show Sex with Brody.

Ryan had spoken out in recent days about the death of her grandfather.

"The man of my dreams will now only be in my dreams. I'll miss you everyday, forever. I love you my Pa," she said in a Twitter post on Friday.

Ryan hosted a podcast about depression, called Mentally Ch(ill). In a recent episode, she also discussed her grandfather's death.

“I’m just worried that this is going to send me into a deeper depression,” she said during the episode, according to People.

Maria Menounos battles brain tumor

Maria Menounos announced on Monday that she will step down as co-anchor of E! News after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The 39-year-old has held the position since 2015 after she joined the network in 2014.

“Our thoughts and support go out to Maria and her family and we wish them all the best knowing that Maria will tackle this with the same fierce dedication she is known for,” said Adam Stotsky, president of E! Entertainment. “We are grateful for Maria’s many contributions to E! over the past three years.”