The 11 things you might have missed this weekend

Donald Trump began his first overseas tour as US president, Liverpool secured Champions League spot and Pippa Middledon  wed James Matthews in a private ceremony.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn's links to the IRA were at the centre of a growing row after he repeatedly refused to condemn the actions of Republican terrorists. 

If you've been away from a screen or newspaper all weekend or want a summary, here's a quick recap of the main events.

1. Trump urges the President’s call to action Muslim world to do its ‘fair share’ to beat terrorism

President Donald Trump called on Middle Eastern leaders to combat a "crisis of Islamic extremism" emanating from the region, casting the fight against terrorism as a "battle between good and evil," not a clash between the West and Islam.

Mr Trump's address Sunday was the centerpiece of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, his first stop overseas as president. During a meeting of more than 50 Arab and Muslim leaders, he sought to chart a new course for America's role in the region, one aimed squarely on rooting out terrorism, with less focus on promoting human rights and democratic reforms.

"We are not here to lecture - we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship," Mr Trump said, speaking in an ornate, multi-chandeliered room. "Instead, we are here to offer partnership - based on shared interests and values - to pursue a better future for us all."

2. Corbyn engulfed in IRA furore

Jeremy Corbyn's links to the IRA were at the centre of a growing row after he repeatedly refused to condemn the actions of Republican terrorists. 

The Labour leader was asked five times to denounce the IRA on Sunday but chose instead to state his opposition to "all bombing".

When asked if he could unequivocally condemn the IRA, Mr Corbyn said: " No, I think what you have to say is all bombing has to be condemned."

3. Liverpool secures Champions League spot as Arsenal falls short 

Arsenal will not play in the Champions League next season for the first time since 1997-98 despite beating Everton 3-1 in a bruising final Premier League match that has also left them facing a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.

A final points tally of 75 has only actually been bettered by eight previous Arsenal teams in 25 Premier League seasons but fifth still represents their lowest ever finish under Wenger, with Liverpool and Manchester City both winning on Sunday to ensure they join champions Chelsea and runners up Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

A goal on the stroke of half-time by Georginio Wijnaldum settled Liverpool and they eventually ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. It is only the second time in eight seasons that Liverpool have finished in the top four. 

4. Pippa Middleton weds James Matthews in private ceremony

It had been designed with military precision, with several heirs to the throne on the guest list, the cream of high society in attendance and a picture perfect English country setting.

Add a stroke of luck with sunny weather, a brood of adorable bridesmaids and page boys, and a kiss for the camera, and Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’s wedding went off as smoothly as could be.

The bride, wearing a Giles Deacon gown, beamed to the waiting world on the arm of her new husband, with a troupe of eight excitable youngsters stealing the show under the watchful eye of a discreet Duchess of Cambridge.

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews prepare to marry: in pictures

5. Facebook won’t censor abuse and violence

Facebook is refusing to delete videos and images of "violent death", abortion and self-harm because the web giant does not want to censor its users, it has emerged.

The American social media giant also allows people to live stream attempts to self-harm because it “doesn’t want to censor or punish people in distress”.

The website's ethical guidelines, which were leaked to The Guardian, revealed that it has instructed staff not to remove controversial content which many would find deeply offensive.

6. Street violence brings Maduro to ‘brink of civil war’

More than 200,000 Venezuelans took to the streets to mark the 50th day of protests against President Nicolas Maduro, as the country struggles with dire food shortages.

Clashes broke out in the eastern district of Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, as protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at police, who responded with tear gas.

Mr Maduro's critics say he is to blame for the country's crippled economy, which has led to widespread protests, street looting and rioting over the past seven weeks, leaving at least 47 people dead.

7. Billy Vunipola to miss British and Irish Lions tour with shoulder injury

The British and Irish Lions have been hit with an enormous blow just a week ahead of leaving for New Zealand with the news that the Saracens No 8, Billy Vunipola, has been forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury. 

Wasps’ James Haskell has been called into the squad but will not join the party until the eve of departure as he is involved in next weekend’s Aviva Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.

The Lions head coach, Warren Gatland, is used to dealing with the vagaries and misfortunes of injury on this his third Lions tour but this setback will hit him hard. Vunipola has grown in stature over the last 12 months to the extent that the England back-row forward was one of the players who would readily go toe-to-toe in the reckoning against anyone the All Blacks might field against him, including the incumbent No 8, Kieran Read. 

8. Three minke whales wash up dead on Suffolk coast

Three minke whales may have been disorientated by wind farm when the washed up dead off the coast of the UK, rescuers have said.

The first sighting of the dead whale, a calf, was spotted on a mudbank in the River Ore, near Felixstowe, on Saturday afternoon.

Officials have sealed off an area of Felixstowe Pier in Suffolk after the 30ft whale, thought to be the calf's mother, washed up there.

9. Mount Everest's Hillary Step collapses 

 A rocky outcrop on Mount Everest known as Hillary Step has collapsed, mountaineers said on Sunday, making the climb even tougher for those who dare to attempt reaching the summit. 

The news was confirmed by  British mountaineer Tim Mosedale in a post on Facebook. 

"It's official - The Hillary Step is no more," he said. 

The rocky outcrop stood on the mountain's southeast ridge, and was the last major challenge before the summit.

10. Boris Johnson sneaks a look at Robert Peston's interview questions when he isn't looking

Boris Johnson stole a look at Robert Peston's interview questions for their upcoming conversation on ITV on Sunday morning.

As the journalist went to interview other guests on his show, the Foreign Secretary smiled as he leafed through the notes.

Robert Peston wrote on Twitter: "Here 's Boris stealing and copying my homework (ie reading questions I planned for him, while I interviewed Nicholas Soames & Jess Phillips)."

11. Stallone fans brace themselves as Rambo goes to Bollywood

Of all the Hollywood movies least likely to be remade into a Bollywood song and dance extravaganza, violent action thriller Rambo would be among them.

News that the 1980s classic is to be adapted into a Bollywood blockbuster has prompted an incredulous response from fans of the original, and a somewhat startled reaction from Rambo star, Sylvester Stallone, himself.

“I read recently they are remaking Rambo in India!!...Great character…hope they don’t wreck it,” he wrote on his Instagram account, next to a movie still of a fierce-looking John Rambo, the troubled Vietnam War veteran who the franchise is based on.

In a later post, he clarified that “some people like to read my words and twist them”, wishing Tiger Shroff, the 27-year-old Indian action hero who will star in the Hindi revamp, good luck.

Must-read analysis of the weekend

Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia wasn't really about Islam. It was about confronting Iran

Long before his election, Donald Trump tweeted: “Tell Saudi Arabia and others that we want (demand!) free oil for the next 10 years or we will not protect their private Boeing 747s.” One wonders, therefore, what was going through the president’s head yesterday as verses from the Koran were played before his first overseas speech in Saudi Arabia. 

As a candidate, he had declared that “Islam hates us”; as president, he sought to impose a travel ban directed at Muslim-majority countries and surrounded himself with advisers who saw a clash of civilisations. Now, he found himself urging Muslims to join hands with the US to defeat terrorism.  How did he square this circle?

Read the full article.

Best video from the weekend

Best picture from the weekend

Best cartoon from the weekend

Register Log in commenting policy