Sunday newspaper round-up: Trump and Kim, G-20, Boris’ Brexit
President Trump became the first United States leader to enter North Korea this morning, during a hastily arranged meeting with Kim Jong-un at the country’s tense border with South Korea.
After greeting Trump at the dividing line between the divided Koreas, Kim led him a few yards into the North, before the two men crossed back over the line to greet the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in.
The three leaders talked for just under an hour and announced afterwards that teams of North Korean and US diplomats will resume negotiations on denuclearisation, four months after the failure of Trump and Kim’s last summit in Vietnam. - the Sunday Times
Britain is on course for a hard-Brexit confrontation with Brussels after both prime ministerial contenders revealed last night they were drafting in negotiating teams to replace Theresa May’s failed deal with a free-trade agreement.
Jeremy Hunt has drafted in two senior Canadian politicians, while Boris Johnson has asked Jacob Rees-Mogg and two other dedicated Brexiteers to draw up his Brexit blueprint.
The foreign secretary has recruited Stephen Harper, the former prime minister of Canada, to lead his “all-star” team alongside his fellow countrywoman Rona Ambrose, who has conducted trade negotiations with America. - the Sunday Times
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, struck a ceasefire in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies yesterday as the American president wrapped up a series of cordial meetings with autocratic counterparts.
In a one-to-one session that overshadowed the rest of the G20 summit, Trump and Xi agreed to restart trade talks, with the US leader saying he would not impose threatened new tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump also said that he was ready to lift a ban on American companies selling components to Huawei, the Chinese technology giant, if there was “no great national security problem”.
“We’re right back on track,” Trump commented. “If we make a deal, it will be a very historic event.” - the Sunday Times
Nigel Farage will today claim that he would spend an astonishing £200bn to transform the British regions in the largest investment since the war as he sets his sights on the heart of Government.
The Brexit Party leader will unveil the bold plan, which includes rebuilding the transport system and free broadband for all homes at a rally in Birmingham.
He plans to fund the monster cash injection in areas outside London by refusing to send Brussels the £39bn Brexit 'divorce bill', scrapping the £14bn foreign aidbudget and abandoning the £100bn HS2 high-speed rail project. - Mail on Sunday
Controversial civil servant Olly Robbins has resigned as Britain's chief Brexit negotiator ahead of an expected Boris Johnsonpremiership, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
He is to leave Government before the country's new Prime Minister takes power next month for a lucrative job in the City. - Mail on Sunday
Senior MPs from both wings of the Labour party expressed fears last night that they could lose a snap general election to a reinvigorated Tory party led by Boris Johnson because of their own party’s internal feuding, indecision over Brexit, and failure to end the bitter controversy over antisemitism.
The Labour frontbencher Clive Lewis, who is on the left of the party, called on the leadership to “get a grip” before it was too late.
In a separate development, a further sign of Labour turmoil came last night when shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, a Jeremy Corbyn loyalist, broke cover to join fellow shadow cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth in voicing concern about Labour’s handling of antisemitism. - the Observer
The incoming White House press secretary became embroiled in a scuffle with North Koreanofficials during a brawl between reporters and the country’s security guards.
Stephanie Grishamwas left with bruises after chaotic scenes saw officials shoving and attempting to block the press. - the Independent