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Sir John Chilcot Claims Tony Blair Was Not Truthful About Run Up To Iraq War

Tony Blair was not “straight with the nation” about his decisions in the run up to the Iraq War, the chairman of the inquiry into the war has said.

Speaking for the first time since publishing his report a year ago, Sir John Chilcot discussed why he thinks the former PM made those decisions. He said the evidence Mr Blair gave the inquiry was “emotionally truthful” but he relied on beliefs rather than facts.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said “all these issues” had been dealt with.

In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Sir John also talked about Mr Blair’s state of mind during the inquiry and his relationship with the then US President George W Bush in the build-up to the 2003 conflict.

Sir John also admitted that at the start of the inquiry he had “no idea” how long it would take, but defended its conduct and the seven years it took to complete.

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Prison Officer Attacked At Norwich Prison

A prison officer has suffered a neck injury after being attacked with a bladed weapon at Norwich Prison.

The guard, who is believed to be in his 40s, was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital following the attack on 11 June. The attack was revealed by an inmate who said the officer “was in a really bad way”.

A Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed the incident is being investigated by police.

East of England Ambulance Service said a man was treated for a neck injury after it was called to an address on Knox Road at 17:22 BST.

The prisoner, who asked not to be named for fears of his safety, told BBC Radio Norfolk the officer was attacked by an inmate on the landing of A wing. “If it hadn’t been for the other officer protecting him he would have been killed,” he added.

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Emirates Lifts Ban Of Laptops On US Flights

The Emirates airline has said the cabin ban on laptops no longer applies on its flights to the United States.

In March, the US banned cabin laptops and other large electronic devices to and from eight mostly Muslim nations, fearing bombs may be concealed in them.

An Emirates spokeswoman said it had worked with US authorities to meet the requirements of the new security guidelines for all US bound flights.

Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, flies to 12 US cities. It comes after the US lifted the laptop ban on Sunday for Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi to the US.

The boss of Turkish Airlines has said he expects the ban to be lifted for his airline soon as well.

Under the US rules, devices “larger than a smartphone” were not allowed in the cabins of flights from Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The US Homeland Security department unveiled further measures last week to enhance security on flights entering the country. The new measures require enhanced screening, more thorough vetting of passengers and the wider use of bomb-sniffer dogs in 105 countries.

President Macron Boards Nuclear Submarine

President Emmanuel Macron has spent several hours underwater aboard a nuclear submarine to signal commitment to France’s nuclear deterrent.

During the visit to “Le Terrible” submarine off Brittany coast, Mr Macron reportedly took part in a simulated missile launch.

France will be the sole EU nation with nuclear arms after 2019, when the UK is expected to leave the 28-member bloc. Meanwhile, the new French government easily won its first confidence vote.

The cabinet led by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was backed by 370 MPs in the lower house, with only 67 voting against.

Mr Philippe set out proposals for public spending cuts and labour reforms – a move condemned by the trade unions, who have threatened protest strikes in the autumn.

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Extremist Charged With Plotting To Kill President Macron

A suspected far-right extremist has been charged with plotting to kill French President Emmanuel Macron at the Bastille Day parade later this month.

The 23-year-old was arrested in a Paris suburb last Wednesday after police were alerted by users of a videogame chat room where he allegedly said he wanted to buy a gun. He also said he wanted to attack minorities, a judicial source told AFP.

Mr Macron has been giving a state-of-the-nation-style address in Versailles. He has been outlining his priorities in the speech, taking place during a special session of both houses of parliament at the Palace of Versailles.

However the French president is facing criticism over the address, with far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélénchon accusing him of behaving like a “pharoah”.

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