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1) King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his intention to abdicate, after 38 years on the throne. His son, Crown Prince Felipe, 45 years old, will take over the throne. Juan Carlos said that his son, Prince Felipe, had the maturity and preparation to be king. But the king Juan Carlos's abdication will be a surprise to most people in Spain, but not a shock.

2) A powerful sandstorm has hit Iran's capital, Tehran, killing at least five people and injuring about 30. In this sandstorm there was material damages because the trees were falling down on houses or cars. At its peak, the storm brought winds of up to 110km/hour (70mph). The total number of deaths is unclear. Iranian state television said five were killed.

3) Hundreds of separatists in eastern Ukraine are continuing their assault on a border command centre near the city of Luhansk. Five militants were killed. A Ukrainian military aircraft was called to support the centre. Pro-Russian groups accused Ukraine's military of carrying out an air shot. Kiev denied the claim, suggesting that separatists in the building could have mishandled a anti-aircraft missile system.

4) Four people have been arrested in the Paris region and Southern France, on suspicion of recruiting militants to fight in Syria. This arrest occured a day after the news emerged that a Frenchman was being held by police after the murder of three people at the Brussels Jewish Museum. The suspected murderer is Mehdi Nemmouche. He was arrested in Marseille, the authorities thought that he wanted to fight in Syria in a jihadist group.

5) In the midst of a bloody and protracted civil war, the Syrian government is set to hold a presidential election on Tuesday, June 3rd. The outcome is hardly in doubt: President Bashar al-Assad is almost guaranteed to emerge victorious in a vote that opposition groups and many Western countries say will be rigged from the start.

6) Rugby legends from past and present pay tribute to Jonny Wilkinson who finished his career on a high, by winning on the same year the French league title with Toulon and the H-cup.

7) Andy Murray won face up to Fernando Verdasco in 3 straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open (Roland Garros). The Wimbledon champion, will next face Frenchman Gael Monfils on Wednesday who won face up to Guillermo Garcia Lopez in 3 sets.

8) Two grieving fathers, who each lost a son in the recent killing spree in Santa Barbara, California, met for the first time Sunday (1st June). Peter Rodger, the father of killer Elliot Rodger, met with Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher was killed by the younger Rodger in the deadly rampage through the college town of Isla Vista just over a week ago. Police say Rodger killed six people between the ages of 19 and 22 the night of May 23rd after years of rejection and jealousy. He was later found dead in his car from a gunshot wound to the head.

9) After months of infighting within the Pakistan Taliban, a major faction of the deadly militant group has apparently had enough. Analysts say the move has major implications for alliances among Islamist groups in the region but there's no guarantee it will lead to less violence. It's the first split since the TTP (a coalition of militant groups) was founded in 2007, seeking

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