Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 17 Dec 2014

1. PAKISTAN: FUNERALS FOR 141 TALIBAN VICTIMS

Funerals have been taking place in Pakistan after a Taliban attack that saw 141 people, mostly teenagers, shot dead at a school in Peshawar. PM Nawaz Sharif said the attack was a "national tragedy unleashed by savages". He also lifted the moratorium on the death penalty for terrorism offences and vowed to "eliminate" the Taliban.

2. CHURCH OF ENGLAND NAMES FEMALE BISHOP

The Church of England today named Rev Libby Lane as its first female bishop, one month after a historic change to canon law made it possible. The female priest is to become the Bishop of Stockport but as it is a junior position she will not sit in the House of Lords. The first women Church of England priests were ordained 20 years ago.

Church of England names Rev Libby Lane first women bishop

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

3. METHANE RAISES LIFE ON MARS POSSIBILITY

Nasa scientists say the Curiosity mars rover has identified mysterious spikes of methane gas on the red planet, which hint at the possibility of life there. One possible cause of the gas could be bacteria-like organisms. It cannot easily be explained by geology or organic material carried by asteroids.

4. KIM JONG-UN FILM PREMIERE CANCELLED

The premiere of a Hollywood comedy featuring North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has been cancelled after hackers who stole information from Sony Pictures issued threats against the cinema, and others planning to show the film. The message warned audiences would face a “bitter fate” and invoked 9/11.

5. HAMAS TAKEN OFF EU TERROR LIST

Hamas has been taken off the EU blacklist of terrorist organisations by a European court. Judges said the classification had been based on "factual imputations derived from the press and the internet". The court said the move was simply procedural, but Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the organisation be put back on the list.

EU takes Hamas off terrorist blacklist

6. BRITISH SOLDIERS MISTREATED IRAQIS

British soldiers mistreated Iraqi prisoners after a 2004 battle but did not torture or murder them, an inquiry has found. Prisoners were blindfolded, threatened and deprived of food and sleep, but the al-Sweady inquiry said the more serious allegations were "wholly and entirely without merit" and the product of "deliberate lies".

UK soldiers mistreated Iraqi detainees, says inquiry

7. US AND CUBA RELATIONS 'NORMALISED'

Relations between the US and Cuba are set to be normalised after decades of emnity following the release of US prisoner Alan Gross. Travel and trade restrictions are to be relaxed and diplomatic relations restored. Gross spent five years in prison on the island after being accused of espionage. Three Cubans convicted of spying in 2001 have been freed by the US.

8. CAR SMOKE BAN COULD START IN OCTOBER

Smoking in front of children in cars could be banned in England by next October. MPs are to vote on the plans before the election and new rules could come into force in the autumn. If the proposal is passed people who smoke or who fail to prevent another person smoking in a car containing children under the age of 18 will be fined £50.

9. APPLE HALTS RUSSIA SALES OVER ROUBLE

Apple has halted online sales of its products in Russia because of the collapse of the rouble. It said the currency had become so volatile it could no longer set prices. Last month the company increased its prices in Russia by 20%. Meanwhile the rouble regained some ground after reaching a record low against the dollar on Tuesday.

Russia crisis: how much have sanctions hurt Moscow?

10. HOT TICKET: TECH SATIRE GOLEM

Theatre troupe 1927's new stage show, Golem, has opened at the Young Vic, London. The technology satire uses live action and animation to tell the story of an office worker who buys a man-like machine that soon threatens to control his life. "Unforgettable," says The Times. Until 31 January.

Golem – reviews of 'astonishing' technology satire