Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 6 Apr 2015

1. RED CROSS TO SEND PLANES TO YEMEN

The International Committee of the Red Cross is sending two emergency aid flights to Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, where a coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been carrying out air strikes against Houthi rebels for almost two weeks. The Red Cross flights will carry vital medical supplies and a group of aid workers.

2. PARTIES CLASH OVER LIVING STANDARDS

The election campaign debate is to shift focus to the economy this week, Sky News predicts, with the three main parties all producing figures to claim their rivals will make voters worse off, if elected. In an interview with GQ, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has called George Osborne a “very dangerous man”.

3. SHABAB GUNMAN WAS SON OF KENYA OFFICIAL

One of the al-Shabab gunmen who massacred 148 people at a university in east Kenya last week was the son of a Kenyan government official, it has emerged. The father of Abdirahim Abdullahi had reported him missing before the attack. The 24-year-old former law student and three other gunmen died at the scene.

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4. PENSIONS MINISTER: DON’T BLOW IT ALL

The pensions minister, Steve Webb, has advised pensioners not to go on a spending spree, after new rules came into effect today allowing anyone aged over 55 to cash in their pension pot. Webb last year said pensioners could spend it all on a Lamborghini if they desired. Critics say the change was rushed.

5. TEENAGERS OF 14 AND 16 IN TERROR ARREST

A boy of 14 and a girl of 16 have been arrested in the north-west on suspicion of planning acts of terrorism. The two were arrested in Blackburn, Lancashire, and Longsight, Greater Manchester, last week, police say. The investigation is not thought to relate to the Britons from Rochdale arrested in Turkey.

6. BLANKET BAN ON DISPLAYING TOBACCO

A ban on displaying all tobacco products has come into force across the UK. Large retailers including supermarkets have been forced to keep cigarettes out of sight since 2012, but from now on small traders, pubs and clubs will be under the same restriction. A tobacco industry spokesman said it was “unnecessary”.

7. DANIEL CRAIG: KNEE OP FOR BOND INJURY

Actor Daniel Craig has had surgery on his knee for an injury he sustained filming the next James Bond film, Spectre. A publicist denied that the injury had set back production of the film and insisted it was a “minor procedure” during a scheduled break in filming, which will resume at Pinewood on 22 April.

8. HARRY IN AUSTRALIA FOR ARMY VISIT

Prince Harry arrived on Monday morning in Canberra for a secondment to the Australian army. The Prince, who will quit soldiering in June, first laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, before reporting for duty. He brought a letter from the Queen saying he would “benefit greatly” from the visit.

9. DAVID LYNCH QUITS TWIN PEAKS SEQUEL

Respected film director David Lynch will no longer direct an upcoming sequel to his much-loved early 1990s TV series, Twin Peaks. Lynch has backed out of a deal with Showtime because, he said, the US cable channel would not have given him the budget he needed. The channel said it hoped to change his mind.

10. BRIEFING: HOW TO STOP COLD CALLERS

Companies that make nuisance calls to members of the public will be fined up to £500,000 and convictions will be easier to secure under new laws to be introduced on Monday. Currently fines can only be imposed if the prosecution can prove that nuisance calls caused "substantial damage or substantial distress", but that requirement will be lifted from 6 April.

How to stop nuisance calls: new laws will help consumers