Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 4 May 2015

1. TWO SHOT DEAD AT US ANTI-ISLAM EVENT

Two gunmen have been shot dead by police after allegedly opening fire on a conference centre in Garland, Texas, which was hosting a meeting of an anti-Islamic group attended by Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders. A security guard was injured - and police suspect the men’s vehicle contains a bomb.

2. LABOUR AND TORIES FOCUS ON NHS AND TAX

With three days left, Ed Miliband and David Cameron are focusing their election campaigns on, respectively, the NHS and taxation. The Labour leader will accuse the Tories of seeking to privatise the health service while the Conservatives will insist that their policies would lead to tax cuts for 30 million people.

3. GUN SALUTES TO GREET NEW PRINCESS

Gun salutes will be fired in London today, at Hyde Park and the Tower, to celebrate the birth of the Duchess of Cambridge’s baby at the weekend. Prince William and Catherine have not yet announced a name for the little girl. They are expected to spend the next few days at home in Kensington Palace, London.

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4. EARTHQUAKE: FOUR NEPALIS FROM UK DEAD

Four Nepali expats living in the UK died in the Nepal earthquake, a relative has said. Former Gurkha soldier Kashi Rai, from Swindon, said his brother and his sister-in-law were among at four people from the town who died in the 7.8 magnitude quake. Prayers were said for the four in St John’s Church, Swindon.

5. ISRAEL: POLICE CLASH WITH ETHIOPIAN JEWS

Police in Israel have fired tear gas and used stun grenades on protesters, mostly ethnic Ethiopian Jews, who were holding a rally against police brutality and alleged racism. Police made 26 arrests and say at least 20 officers were injured. A video last week showed a soldier of Ethiopian descent being beaten by police.

6. BIRMINGHAM HEADS ALLEGE INTIMIDATION

Headteachers in Birmingham schools affected by the inquiry into the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot by hardline Muslims to affect teaching there say they are still subject to intimidation. One head says a dismembered cat was found in a playground, others report campaigns against teaching of tolerance of homosexuality.

7. UNEXPLAINED DEATH AT DORCHESTER HOTEL

Police are investigating after a man said to be a wealthy Arab tourist was found dead in his room at the exclusive Dorchester Hotel in London. Two people have been arrested and bailed to a date in June. The man is said to have died on Friday. The hotel is a favourite choice of celebrities and even royalty.

8. WINDIES TIE SERIES WITH ENGLAND

With victory in a final Test in Barbados described by pundits as “thrilling” and “absorbing”, the West Indies have tied the three-match series 1-1 with England. After three hard-fought days, a tired England suffered a five-wicket defeat at the Kensington Oval. Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood shared 108.

9. TIGER WOODS AND LINDSEY VONN SPLIT UP

US golfer Tiger Woods has split up with his girlfriend, the Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn, after three years together. Both athletes announced the end of the three-year relationship, insisting it was mutual and blaming their schedules, saying they both “lead hectic lives … competing in demanding sports”.

10. BRIEFING: WHY THE GOLD PRICE ISN'T RISING

The price of gold remains in the doldrums despite a host of factors that could be expected to boost prices. Uncertainty is supposed to lift the price of gold, yet turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine, and dramas in the eurozone have failed to prompt a rally. Neither has loose monetary policy proved as helpful as has been hoped.

Gold price waits for rates clues from Jackson Hole