Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 1 Apr 2017

1. MPs face new expenses scandal after data leak

The House of Commons is facing a fresh expenses scandal after the amount that every MP pays their staff, including their wives and family members, was accidentally leaked. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has apologised to all 650 MPs for a "serious data breach". MPs told the Daily Telegraph that the data could be "hugely embarrassing" for MPs who employ their wives, children and other "connected parties".

2. Gibraltar 'will be even more British' after Brexit

Gibraltar's chief minister insists the territory "is not going to be a political pawn in Brexit" and will become even more British after Brexit. The news comes after it was revealed that Spain may be able to veto any future trade deal between the EU and the UK, heightening tensions over the status of the 'Rock', which has been held by the UK since 1713 and is home to British military bases.

3. Demonstrators set fire to Paraguay parliament

Protestors in Paraguay have stormed the country's Congress and set fire to it as demonstrations against a bill that would let the president seek re-election turn violent. A constitution, introduced in 1992 after 35 years of dictatorship, limits the president to a single five-year term, but current President Horactio Cartes is trying to overturn the restriction and run for re-election.

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

4. Warnings of 'disaster' as rail funding is slashed

Railways will face the biggest spending cutbacks since 2008 amid warnings that lack of funds could "endanger passengers lives", reports The Independent. A leaked document reveals that poor funding has forced rail bosses to cancel track upgrades in a bid to save millions of pounds. Unions warned of a rail "disaster" and mass job losses. They claim the government is trying to bury the news under coverage of Article 50.

5. Taxman owes Google £31m despite crackdown promises

The taxman agreed to repay Google £31m in corporation tax last year despite government pledges to claw more cash from internet giants. Google ended its financial year claiming it was due a multi-million-pound payment from HMRC. The news comes two years after ministers promised to recoup "hundreds of millions" of pounds from global technology companies avoiding tax on British sales.

6. Russiagate: Michael Flynn's testimony plan is 'momentous'

The request by the fired US national security adviser for immunity to testify over Russian interference in the US election is "momentous", says the House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat. Although Representative Adam Schiff said they were interested in hearing Michael Flynn's testimony, he insisted it was too early to shield him from any prosecution. Flynn’s lawyer says that his client "has a story to tell".

7. Glasgow bin lorry driver escapes prison sentence

The Glasgow bin lorry driver who killed six people has avoided jail after admitting culpable and reckless driving in a separate incident. Harry Clarke, 60, admitted driving a car in Glasgow in September 2015 to the danger of the public, despite his licence having been revoked for medical reasons. He has also been given a 12-month supervision order and will have to wear an electronic tag and carry out unpaid work.

8. Third of grammars will change admission rules next year

Around a third of grammar schools in England plan to change their admissions procedures from next year to favour children from disadvantaged backgrounds, a new study has found. The establishments join 49 grammars that already have policies in place to help children on free school meals or other assistance to gain places at the schools. The news comes ahead of government plans to lift the 50-year-old ban on new grammars.

9. Prince Charles tried to pause Afghanistan war

Prince Charles tried to halt the American invasion of Afghanistan to “honour” Ramadan, according to a new book. After the royal made the plea to the US ambassador to London, The the "startled" envoy asked, "Sir, are you really serious?" Critics, including an officer who led UK forces in Afghanistan, described the prince’s request as absurd and grossly irresponsible.

10. Pizza letterbox warmer among April Fools' pranks

Are Domino’s launching a letterbox warmer for pizzas? Are Burger King selling a toothpaste? And what’s this about Wilko’s offering a hot tub for birds? All three stories are among the April Fools’ pranks floating around this morning. Meanwhile, The Verge says that “everyone hates April Fools’ Day” and wonders why we persist with it.