Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 31 Jul 2017

1. Battle of Passchendaele remembered in Ypres

Commemorations are taking place to mark the centenary of the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium today. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join heads of state and political leaders in Ypres to salute the 500,000 troops who died in one of World War I's bloodiest battles. Today's ceremony is expected to be the last major remembrance for the battle.

2. Indian floods kill at least 213 in Gujarat

At least 213 people have died in severe monsoon flooding in Gujarat state, India, and officials say they are struggling to cope after the death toll jumped from 123 when receding waters revealed more bodies. Around 130,000 people have been rescued from affected areas. Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the north-east of India have also been hit.

3. Moscow expels US diplomats over sanctions

Russia has given 755 US diplomats until 1 September to leave the country in response to Washington's vote to impose sanctions last week. President Vladimir Putin said he cannot see relations with the US improving "any time soon". The US State Department said Moscow's move was "a regrettable and uncalled for act".

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US sanctions are full-scale 'economic war', says Russia

4. A fifth of MPs still employ relatives

One in five MPs still employ family members at the taxpayers' expense, the latest Register of Members' Financial Interests shows, although new members of parliament are no longer allowed to do this. Reform campaigners say there must be a clear end date to end existing employment arrangements.

5. Government's mental health plan 'does not add up'

Nursing chiefs says government plans to create thousands of new mental health jobs "appear not to add up". Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to add an extra 21,000 posts to the service by 2021, using "new, additional, extra money". However, the Royal College of Nursing says the timeframe is not long enough to recruit and train new staff.

6. Channel 4 asked to drop Diana documentary

A close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales has written to Channel 4 asking it to scrap a documentary which includes recordings of the Princess's "therapy" sessions. Rosa Monckton says using the video recordings, which were made by Diana's public speaking coach, will hurt Princes William and Harry.

7. Hammond: UK will not cut taxes after Brexit

Philip Hammond says the UK will not "undercut" the EU with lower business rates or other taxes after Brexit. Speaking to Le Monde, the Chancellor said Britain would "remain a country with a social, economic and cultural model that is recognisably European" - a contrast to his words earlier this year threatening to do "whatever we have to do" to stay competitive.

Brexit: Lords force Theresa May to give MPs single market vote

8. Maduro claims victory in Venezuela

More than a dozen people have died in violence in Venezuela after President Nicolas Maduro claimed eight million people voted in favour of creating a National Constituent Assembly, which would hand him virtually unlimited power. Claims that more than 40% of the population voted in favour of the idea have been ridiculed by opposition parties and Sunday's election was marred by violence and protests.

Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro claims election victory

9. Four arrested over airline bomb plot in Australia

Security at Australia's airports remains high after four men were arrested in Sydney over an alleged Islamic-inspired plot to detonate a bomb. It has been described by police as a "credible attempt to attack an aircraft". The four men were allegedly constructing a "non-traditional" device to kill the occupants of the plane with poisonous gas and planned to conceal the bomb in a kitchen meat grinder.

Australia steps up airport security after 'terror plot'

10. Thailand targets Western 'begpackers'

Thailand is reportedly cracking down on tourists who arrive in the country with no money and resort to begging or illegal work to fund their travels. Immigration officials at several border checkpoints are asking some foreigners entering the country on a tourist visa to prove they have 20,000 baht (£460) in cash, according to Thai Visa. Images of so-called begpackers - Western tourists who beg, busk or sell trinkets on the streets - have been widely shared on Twitter, drawing criticism from locals who says the practice is deeply disrespectful.

Thailand targets Western 'begpackers'