Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 2 Oct 2017

1. Passengers stranded as Monarch goes bust

The UK’s fifth-largest airline, Monarch, has ceased trading, leaving 110,000 passengers stranded overseas and 300,000 future flight bookings cancelled. The Government has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to charter more than 30 planes to bring the stranded passengers home, in what has been called the UK’s biggest peacetime repatriation.

2. Catalans assert ‘right to independence’

The results of a referendum on Catalonian independence from Spain, held despite objections from central government and widespread police violence, are back – and Catalonians have voted overwhelmingly to create their own state, on a turnout of 43.2%. Spain’s Prime Minister Manuel Rajoy still maintains the vote is illegal.

3. ‘Active’ shooting at US music festival

Police in Las Vegas say they are dealing with an “active shooter” at a country music festival being held at Mandalay Bay Casino. There are reports of multiple casualties, and the noise of automatic gunfire can be heard on videos posted by witnesses on social media. The shooting seems to have begun at around 5.30am UK time and at least two people are dead, with a further 20 in hospital.

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4. Johnson steals Tory conference thunder

The Conservative Party conference began in Manchester on Sunday – but headlines are dominated by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson this morning. Some Tory MPs have demanded his resignation, while the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce accused him of “destabilising the Government” with his Brexit interventions.

5. Kim Jong Nam murder: Not guilty plea

Two women accused of the bizarre murder of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, in a Malaysian airport have pleaded not guilty. Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, and Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, are accused of rubbing VX nerve agent in Kim’s face. They say they were tricked by North Korean agents.

6. Bad insulation to ‘cost £1bn in extra bills’

Tenants in 300,000 rented properties could collectively pay an extra £1bn for energy over the next five years if their landlords take advantage of a “loophole” in new regulations, a climate change charity is warning. The 10:10 organisation says the rules intended to force the landlords to insulate are “toothless” because they allow them to apply for an exemption.

7. Edward Heath godson calls for inquiry

The godson of Sir Edward Heath has called for an inquiry into how police are handling historic sex abuse allegations levelled against the late Conservative prime minister. Lincoln Seligman, who knew Heath for 50 years from childhood, says Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale is “acting as judge and jury and has already convicted”.

8. Rail and tube strikes scheduled this week

Rail and London Underground workers are striking this week in separate actions that will disrupt millions of journeys across the country. RMT members at Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia strike over driverless trains on Tuesday and Thursday, while Aslef Tube drivers walk out on Thursday over conditions.

9. Archbishop: ‘I can’t give straight answer’

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has said he “can’t give a straight answer” when asked if gay sex is sinful. Interviewed by former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell for GQ magazine, Welby said: “I haven’t got a good answer to the question.” He added that “stability of relationships and loving relationships” were “central”.

10. Briefing: the new UKIP leader

Henry Bolton, a former British army officer and OBE whose campaign was backed by Nigel Farage, has been elected UKIP’s new leader in a surprise result that will define the party’s new direction.

The 54-year-old former police officer edged out six other candidates at the UKIP conference in Torquay last week, fending off bookie favourites Anne Marie Waters, who ran on an anti-Islam platform, and deputy leader Peter Whittle, who pushed for the party’s burka ban.

UKIP elects Henry Bolton leader in ‘shock’ result