Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 1 Nov 2017

1. Argentinian friends among New York terror dead

Five of the eight people killed by a terrorist driving a truck along a cycle lane in New York yesterday were Argentinian friends on a trip to the city to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation. Another two were children. Eleven were injured. The suspect, shot by police but still alive, is 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant Sayfullo Saipov.

2. Damian Green investigated over harassment claim

The Prime Minister has ordered an investigation into a claim by journalist Kate Maltby that First Secretary of State Damian Green put his hand on her knee. Green, effectively Theresa May’s deputy, said the allegation was “untrue” and “deeply hurtful” and insisted he had never made “any sexual advances” on Maltby, a family friend.

3. Trump to eschew ‘cliched’ Korean border trip

A senior US official says President Donald Trump will not visit the heavily armed border between North and South Korea when he travels to the peninsula during a 12-day tour of Asia starting on Saturday. There is a tradition of US presidents showing support to South Korea by visiting the border but the official said it had become “a cliche”.

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4. Most of UK fruit and veg ‘affected by Brexit’

A new report by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) warns that of the officially-recommended 35 portions of fruit and vegetables per person per week, just one is grown in the UK and picked by non-EU workers. That means the country faces serious health implications if it leaves the EU without a trade deal, according to the RSA report.

5. Crackdown on ‘despicable’ £1bn NHS fraud

The head of a new watchdog, the NHS Counter Fraud Agency, says she will crack down on “despicable” fraud which costs the health service more than £1.25bn annually. Sue Frith says patient fraud includes people wrongly claiming for exemption from prescription charges, while dentists claim £70m for NHS work they have not done.

6. Arrest warrant issued for Rose McGowan

An arrest warrant has been issued for US actor Rose McGowan over controlled substances left on plane in January. Police are said to have been trying to reach McGowan to discuss the warrant since February. One of those who accuse producer Harvey Weinstein of harassment, she asked on Twitter: “Are they trying to silence me?”

7. Netflix suspends House of Cards production

Online producer Netflix has suspended production of its hit series House of Cards immediately, after star Kevin Spacey was accused of a sexual assault on a 14-year-old, 31 years ago. Netflix announced on Monday that it would not commission a new series of the show. The latest decision could delay the launch of the new series.

8. Climbing Uluru rock banned from 2019

Australia is to ban climbing on Uluru, the World Heritage site previously known as Ayers Rock, from October 2019 because it is sacred to the local Anangu aboriginal people. There have long been signs asking visitors not to climb the rock out of respect – but they were ignored by 16% of visitors to the site between 2011 and 2015.

9. Bake Off winner revealed – for the second time

The winner of the first Channel 4 Great British Bake Off has been named – officially this time. Former army officer Sophie Faldo said winning was “pretty mega”. Judge Prue Leith accidentally tweeted “Bravo Sophie” 11 hours early, saying later she confused the ime difference between the UK and Bhutan, where she was staying.

10. Briefing: the UK’s next generation of political stars

France’s Emmanuel Macron, Ireland’s Leo Varadkar, Estonia’s Juri Ratas and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern have a lot in common - as part of a group of under-40s leading their nations and a political revolution.

And as The Times says: “The baby leaders club is swelling.”

With young political stars sweeping to power worldwide, some commentators are asking whether Britain is missing an opportunity.

Wild things: the UK’s next generation of political stars