Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 6 Nov 2017

1. Twenty-six killed in Texas baptist church shooting

A gunman armed with an assault gun shot dead 26 people at a Baptist church in Texas yesterday The killer, named by US media as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, was discharged from the US air force in 2014 after being court-martialled for assaulting his wife and child. A member of the public fired on Kelley as he left the church and he was later found dead.

2. Paradise Papers expose tax secrets of super-rich

More than a year after the Panama Papers leak revealed embarrassing details of tax avoidance, an even larger cache of newly published documents from an offshore finance firm shows that Donald Trump’s commerce secretary has a stake in a firm dealing with Russians supposedly under US sanctions. The so-called Paradise Papers also reveal details of the Queen’s holdings.

3. Conservative Party activist says rape claim was ignored

A former Tory activist has told the BBC that she reported someone senior to her in the party for rape, but that her concerns were “completely ignored” by the Commons authorities. A court case against the man, who is not an MP, was later dropped after a review of evidence. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom says she did was not informed about the complaint.

Subscribe to 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. Cuts ‘leave families thousands of pounds worse off’

Seven years of austerity measures have left many families thousands of pounds a year worse off, a joint report by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank has found. The report says that cuts to tax credits and universal credit have “hugely eroded” their role in rewarding people in lower-paid jobs for working, says The Guardian.

5. Catalonia’s Puigdemont freed on bail in Belgium

The former regional president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, was freed on bail by a Belgian judge last night, along with four of his former ministers. They had been imprisoned after Spain requested their arrest. The judge ruled they could not leave Belgium without permission and must appear in court there within the next 15 days.

6. May promises ‘respect culture’ after abuse claims

Speaking to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) tonight, Theresa May will promise to “create a new culture of respect” at Westminster following allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. The Prime Minister is meeting with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable to try to agree new anti-harassment measures for Parliament.

7. Manchester attack victims ‘waited for treatment’

Many of the most seriously injured victims of the suicide bombing after a pop concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May waited for more than an hour for treatment, witnesses say. According to the BBC, only three paramedics entered the cordoned-off foyer area at the centre of the blast. Instead, injured people were taken to medics outside.

8. Saudi prince killed in Yemen helicopter crash

A Saudi prince died this weekend when his helicopter crashed near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The cause of the crash is not known, but Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards a Saudi airport the day before. Prince Mansour bin Muqrin was the deputy governor of Asir province.

9. Trump: ‘Japan could shoot North Korea missiles’

US President Donald Trump said this morning that Japan could shoot North Korean missiles “out of the sky” because it is “going to purchase massive amounts of military equipment” from the US. Trump made the remarks at a press event with Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, whose moves to beef up his country’s military capability have sparked controversy.

10. Briefing: the problem with Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi was once feted by a host of world leaders including former US president Barack Obama. David Cameron called her “inspirational”, while US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell compared her to Gandhi.

But the de facto ruler of Myanmar is now the subject of worldwide criticism for her inaction during a campaign of murder and torture against Rohingya Muslims in her country.

Psychology of a dictator: the problem with Aung San Suu Kyi