Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 6 Nov 2018

1. Trump pushes as last polls show support fading

US President Donald Trump made a final push for votes last night before today’s US mid-term elections, with the last polls suggesting support for the Republicans was fading. A poll in the bellwether state of Florida showed a seven-point lead for Democrat candidates, after earlier surveys had placed the parties much closer.

2. London: fifth knife killing in a single week

A boy of 16 was stabbed to death in Tulse Hill, south London, last night, the fifth knife death in the capital in one week. No immediate arrests were made but a murder inquiry was opened. Hours earlier, London Mayor Sadiq Khan had warned it could take a generation to end the violence. So far this year, 117 people have been murdered.

3. Five men arrested over Grenfell bonfire film

Five men aged 19 to 55 have been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence after a video emerged online showing a crude model labelled ‘Grenfell Tower’ being burnt on a bonfire. It featured paper figures standing at windows. In the video, voices can be heard off camera saying “help me, help me” and “stay in your flats”.

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4. State pension age for women rises to 65

From today, women will receive their state pension at the same age as men – 65. In October 2020, the age will rise for both sexes to 66 – and it is expected to be 69 by the year 2039. The Guardian says there are fears that some women are now facing poverty because the female pension age has been equalised with such rapidity.

5. School superhead struck off over second salary

The ‘superhead’ of a West Midlands school has been struck off from teaching after it emerged he was secretly paid a double salary. Liam Noland of Perry Beeches Academy was feted by David Cameron and Michael Gove for his leadership. While receiving an official salary of £120,000, he was also getting a hidden £160,000.

6. Policeman kills himself at French PM’s home

A policeman has been found dead with his service gun at his side in the official residence of the French prime minister. He is thought to have committed suicide on duty, three months after members of Edouard Philippe’s protection team wrote to their boss complaining of overwork and disrespect - and warning that a suicide was possible.

7. Couple die in helicopter crash leaving wedding

A newly wed couple died in Texas in a helicopter crash, along with their pilot, on Saturday night as they left their own wedding. Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler were students at Sam Houston State University. They had been married to each other for just over an hour when their helicopter came down on the Byler family ranch.

8. ‘Miracle’ as angler pulls toddler from ocean

A beach fisherman pulled what he thought was a large doll from the ocean off the north coast of New Zealand last week, just in time to save the life of a toddler who was drowning. Gus Hutt said he thought the child was made of porcelain until he cried. The toddler had let himself out of his parent’s tent without waking them up.

9. Mechanism behind Great Pyramids uncovered

An Anglo-French team has made a chance discovery in an ancient Egyptian quarry which sheds new light on the mysterious construction of the Great Pyramids at Giza 4,500 years ago. A ramp was unearthed with post holes showing huge stone blocks could be moved using ropes up much steeper angles than previously thought.

10. Briefing: are you about to get a pay rise?

Tens of thousands of workers are set to receive a pay rise as the UK’s “real living wage” increases to £9 an hour.

The newly announced hike comes as British households “face increasing pressure from higher living costs”, notes The Guardian. So how do you know if you are about to be paid more?

Real living wage: are you about to get a pay rise?