Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 22 May 2013

1. PM: YOUNG GAYS 'WILL STAND A LITTLE TALLER'

David Cameron today defended his ambition to legalise gay marriage against the wishes of many Tory MPs, telling Radio 4 that "there are young boys in school today who are gay" who will "stand a little taller" because Parliament has decreed that their love is worth the same as others'. He was proud of leading "a profoundly radical reforming government".

Cameron and the gay schoolboys: is this how to win over Tory rebels?

2. HOT TICKET: WITTY AYCKBOURN REVIVAL

A revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s 1960s comedy hit ‘Relatively Speaking’, starring Felicity Kendal, has opened at Wyndham’s Theatre, West End. A young man follows his girlfriend to her parent’s house to propose marriage, but finds nothing is as it seems. Until 31 August. “Brilliantly witty,” says the Daily Telegraph.

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Ayckbourn revival Relatively Speaking still 'brilliantly witty'

3. FIRST CHILD VICTIM OF TORNADO NAMED

One of the seven children who died after a massive tornado struck the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Oklahoma City has been named as 9-year-old Janae Hornsby. Officials say 'at least 24 people' died in the disaster and rescuers are now '98% sure they have found all the victims'. Early estimates of the death toll were much higher because bodies were counted twice in the chaos.

Megan Futrell and baby among first named tornado victims

4. DOOR OPENS TO AFGHAN INTERPRETERS

Six hundred Afghan interpreters will be allowed to live in Britain after a climbdown by the Government. Those who have worked alongside British troops on the front line for more than 12 months will be allowed to bring close family members to the UK on a five-year visa.

Afghan interpreters can live in UK to avoid Taliban revenge

5. NEW XBOX ONE HAS 'FACIAL RECOGNITION'

Microsoft says the 'voice and gesture controls' of its new Xbox One gaming console will allow users to interact with it more naturally. The hotly anticipated device, which was launched at an event in the US last night, will allow users to move straight from TV to gaming or music.

Microsoft's Xbox One isn't pretty but it's powerful

6. DRIVER TWEETS ABOUT HITTING CYCLIST

A 21-year-old accountancy trainee who boasted on Twitter about hitting a cyclist with her car has been contacted by Norwich police. Emma Way wrote: 'Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier - I have right of way, he doesn't even pay road tax'. The message attracted a storm of protest from other Twitter users and alerted police to the incident.

'Bloody cyclists': Twitter boast driver Emma Way found guilty

7. MAN CHARGED OVER 1982 HYDE PARK BOMB

A man in his 60s has been charged with the murder of four soldiers in the IRA bomb attack in Hyde Park in 1982. John Anthony Downey is accused of planting a car-bomb, which exploded as members of the Royal Household Cavalry made their way to Buckingham Palace. Seven horses and four soldiers were killed by the blast. Downey was arrested at Gatwick airport on Sunday.

Hyde Park bomb: man charged over infamous IRA attack

8. ‘SOLDIER’ KILLED IN WOOLWICH ATTACK

A man believed to be a serving soldier has died in an apparent machete attack in Woolwich, south-east London. Two other men – thought to be his attackers – were injured in a subsequent police shooting. Local MP Nick Raynsford told the BBC he had been informed that the dead man was stationed at Woolwich Barracks.

9. NHS BOSS NICHOLSON RETIRES WITH £2M

The chief executive of the NHS, Sir David Nicholson, has announced he will retire next year. He was widely criticised after a public inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust in February found serious failings in patient care. Sir David will leave with a '£2m pension pot', says the Daily Telegraph, which calls the payout a 'reward for failure'.

David Nicholson: £2m pension pot is 'reward for failure'

10. ANDY MURRAY OUT OF FRENCH OPEN

Andy Murray will miss a grand slam tournament for the first time since 2007 after announcing that his painful back injury will prevent him from competing in the French Open which begins on 26 May. “It’s a really tough decision,” Murray said last night. Commentators said Murray's withdrawal from Paris is a 'precaution' to ensure he will be fit to play at Wimbledon.

Andy Murray 'right' to focus on Wimbledon, not Paris