Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 19 Jun 2013

1. COALITION URGED TO JAIL RECKLESS BANKERS

The Commission on Banking Standards, set up by George Osborne last year, has finally reported to Parliament - and it is urging the government to impose tougher penalties for misbehaviour in banks, including jail terms for reckless senior bankers. The Treasury called the report “a very impressive piece of work”.

Will Osborne sweep 'damning' banking report under carpet?

2. HEALTH REGULATOR ACCUSED OF COVER-UP

A report into the Care Quality Commission’s investigation into deaths of newborn babies at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria in 2008 has found the healthcare regulator may have “deliberately” covered up its own failings. The report shows the CQC failed to launch an investigation when it was first told about the deaths.

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

Health watchdog guilty of hospital scandal 'cover-up'

3. HOTTEST DAY OF YEAR FOR LONDON

Parts of the UK have enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far with lunchtime temperatures reaching 26C in London. The air had 62 per cent moisture in some places, making it feel very humid. Thursday's weather will be a tiny bit cooler with the risk of thundery showers in the South East.

Met Office: Britain to face rainy summers until 2023

4. FOUR US SOLDIERS KILLED BY TALIBAN

The Taliban has attacked a US base in Afghanistan, killing four soldiers, just hours after America announced direct talks with the group. A condition for the talks, due to begin in Qatar on Thursday, was that the Taliban renounce violence - but a ceasefire has not been made a precondition of the discussions starting.

Afghanistan: Taliban kill 4 US soldiers before peace talks

5. MORE VIOLENCE AT BRAZIL PROTESTS

There were fresh clashes between police and demonstrators yesterday in Brazil’s second city, Sao Paulo, after the country’s president praised the 200,000 who took to the streets on Monday to object to a rise in bus fares and demand better education. Dilma Rousseff said she was proud so many wanted a better country.

Brazil gripped by massive protests - five key questions

6. JILL MEAGHER KILLER GETS LIFE IN JAIL

A man has been jailed for life for the “savage” rape and murder of Irishwoman Jill Meagher in Melbourne, Australia. Adrian Ernest Bayley, who had pleaded guilty to murdering the 29-year-old on September 22 last year, was told he will spend at least 35 years in prison for the crime, a “savage, violent rape of the worst kind”

7. NIGEL EVANS: NEW ASSAULT CLAIMS

Nigel Evans, the deputy speaker of the House of Commons, has been arrested on suspicion of three more counts of indecent assault. The 55-year-old was formally informed of the new claims as he answered bail at Preston Police Station today. Evans already faced allegations he raped one man and sexually assaulted another between July 2009 and March 2013.

8. GIRL GUIDES DROP ‘LOVE MY GOD’ PLEDGE

The pledge “to love my God” has been dropped from the Girl Guides’ traditional Promise, in favour of “to be true to myself and develop my beliefs”, in order to include the non-religious. The old pledge to “serve the Queen and my country” has been modernised with a promise to “serve the Queen and my community”.

9. KANYE-KARDASHIAN BABY NAME REVEALED

A hospital nurse has reportedly let slip the name of rapper Kanye West and reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s new baby girl, born about a month premature. She is said to be dubbed Kaidence Donda West, in tribute to West’s late mother, Dr Donda West. It’s a Kardashian tradition to give children names beginning with a ‘k’.

Kardashian baby Kaidence also an elf in World of Warcraft

10. HOT TICKET: MUSICAL STAR PATTI LUPONE

An evening with Broadway legend Patti LuPone has opened at the Leicester Theatre, West End. LuPone, best known for roles in Evita and Les Misérables, sings her memorable numbers and discusses her career with NY radio presenter and pianist Seth Rudetsky. “Wonderful,” says The Times. Until 23 June

Broadway legend Patti LuPone's West End show is 'miraculous'