Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 22 Jul 2013

1. CAMERON SEEKS TO BLOCK ONLINE PORN

Every internet user will be forced to opt in if they want to access internet pornography in a new crackdown spearheaded by David Cameron. The PM laid out his plans in an "emotive speech" today in which he said possessing violent pornography showing simulated rape scenes will also be made a crime in England and Wales.

Cameron to block web porn to protect children on internet

2. DUCHESS GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY

The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy at 4.24pm today in the private Lindo wing of St Mary's hospital in London. The baby, which weighs 8 pounds, 6 ounces, has not yet been named, but will be the third in line to the throne. The Duchess and her son are both doing well, according to palace officials and will remain at the hospital overnight with Prince William at their side.

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

Prince George ‘played sheep in school nativity’

3. FAMILY COURT RULING TO END SECRECY

A landmark legal ruling regarding family courts is to give greater rights to tens of thousands of parents and their children every year. Judgments determining custody battles and whether children should be rehomed will in future be published unless there are "compelling reasons" not to. The move will also mean the naming of expert witnesses.

4. 75 DEAD IN CHINA EARTHQUAKES

Two earthquakes which struck Gansu province in northwest China this morning have killed about 75 people and injured 400, authorities say. The twin quakes, which hit about an hour apart, measured 5.98 and 5.6 on the Richter scale. Electricity and phone lines have been cut and mud and land slides are hampering rescue efforts.

Earthquakes in China - in pictures

5. CHARGES PENDING IN CLEVELAND KILLINGS

Registered sex offender Michael Madison is expected to be charged today in relation to the killing of three women whose bodies were discovered in or near abandoned houses in inner-city Cleveland. The badly-decomposed bodies, each one in the foetal position and wrapped in plastic, were found on Friday and Saturday.

Michael Madison to be charged over new Cleveland murders

6. OLYMPIC EXECS GIVEN £2.8M PAYOFF

144 executives who worked for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) were awarded a total of £2.8m in exit payments after being given permanent contracts despite the authority winding down in 2014. Stephen Barclay, of the Commons public accounts committee, called the situation "perverse" because "we knew when the Olympics were going to finish".

7. AUSSIES 'EMBARRASING' SAYS CLARKE

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke admitted his side were a laughing stock after England completed a 347-run victory in the second Test at Lords to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. There were titters around the ground when Clarke insisted during his post-match interview that his side could still win the series.

England's Ashes dominance is almost an embarrassment

8. SALMON FISHERMEN KILLED IN CRASH

Two British salmon fishermen are reported to have died in a freak helicopter accident while on trip to the Russian Arctic. The men, in their late sixties, were killed alongside their Russian guide and translator, named as Alexander Tushnikov. It is thought all three were struck by the rotor blades of their light helicopter as it toppled over in a gust of wind.

9. HEATWAVE TRIGGERS FLOOD ALERT

Today is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 35C. But Britain's heatwave could be about to come to a spectacular end, with warnings of thunderstorms and flash floods across the country from Tuesday as rain falls on parched ground that cannot soak up the water.

Britain on flood alert as storms signal end of the heatwave

10. HOT TICKET: JUMBO'S JOSEPHINE BAKER

A new stage show about the life of Josephine Baker, 'Josephine and I', has opened at the Bush Theatre, London. Phyllida Lloyd directs actor-writer Cush Jumbo's one-woman show about the African-American jazz singer, dancer, and civil rights activist. "A tour de force," says The Times. Until 17 August.

Cush Jumbo's tour de force 'Josephine and I' wows critics