Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 7 Apr 2014

1. ‘PING’ IS BEST LEAD SO FAR ON MISSING FLIGHT

An electronic ‘ping’ signal detected for about two hours yesterday by Australian ship Ocean Shield, 400 miles north of where a Chinese ship heard something similar the day before, is the best lead so far on the whereabouts of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, rescuers say. They warned the signal was very deep.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

2. PEACHES GELDOF FOUND DEAD AGED 25

Peaches Geldof, the 25-year-old daughter of Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates has been found dead at her home in Kent. Police described her death was "unexplained and sudden". Geldof was married to Thomas Cohen and and had two infant sons aged 23 months and 11 months. In a statement Bob Geldof said the family was "beyond pain".

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Peaches Geldof 'had been a heroin addict', inquest hears

3. ROYAL BABY JETS IN TO NZ, WITH PARENTS

Prince George has made an impressive entrance into international public life, staying awake as his parents arrived in Wellington for a tour of New Zealand. The royal baby was carried off the plane by his mother, who wore a red coat and pillbox hat. They were greeted with a traditional Maori hungi, or nose press.

Prince George ‘played sheep in school nativity’

4. INDIANS GO TO THE POLLS IN HUGE BALLOT

Voting has begun in the world’s biggest general election, India’s nine-phase ballot which will not be counted until 16 May. More than 800 million voters will express their preference after an election campaign dominated by allegations of corruption and high inflation. PM Manmohan Singh is stepping down.

India election: what kind of PM will Narendra Modi be?

5. DAVID CAMERON STANDS BY MARIA MILLER

Culture secretary Maria Miller seems increasingly embattled, with calls for her resignation from Tory grandees including Norman Tebbit, as it emerges that she redesignated her second home as her main home to avoid capital gains tax. However, David Cameron has stood by her, and said she had done the "right thing" by apologising to MPs last week.

Maria Miller: trial of strength as Norman Tebbit wades into row

6. 'PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC' DECLARED IN UKRAINE

Pro-Russians have stormed Ukrainian government offices in eastern cities, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, where they clashed with police, hung Russian flags and demanded independence. In Donetsk there were reports that a "people's republic" had been declared. Acting president Olexander Turchynov has held an emergency security meeting in response.

Ukraine rekindles Nato aspirations, angering Russia

7. SHRIEN DEWANI TO FACE EXTRADITION

Shrien Dewani, the British businessman accused of arranging the honeymoon killing of his wife Anni in South Africa in 2010, is expected to be extradited today, after three years of legal wrangling during which he claimed his severe depression and post-traumatic state disorder made him unfit to stand trial there.

Shrien Dewani: will inquest resolve unanswered questions?

8. BRITISH WOMEN DROWN IN TENERIFE

Two British women have died on the Spanish island of Tenerife after being dragged out to sea by a wave. The incident happened at Playa Paraiso in the south west of the island on Sunday. Three other people, two children and a woman, were pulled from the sea by rescuers. The women have been named as Uma Ramalingam and Barathi Ruvikumar.

9. PISTORIUS GIVES EVIDENCE AT HIS TRIAL

Oscar Pistorius has begun giving evidence at his murder trial in South Africa. The Paralympian began by apologising to the family of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, who he shot dead at his home in Pretoria last year. He claims it was an accident and told the court he suffered "terrible nightmares" and woke up smelling her blood.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

10. HOT TICKET: LEST WE FORGET BALLET

A new mixed bill from the English National Ballet, Lest We Forget has opened at the Barbican, London. The programme presents new ballet from Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett commemorating World War I, and a revival of George Williamson’s Firebird. "Moving and ambitious," says The Independent. Until 12 April.

Lest We Forget – reviews of ENB's 'ambitious' new ballets