Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 9 Apr 2014

1. MARIA MILLER QUITS AS CULTURE SECRETARY

Culture secretary Maria Miller has resigned after a row over her expenses. Writing to David Cameron she said the controversy over her apology to the House, felt by some to be too short and not heartfelt, had “become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing”. The PM said he was “sorry” to see her go.

Maria Miller quits: three good reasons why she had to go

2. MH370: SEARCH BOSS IS ‘OPTIMISTIC’

The Australian search co-ordinator trying to find any trace of missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, Angus Houston, says he is optimistic of a positive result after the navy ship Ocean Shield managed yesterday to relocate an electronic ‘ping’ which may be the black box recorder. The signal is growing weaker.

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

3. HEARTBLEED: WEB PASSWORD WARNING

Internet users have been urged to change all their passwords after a major flaw in security software used by millions of web servers was discovered. The 'Heartbleed' bug allows information on the internet, which would normally be protected by a type of encryption called OpenSSL, to be stolen. Online profiles, passwords, emails and other content are at risk.

Heartbleed: did security threat lead to insider trading?

4. BLAKELOCK MURDER: NOT GUILTY VERDICT

A man accused of murdering PC Keith Blakelock during the Tottenham riots of 1985 has been cleared at the Old Bailey. Nicholas Jacobs, 45, was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter by a jury. During the month-long trial three witnesses said they saw Jacobs take part in the mob attack on the police officer, but his defence team questioned their credibility.

5. ROYAL CRAWL-ABOUT FOR PRINCE GEORGE

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, starting their 19-day tour of New Zealand and Australia, took eight-month-old Prince George to a special event organised by the non-profit childcare group Plunkett this morning, where he met other babies his age. The families were specially selected to reflect NZ’s diversity.

6. TOYOTA TO RECALL 6.4 MILLION VEHICLES

Motoring giant Toyota is to recall 6.4m vehicles across the globe, 35,142 of them from the UK, to deal with five issues including an airbag problem. Also affected are seat rails, steering columns, windscreen wipers and engine starters. The firm said it knew of no crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by the defects.

7. PEACHES GELDOF POST MORTEM 'INCONCLUSIVE'

A post mortem on Peaches Geldof, found dead at her home in Kent on Monday, has proved inconclusive. Her family must now wait for the results of toxicology tests which could take "several weeks" to come through. Kent County Council has yet to decide if an inquest is needed. Police say her death was "sudden and unexplained" but not suspicious.

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

8. MASS STABBING AT PITTSBURGH SCHOOL

Up to 20 students have been injured in a knife attack at a school in the US city of Pittsburgh. Some of the wounded, aged between 14 and 17, have "significant" injuries and four were airlifted to hospital. One suspect, a male student, is in custody after the Wednesday morning rampage at Franklin Regional Senior High School.

9. PISTORIUS: FIERCE CROSS-EXAMINATION

Oscar Pistorius has spent a third day in the witness box at his murder trial in Pretoria. The Paralympian, who shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year, has been cross-examined by prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who left him sobbing by producing a photo of Steenkamp's injuries, telling him: "Look at it". Pistorius says he thought she was a dangerous intruder.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

10. HOT TICKET: COP DRAMA KINGSTON 14

Roy Williams's new play about police corruption in Jamaica, Kingston 14, has opened at Theatre Royal, Stratford East. A British policeman brought to Jamaica to help solve a murder finds the local police compromised. Stars drum and bass legend Goldie. "Fizzing new cop-shop drama," says The Financial Times. Until 26 April.

Kingston 14 – reviews of 'fizzing' new cop drama