Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 21 Apr 2014

1. S KOREA PRESIDENT CONDEMNS FERRY CREW

Park Geun-hye, the president of South Korea, has condemned the actions of some of the crew of the ferry which sank there last week killing hundreds. She said they were “utterly incomprehensible, unacceptable and tantamount to murder”. Bodies are being recovered from the vessel, with 238 people missing.

South Korea ferry verdict: Sewol captain escapes death penalty

2. PM’S CHRISTIANITY REMARKS ‘DIVISIVE’

A group of 55 writers, academics and scientists have written to the Daily Telegraph objecting to David Cameron’s recent comments on his Christian faith. The PM wrote in the Church Times that the UK should be “more confident about our status and a Christian country”. Figures including Terry Pratchett disagree.

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3. PEACHES GELDOF FUNERAL IN KENT

Sir Bob Geldof will pay tribute to his late daughter Peaches at her funeral in Kent today, in front of mourners from the entertainment world. The church near Faversham is where the funeral of Peaches’ mother, Paula Yates, took place in 2000 - and where the 25-year-old married musician Tom Cohen in 2012.

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

4. MH370: SUB DRAWS A BLANK ON OCEAN FLOOR

Searchers using an un-manned submarine to search the bottom of the southern Indian Ocean for traces of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have found nothing after combing two-thirds of the target area. The Bluefin-21, operating at a depth of 13,000 feet, will be sent back down for its ninth mission today.

The mystery of MH370, EgyptAir flight MS804 and seven other planes that vanished

5. FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE LEEDS ‘INFERNO’

More than 80 firemen and 15 fire engines have been tackling a huge blaze on an industrial estate in Leeds which sent a pall of black smoke across the city. Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed early this morning. Firefighters were called to the Tradpak recycling and packing firm just after 1am.

6. SKIN CANCER ‘HAS SOARED SINCE 1970’

There are more than five times as many cases of the most serious types of skin cancer now than there were in the 1970s, figures show. Cancer Research UK blames the rise from 1,800 cases of malignant melanoma to 13,000 on the rising popularity of sun-seeking holidays abroad - and on sunbed use.

7. ASSAD ‘LAUNCHES CHLORINE GAS ATTACKS’

There are “indications” that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is using chlorine gas on his own people, according to France and the UK. The gas was used to devastating effect during the First World War. Opposition groups in the country claim chlorine has been used in attacks on at least three towns in the last week.

8. BAILEY PORTRAIT OF QUEEN REVEALED

A portrait of the Queen by 76-year-old celebrity photographer David Bailey has been unveiled in honour of her 88th birthday. The two met previously when Bailey was appointed a CBE for services to art in 2002. The Queen celebrates her actual birthday on 21 April, with the official birthday falling on 14 June.

9. FOUR HURT AS TREE FALLS IN BEER GARDEN

Two adults and two children were taken to hospital in Hindley, Manchester, yesterday after a large tree fell in a pub beer garden. The tree is understood to have landed on a queue waiting to use a bouncy castle at the Hockery Brook pub at 2pm. One young child suffered a broken leg and another a rib injury.

10. HOT TICKET: HETTY FEATHER ON STAGE

A new stage adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's popular children's book Hetty Feather is touring the UK. A plucky girl escapes the Foundling Hospital into the streets of Victorian London in search of her real mother. "Spectacular," says The Times. Touring until 21 June.

Hetty Feather – reviews of popular children's tale on stage