Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 23 Apr 2014

1. ARREST AS THREE CHILDREN FOUND DEAD

A woman has been arrested after the bodies of three children were found in a London home. Police were called to a Victorian property in Thetford Road, New Malden, at 9.30pm yesterday. The suspect remains in custody at a south London police station. She is believed to be the mother of the children, a four-year-old girl and twin boys, aged three.

2. UKRAINE: RUSSIA WARNS IT WILL 'RESPOND'

Russia has warned that it will "respond" if its interests in Ukraine are attacked. The message came from foreign minister Sergei Lavrov after US secretary of state John Kerry warned Russia the US will impose further sanctions if it does not de-escalate violence in Ukraine. Kerry expressed his "deep concern" with the lack of "positive steps" by Russia in a phonecall with Lavrov.

Ukraine: calls for new offensive as politician 'tortured to death'

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3. MADDIE POLICE PROBE NEW INCIDENTS

British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have uncovered five new cases of British girls who were sexually abused during break-ins on the Algarve, and say they now have 18 potentially linked incidents between 2004 and 2010. Scotland Yard says it hopes UK officers will begin operations in Portugal soon.

What happened to Madeleine McCann? A timeline of the case

4. VIOLENT CRIME STILL FALLING IN ENGLAND

Annual NHS figures show that violent crime is still falling across England and Wales, as it has for five consecutive years. Only 235,000 people were treated for a violent attack in A&E in 2013, 32,800 fewer than 2012 - a fall of 12%. One theory is the reduction is due to lower disposable income among youth.

Why violent crime has fallen for five years in a row

5. MPs: OF COURSE UK IS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY

The debate started by David Cameron writing in the Church Times about his faith rumbles on: two senior Tories - Dominic Grieve and Iain Duncan Smith - have told the Daily Telegraph that those who disagree with the PM’s statement that the UK is a Christian country are “deluding” themselves and ignoring reality.

Fury at Alastair Campbell over PM's 'God slot': but is he right?

6. BLAIR: WEST MUST FOCUS ON RADICAL ISLAM

Tony Blair has told an audience in London that the West must ignore its differences with Russia over Ukraine to join forces and focus on the threat posed by radical Islam, an ideology he claims is spreading across the globe. In his speech at Bloomberg he predicted that the UK would pay a price for not intervening in Syria.

Blair: we must look beyond Ukraine and work with Russia against Islamism

7. COULSON DENIES HACKING COVER UP

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has denied being part of a cover-up after royal editor Clive Goodman was arrested for phone hacking in 2006. Coulson, himself now on trial with Rebekah Brooks and others for crimes including hacking, admitted he did not "volunteer information" to the police during the inquiry.

Hacking trial: Kate Middleton's phone was 'hacked 155 times'

8. MOYES: NO THANKS FOR MAN UTD PLAYERS

David Moyes, sacked as manager of Manchester United yesterday, tellingly made no mention of his players in a farewell statement today. Moyes thanked the club, its supporters and his predecessor Alex Ferguson in the message but declined to thank any of the squad. United's players have remained tight-lipped, even on Twitter, since his departure.

Ferguson still the key figure in Man United's Game of Thrones

9. MURDER SUSPECT WANTS TATTOO REMOVED

A man in Kansas who has been charged with first degree murder, Jeffrey Chapman, has asked a court to allow a tattoo artist to remove a large inking of the word ‘MURDER’ from his throat before he faces a jury on Monday. Prosecutors do not object but state law forbids tattooists working in prison.

10. HOT TICKET: YOUNG VIC’S ODE TO SYRIA

A new play about the Syrian conflict Oh My Sweet Land has opened at the Young Vic, London. Syrian-German actress Corinne Jaber’s one-woman show portrays a woman cooking a traditional meal while recalling her search for her Syrian lover. “Mesmerising,” says The Observer. Until 3 May

Oh My Sweet Land – reviews of 'mesmerising' Syrian drama