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

1. DOZENS DEAD IN ISRAEL GAZA OFFENSIVE

Officials in Gaza say 35 people have been killed and more than 150 wounded after Israel launched its biggest attack on the Gaza strip in years. Israel has warned it may send ground troops into the Gaza strip in the next few days and has called up 40,000 reservists. Hamas has fired rockets across the border in recent days.

Gaza strikes: half of dead were women and children

2. SUPERB GERMANY HUMILIATE BRAZIL

A disbelieving crowd yesterday saw host nation Brazil out of the World Cup as a rampant German team humiliated them with a 7-1 semi-final victory. German went 5-0 up in the first 29 minutes with Miroslav Klose becoming the highest-ever world cup goal scorer. Brazil scored in the 89th minute.

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Brazil World Cup 'catastrophe' as Germany trounce hosts 7-1

3. BUTLER-SLOSS REJECTS CALLS TO QUIT

Retired High Court judge Baroness Butler-Sloss will not quit as head of a review into child abuse claims against politicians and public figures, despite calls for her to stand aside as her brother was Attorney General in the 1980s. NSPCC head Peter Wanless, leading a review into how the Home Office handled abuse claims, wants covering-up child abuse to be made criminal.

NSPCC: make sex abuse cover-ups a criminal offence

4. NEW AIRPORT RULES FOR GADGETS

All passengers flying into and out of the UK have been told that mobile devices in their hand luggage must have enough charge to be switched on. The new guidelines come after the US announced extra security checks last week. The rules cover phones, tablets and other gadgets including razors and cameras. Uncharged devices will not be allowed on board planes.

5. MELUA CRITICISED OVER TAX AVOIDANCE

Katie Melua, once nominated for Christian Aid's Tax Superhero award, has been criticised by the charity after she was outed as an investor in the Liberty tax avoidance scheme. Other celebrities include George Michael, Gary Barlow, Sir Michael Caine and members of Arctic Monkeys. In total 1,600 people tried to shelter £1.2bn, says The Times.

6. ENGLAND ‘EXPOSED’ TO CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS

Government advisory body the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has warned that not enough is being done to protect England against future effects of a warming planet. Three-quarters of flood defences are said to be inadequate while anti-flooding planning rule changes have been delayed.

7. CHRIS FROOME OUT OF TOUR DE FRANCE

Defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome is out of this year's race after crashing twice on a rain-lashed stage five in northern France and Belgium. The British Team Sky rider abandoned the race after his third fall in two days. His retirement comes after warnings of "carnage" on wet and cobbled roads.

8. ALPS MURDER: FBI OFFER TO EXHUME BODY

The FBI offered to exhume the body of the ex-husband of murder victim Iqbal Al-Hilli after discovering that he died on the very same day that she and her new husband Saad Al-Hilli were massacred in the French Alps in 2012. Jim Thompson, a Mississippi oil worker, married Iqbal in 1999 in a marriage of convenience. His family declined the offer.

Alps murder mystery: wife's ex died on same day. Coincidence?

9. US FARMER’S LOST PHONE FOUND IN JAPAN

An American farmer has been reunited with his smartphone after it fell out of his pocket into a huge silo of grain in Oklahoma. Kevin Whitney assumed the device was gone forever and bought a new one. But the grain was exported to Japan, where the phone was rediscovered and returned to the US.

10. HOT TICKET: DAWN FRENCH SOLO TOUR

Dawn French is currently touring the UK with her solo comedy stage show 30 Million Minutes. The comedy star discusses memories and experiences from her life, using photos and graphics displayed on a giant screen. "A life-affirming phenomenon," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 6 December.

Dawn French: 30 Million Minutes – reviews