Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 17 Jul 2014

1. 'COMPREHENSIVE' CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

Israel and Hamas have agreed a five-hour humanitarian ceasefire after nine days of fighting and Israeli officials say a "comprehensive ceasefire" is due to come into effect on Friday, although Hamas has not confirmed the deal. Gaza officials say Israeli raids have killed 220 Palestinians, while Hamas rocket attacks have killed one Israeli.

To crush Hamas, Israel must give Gaza hope

2. LIB DEMS U-TURN ON BEDROOM TAX

The Liberal Democrats have withdrawn their support for the bedroom tax, setting up a showdown with their Conservative coalition partners. Writing in the Daily Mirror, chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander tells the Tories it is "clearly time to take stock and change our approach" on the controversial policy.

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3. MET OFFICE WARNS AS HEATWAVE NEARS

Stay indoors – that’s the advice from public health officials as the Met Office forecasts a two-day heatwave for Britain. The country is expected to be hotter than Barbados today and tomorrow, prompting hospitals and care homes to prepare for an increase in admissions. Public health officials are also concerned for the welfare of Muslims fasting for Ramadan.

UK heatwave: the best sunburn remedies

4. ‘PLEBGATE’ MP IN TAX AVOIDANCE ROW

The MP at the centre of the ‘plebgate’ scandal has invested in a company considered to be a tax avoidance scheme by HMRC. Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip, invested in a vehicle called Ingenious Film Partners 2, which HMRC believes was designed to generate inappropriate amounts of tax relief for its investors.

5. GOVE WIFE ON PM’S ‘SHABBY’ WORK

The wife of Michael Gove has endorsed an article warning David Cameron he will regret the “shabby day’s work” which demoted her husband. Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine tweeted a link to an article which described her husband as a more profound reformer than Margaret Thatcher. "A shabby day's work which Cameron will live to regret," she wrote, linking to the article.

Shabby reshuffle: promotion for women - or just an insult?

6. TIME WARNER REBUFFS MURDOCH BID

Time Warner has rebuffed a takeover bid from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox. A deal bringing the two giants together would be the crowning achievement of Murdoch’s career and help shake off the hacking scandal. But the Time Warner board rejected the $85-a-share cash and stock offer because they feared it would not be accepted by investors.

Has Rupert Murdoch given up on Time Warner?

7. SEX OFFENCES 'UP 20%' AFTER YEWTREE

Sexual offences reported to police in England and Wales jumped 20% in the year to March according to new government figures. Reports of rape jumped 27% to their highest level since 2003. The rise has been prompted in part to Operation Yewtree and other high-profile sex crime investigations. Overall there was no change crime levels.

8. US AND EU TIGHTEN RUSSIAN SANCTIONS

The United States last night imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting its banks, energy and defence companies in response to Moscow’s continuing support for separatists in Ukraine. Following warnings to president Putin, Washington took a stand against Russia moments before European Union leaders also agreed to tighten sanctions against Moscow.

9. POLITICIAN JAILED FOR ‘CHIMPANZEE’ PHOTO

A French politician has been jailed for calling a black minister a chimpanzee. Anne-Sophie Leclère, a senior Front National municipal candidate in northern France, posted images comparing justice minister Christiane Taubira to a monkey. She was given a nine months' jail sentence, fined €50,000 (£40,000) and banned from politics for five years.

10. HOT TICKET: TATE'S MALEVICH SHOW

A major exhibition of the work of Russian modern artist Kazimir Malevich has opened at Tate Modern, London. Malevich: Revolutionary of Russian Art charts his artistic journey from folk painting towards abstraction, during a time of historic social and political upheaval, and features is masterpiece, Black Square. "Fascinating," says The Guardian. Until 26 October.

Malevich: Revolutionary of Russian Art – reviews