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

1. OBAMA AND UN CALL FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE

US president Barack Obama and the UN have both called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, with the UN calling Israel’s shelling of a Gaza City suburb “an atrocious action”. US secretary of state John Kerry is due in Egypt today to discuss the crisis. A total of 501 people have died in Gaza.

2. MH17: REBELS ALLOW ACCESS TO BODIES

Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he will "do everything to ensure the security" of crash investigators at the site where slight MH17 was shot down. Pro-Russian rebels have now allowed Dutch investigators access to some of the bodies at a railway station in east Ukraine. Last night, the US said there was overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity.

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Missile that downed MH17 came from Russia, investigation rules

3. TESCO BOSS PHILIP CLARKE TO LEAVE

Tesco chief exec Philip Clarke, in his post since 2011, is to leave the retail giant as it admits sales and trading profits for the first half of this year were “somewhat below expectations”. Last month, Clarke insisted he was “not going anywhere”. He is to be replaced by Dave Lewis, currently a senior exec at Unilever.

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4. 'CANNIBAL' NURSE GUILTY OF GROOMING

A British nurse who claimed to have eaten other humans has been found guilty of sexual grooming after he promised to behead and eat a 14-year-old girl after having sex with her. Dale Bolinger, 58, bought an axe from a DIY store in Broadstairs, Kent, the day before he planned to meet the teenage girl. He will be sentenced in September.

Nurse found guilty of plot to behead and eat 14-year-old girl

5. SIGNS HOUSE MARKET MAY BE COOLING OFF

Property website Rightmove says the average asking price for a house in the UK fell by 0.8% in July, the first fall since December last year. The company says the fall may be partly explained by a normal summer lull but says fears of interest rate rises and stricter mortgage rules are also involved.

6. INDIA BEAT ENGLAND, BUT COOK WON'T RESIGN

England cricket captain Alastair Cook says he will not resign after England lost the second Test against India at Lords by 95 runs. Chasing 318 to win England started the final day on 105-4 and were dismissed for 223 soon after lunch as India won. Ishant Sharma took 7-74. England have lost seven of their last nine Tests.

7. EVAN DAVIS TO PRESENT NEWSNIGHT

Dragon's Den presenter Evan Davis is to take over from Jeremy Paxman as presenter of Newsnight. Davis, who is also a presenter of Radio 4's Today programme, was described as "an outstanding journalist" by BBC director general Tony Hall. The 52-year-old will host the show three nights a week starting this autumn. Some had expected a woman to get the job.

Evan Davis: Newsnight job provokes mixed reaction

8. SOUTHEAST ENGLAND: FLOODS AND STORMS

Torrential downpours and thunderstorms have led to flash floods, with drivers trapped in cars, across the southeast of England. Essex firefighters say they have dealt with “numerous flood and weather related calls”. Temperatures are expected to soar again this week, with storms on Wednesday and Thursday.

9. TULISA DRUGS TRIAL COLLAPSES

The trial of former N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos has collapsed after Judge Alistair McCreath told Southwark Crown Court that chief prosecution witness, investigative reporter Mazher Mahmood, had lied to the jury. Tulisa had denied arranging to sell cocaine to the journalist, who has now been suspended by his newspaper, The Sun.

Tulisa drugs trial collapses as judge says reporter 'lied'

10. HOT TICKET: SOCIAL COMEDY INVINCIBLE

Torben Betts's social comedy Invincible has transferred to St James Theatre, London. A middle class couple forced to move to the north of England by the recession face a culture clash when they invite their new neighbours for drinks. "Hilarity and heartache," says The Independent. Until 9 August.

Invincible – reviews of Torben Betts's 'punchy' social comedy

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