Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 29 Jul 2014

1. ISRAEL WARNS OF ‘PROLONGED’ BATTLE

Fighting has intensified between Israel and Hamas as Benjamin Netanyahu warns of a “prolonged” military campaign in Gaza. Israeli aircraft fired at the house of former Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, which was thought to be empty at the time. Ten Israeli soldiers have been killed the past 24 hours, and more than 100 Palestinians have perished.

2. CAMERON ANNOUNCES ‘BRITAIN FIRST’ POLICIES

Benefits for EU migrants will be cut off after three months, says David Cameron as he launches a crackdown that will put “Britain first”. Writing for the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister also vows to stop more than 500,000 British jobs being advertised across the EU and unveils strict new curbs on colleges offering visas to “bogus” students.

Cameron vows crackdown on benefits for EU immigrants

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3. BRIT ENVOY: PUTIN IS ‘LIAR’ AND ‘THUG’

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, is a “thug” and a “liar”, says a leading British envoy. Sir Peter Westmacott, Britain’s ambassador to the United States, launched his attack on Putin as the EU prepares to approve tough new sanctions against Moscow. He added that the West’s increasingly tough response to Russia is beginning to have an impact on the Kremlin.

How much will sanctions on Russia cost the UK and EU?

4. DATING WEBSITE IN USER 'EXPERIMENTS'

Dating website OkCupid has admitted carrying out experiments on its users, including seeing what would happen if they tried to match incompatible people. Co-founder Christian Rudder admitted removing people's photographs and lying about how well matched they were to other. "If you use the internet, you're the subject of hundreds of experiments," he said.

OkCupid: five things it learned about love by tricking its users

5. SCOTLAND: UNDECIDED FLOCK TO ‘YES’ CAMP

The campaign for Scottish independence is being boosted as a growing number of previously undecided voters say they are now planning to vote yes, according to a new survey. However, in its polling of more than 6,000 people, the British Election Study found that the switch is not yet significant enough to affect the overall result of the referendum, with the ‘no’ vote still leading at 51%.

6. CHINESE SECURITY CHIEF FACES DISGRACE

The former head of China's Ministry of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, is under investigation over a "serious disciplinary violation". The former politburo member, who has not appeared in public for months, is the most senior official to be investigated for 30 years. Chinese leader Xi Jinping promised a crackdown on corruption in 2012.

7. TORY MP TO STAND DOWN OVER ASSAULT

Tory MP David Ruffley will step down at the next election after he was given a police caution for assaulting his girlfriend. Ruffley, who said earlier this month he does not “condone domestic violence under any circumstances” has come under increasing pressure after police, church leaders, politicians and campaigners urged him to quit.

8. LONDON: £10 CHARGE FOR DIESEL CARS?

Boris Johnson is considering plans to charge drivers of diesel cars an extra £10 to come into London. The proposed levy would be on top of the £11.50 congestion charge for drivers in central London. The move is part of plan for a new Ultra Low Emission Zone to be introduced by 2020. London has some of the worst air quality in Europe.

9. COMMONWEALTH: GEMILI TAKES SILVER

Adam Gemili won silver in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games 100m last night. Finishing behind Jamaica's Kemar Bailey-Cole, the Englishman sealed his first senior international medal. Gemili, who finished the race in 10.10 seconds, said: “It’s not about times, it’s about position”. Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade took bronze at Hampden Park.

Gemili announces himself with Commonwealth 100m silver

10. HOT TICKET: V&A'S DISOBEDIENT OBJECTS

A new exhibition of protest art and design, Disobedient Objects, has opened at the V&A, London. The show focuses on items used in political activism from the 1970s to the present day, including banners, barricades and video games. "Imaginative and thought-provoking," says The Times. Until 1 February, 2015.

Disobedient Objects – reviews of protest design show at V&A