Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 9 Jul 2015

1. Greece to unveil ‘credible’ reform plans

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras says he will unveil “credible” plans to reform the Greek economy to his eurozone creditors today. On Tuesday, the EU gave him a 48-hour deadline and called a meeting of all 28 EU leaders for Sunday, to discuss Greece leaving the euro. If Tsipras presents plans, the meeting will be of eurozone heads only.

Greece finally reaches deal to release €12bn bailout funds

2. Budget 2015: 13 million families worse off

Working age benefit freezes, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in this week's Budget, will affect 13 million UK families, who will lose an average of £260 a year. Tax credit changes could hit three million families, which are likely to lose an average of £1,000, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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Argos named and shamed among minimum wage offenders

3. South Carolina votes to take down Confederate flag

Both houses of South Carolina’s state government have now agreed that the Confederate flag should no longer be flown at the State House, in the wake of a mass shooting at a black church. The House of Representatives voted 93-27 to ditch the controversial Southern symbol. State governor Nikki Haley also backs the plan.

South Carolina to take down confederate flag

4. London commuters cope without Tube

A strike by 20,000 union members means there are no Tube services running today. The strike began yesterday at 6.30pm and is expected to still be affecting services on Friday morning. There are around 200 extra buses on the streets and extra river services are running on the Thames. The Overground and DLR are running as normal.

Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action

5. Sex abuse inquiry could last until 2020

An independent inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales could last until 2020, says chair Justice Lowell Goddard. The inquiry opened today a year after it was ordered by Home Secretary Theresa May following claims of a high-level cover-up of abuse involving public figures, including politicians.

Child sex abuse inquiry: First public hearings finally begin

6. Car crash victims ‘lay injured for three days’

A man and woman involved in a car crash near Stirling in Scotland may have lain injured in their vehicle for up to three days, after the incident was reported to police but not followed up. John Yuill, 28, was dead at the scene and Lamara Bell, 25, has been taken to hospital in a critical condition. The car was found just off the M9.

7. ITV and BBC to share Six Nations rugby coverage

The BBC and ITV have agreed a six-year deal to share the rights to rugby's Six Nations Championship. Home games for Wales, Scotland and France will be on the BBC, while ITV will show England, Ireland and Italy home games. The deal means that the tournament will remain free-to-air.

8. DNA fears in backpacker murder case

Two Burmese men have gone on trial in Thailand accused of killing two British backpackers amid concerns that DNA evidence may have been lost or damaged. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey were killed on the island of Koh Tao in September last year.

Anonymous hacks Thai police websites over death sentences

9. Queen's 90th birthday party revealed

The Queen will celebrate her 90th birthday with two weekend-long celebrations in May and June next year. The events include an equestrian-themed party at Windsor Castle and a street party for 10,000 guests on The Mall. A thousand tickets will be made available to the public.

Queen's 90th birthday: Five highlights from the weekend

10. Briefing: Grace Mugabe, poised for power in Zimbabwe

There is growing speculation that Zimbabwe's first lady is being groomed to take over the political reigns once Robert Mugabe finally relinquishes power. Grace Mugabe has hinted that she would be up for the challenge, telling crowds at a rally last year: "Some say I want to be president. Why not? Am I not Zimbabwean too?" But the 49-year old remains as divisive as her ageing husband.

Grace Mugabe: the woman poised to take over Zimbabwe