Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 16 Feb 2012

1. PM ARGUES AGAINST SCOTS INDEPENDENCE

David Cameron used a speech in Edinburgh today to argue against Scottish independence, and offered greater devolution if there was a 'no' vote in a referendum. The PM meets Scottish first minister Alex Salmond today and said he would be "deeply, deeply sad" if Scotland became an independent nation.

2. KING: UK ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK

Bank of England governor Mervyn King said yesterday that the UK economy is heading in "the right direction" – though it will dip in and out of growth this year. He criticised the banks for still not lending enough. His comments came as unemployment hit a 17-year high with 8.4 per cent of the UK out of work.

3. HUHNE AND EX-WIFE APPEAR IN COURT

Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife, Vicky Pryce, sat at opposite ends of the dock and did not look at each other as they appeared in court today charged with perverting the course of justice. Huhne is alleged to have asked Pryce to take penalty points for a speeding offence. They will appear at Southwark crown court next month.

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4. ASSAD CALLS SYRIA REFERENDUM

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has called a referendum for 26 February on a new constitution which would effectively end single-party rule. A White House spokesman called the plan "laughable". Meanwhile, a senior Chinese envoy will arrive in Damascus tomorrow for talks on ending a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Syria: how Russia and China got Obama off the hook

5. MP COULD BE CHARGED OVER NAZI STAG PARTY

French prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into a Nazi-themed stag party attended by British Conservative MP Aidan Burley in the Alpine ski resort of Val Thorens. Attendees could be charged with promoting racial hatred, or, in the case of the stag, wearing a Nazi uniform in public.

Tory MP Aidan Burley could be charged over Nazi stag party

6. MASS PRISON BREAKOUT IN NIGERIA

As many as 200 prisoners have escaped in a prison break in Nigeria. Around 20 gunmen on motorbikes stormed the jail in Koton-Karifi, south of the capital Abuja, on Wednesday evening. It is feared that members of the militant Islamist sect Boko Haram may have been freed. The group was behind another breakout in 2010 in which 700 inmates escaped.

Boko Haram: what is it and how can it be stopped?

7. GORBACHEV: PUTIN WON'T LAST LONG

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, has told The Times that Vladimir Putin is like Margaret Thatcher because he has stayed too long in power – but will soon be swept aside by the "glasnost generation". He added: "The time has come to change the system; the political model [is] exhausted…"

Gorbachev: Putin must reform or be kicked out by protesters

8. ARSENAL LOSE 4-0 TO AC MILAN

Arsenal are effectively out of the Champions League after losing 4-0 to AC Milan last night. Manager Arsene Wenger called it the club’s “worst night in Europe by far” and “a night never to forget.” Bill Mann writes: “Perhaps this was the night the Frenchman finally realised he had nothing left to offer Arsenal football club.”

'A night never to forget,' says Wenger after Arsenal disaster

9. NORTH KOREA MARKS KIM JONG-IL'S BIRTHDAY

North Korea has been marking what would have been the 70th birthday of its 'Dear Leader', Kim Jong-il, who died in December. His son, Kim Jong-un, the 'Great Successor', led tributes in Pyonyang and there were reports that even the country's wildlife was in mourning, as bears wept for the dictator.

Bears weep for Kim Jong-il as North Korea marks his birthday

10. HOT TICKET: COMEDY AT THE DONMAR

A new production of the Restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer has opened at the Donmar Warehouse to rave reviews. Mackenzie Crook, Mark Gatiss and Tobias Menzies play wily soldiers luring men to war and seducing the ladies of Shrewsbury. “I’m recruited”, says the Evening Standard critic.

Donmar's Recruiting Officer is bawdy, giggly good fun