Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 16 Sep 2012

1. 'EIGHT DEAD' IN NATO AFGHAN AIRSTRIKE

A Nato air strike has killed between five and eight civilians in eastern Afghanistan's Laghman province. Local officials say eight women were killed in the attack. Earlier today, four Nato soldiers were killed in an attack thought to have been carried out by Afghan police.

2. TALIBAN: PRINCE HARRY WAS OUR TARGET

Prince Harry was the target of the attack on the Camp Bastion base in Afghanistan on Friday, according to the Taliban. “We attacked that base because Prince Harry was also on it," said Qari Youssef Ahmadi. Meanwhile, two UK soldiers have been shot dead in the Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand province.

3. US PULLS SUDAN AND TUNISIA STAFF

The United States is withdrawing all non-essential diplomatic staff and their families from Sudan and Tunisia after protests against an anti-Islam film made in America. The state department has also encouraged US citizens in Tunisa to leave the country. Sudan has declined a request from the US to send its own troops to protect the embassy.

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4. BORIS CALLS FOR STRIKE CRACKDOWN

London mayor Boris Johnson has called on the government to clamp down on strikers in order to end the "endless buggeration" caused by industrial action and to counter the threat of a general strike this autumn. He denied he is planning to unseat David Cameron as Conservative leader, describing the rumours as "self-evident twaddle".

5. IRISH TABLOID PUBLISHES KATE PHOTOS

The Irish Daily Star has published photographs of Kate Middleton sunbathing topless in France. The newspaper's joint owners, Northern and Shell and Independent News and Media, say they had no prior knowledge of the decision to publish. Northern and Shell chairman Richard Desmond says he is "very angry" and is "taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture".

Photographers ‘given free rein’ to take topless Kate pictures

6. GLOBAL ARMADA MEETS IN GULF

British and American vessels are spearheading an armada of naval power from 25 nations assembling in the Persian Gulf in anticipation of an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Western leaders are convinced Iran would block the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which 18 million barrels of oil pass each day, in the event of an Israeli strike.

7. POLL REVEALS FAR-RIGHT SYMPATHIES

Some 41% of British voters would be more likely to back a party that promised to stop all immigration and 37% would be more likely to support a political party that promised to reduce the number of Muslims in Britain, according to a new YouGov poll. Just 28% said they would be less likely to vote for a party promising to stop immigration.

8. GCSE REPLACEMENT TO BE UNVEILED

The government is expected to announce this week that GCSE exams will be replaced by a new qualification involving a one-off exam instead of continual assessment. The new qualification is expected to be introduced in 2015, with the first exams taking place in 2017. It would be the biggest change in the exam system since GCSES replaced O-levels in the 1980s.

9. THREE DIE IN SLURRY ACCIDENT

Three men, including 22-year-old rugby star Nevin Spence, were killed in an accident on a farm in Northern Ireland on Saturday. Four people fell into a slurry tank. A woman was pulled alive from the tank. The two men who died alongside Spence in the accident in Hillsborough, Co Down, are believed to be his brother and father.

10. GUNNERS FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS

Arsenal cruised to an emphatic 6-1 win with a brace from Gervinho among the goals. Paul Scholes scored against Wigan in his 700th appearance for Manchester United inspiring his side to a 4-0 win that lifts them to second place behind leaders Chelsea, who drew 0-0 at QPR. As predicted, Anton Ferdinand declined to shake hands with John Terry and Ashley Cole.

Title talk from Arsene Wenger as Arsenal thrash Saints 6-1