Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 18 Sep 2012

1. EXAM REFORM: EBACC TO REPLACE GCSES

Education Secretary Michael Gove yesterday unveiled the biggest education revamp in a generation when he announced that GCSE exams will be replaced from 2017 by an English Baccalaureate, to be known as 'EBacc', which will end an era of "dumbing down". The National Union of Teachers accused Gove of creating a "two-tier system".

A welcome for the Ebacc - but is coursework really that bad?

2. CLOSER TOLD TO HAND OVER KATE PHOTOS

A French court has banned the further publication of topless photographs of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. The injunction requires Closer, the magazine that first published the images, to hand over the originals to Prince William and Kate within 24 hours. If the magazine re-publishes or distributes the photographs, it will face a fine of €10,000 for every breach of the injunction.

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Topless Kate photos injunction: now could journos be jailed?

3. POLL: LABOUR LEADS TORIES BY 15 PER CENT

Labour has opened up a 15-point lead over the Conservatives, a Populus poll for The Times has found. The lead would translate into a landslide for Labour in an immediate general election. Labour polled 45%, the Tories 30% and the Liberal Democrats 10%. But only 31% want Ed Milliband to replace David Cameron at No 10 - 60% would prefer the PM to stay.

4. ROMNEY CALLS OBAMA VOTERS 'DEPENDENTS'

A leaked video reveals Republican candidate Mitt Romney telling a private meeting of fundraisers that poor Americans will support President Obama because they "believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it", and that "my job is not to worry about those people". The video was leaked to Mother Jones magazine.

Romney insults 47% of America: is it all over for Republican?

5. COMPLAINTS AGAINST DOCTORS RISE 23%

The number of complaints against doctors has risen 23% in a year, says the General Medical Council. There were 8,781 complaints in 2011 compared to 7,153 in 2010, with older male doctors being the most complained against. The GMC said care was not getting worse: the complaints reflected "greater expectations and willingness to complain".

6. ARMY 'MOVED' HARRY IN TALIBAN ATTACK

Prince Harry was moved under guard to a secure location during last Friday's Taliban attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in which two US Marines were killed, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said last night. The prince could be a target "because of who he is", said Hammond, but as a pilot he took the same risks as his colleagues in combat.

Troops out! Pressure grows to stop wasting lives in Afghanistan

7. TWO POLICE OFFICERS KILLED

Two unarmed female police officers were shot dead while attending a routine incident in Manchester today, which has led to the arrest of one of the country's most wanted men. One-eyed Dale Cregan, 29, who was being hunted in connection with separate gun and grenade attacks, handed himself into police soon after the incident.

8. ORDERS FOR iPHONE 5 HIT 2M IN 24 HOURS

Apple says first-day orders for the iPhone 5 were double the one million taken for the iPhone 4S, with two million ordered in the first 24 hours, but said some consumers will have to wait beyond the 21 September 21 date into October to receive their handsets. The new model sells at between £529 and £699.

9. IN UK MIDDLE AGE NOW STARTS AT 55

A survey of British 50-something adults published yesterday by the Love to Learn website reveals that most people now believe that middle age begins at 55, much later than previous studies pinpointing its onset at 36, with a sizeable minority opting for 60. The survey of 1,000 found that Britons do not see themselves as elderly until 70.

10. HOT TICKET: SPACE WESTERN RETURNS

Borderlands 2, the sequel to the hit 'space-western' role-playing game Borderlands, is released in the UK this week. The follow-up allows players solo or group gaming. It involves killing alien foe, looting and completing challenges as they explore the planet of Pandora. "Intoxicating", says IGN.

Borderlands 2: the cult hit space western game returns