Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 18 Jun 2013

1. SAATCHI: WHY I TOOK POLICE CAUTION

Advertising guru and art collector Charles Saatchi says he took a caution from police for assaulting his wife, TV chef Nigella Lawson, because he didn't want "the issue hanging over all of us for months". The 70-year-old voluntarily attended a central London police station after consultations with his lawyer.

Charles Saatchi cautioned over assault on wife Nigella Lawson

2. KARZAI: WE'LL TALK TO TALIBAN

Afghan forces took formal control of security in their homeland from the Nato-led Isaf forces today, completing a process which began in 2011. President Hamid Karzai also announced that an Afghan government group would travel to the Gulf state of Qatar and hold talks with the Taliban militant group in a bid to broker a peace deal.

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3. G8 LEADERS CLOSE TO SYRIA PACT

Leaders at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland are "close" to signing a joint statement on Syria, despite differences on the conflict. Russia and the US are backing opposite sides, but officials say the statement - which may propose a peace conference in Geneva and more access for deliveries of humanitarian aid - could still be released today.

Syria: why is Cameron so gung-ho when military says Stay Out?

4. ARMY HANDS OUT 4,500 REDUNDANCIES

Nearly 4,500 Army personnel were told they have been made redundant today in the third and biggest round of job cuts since the 2010 defence review. The cuts are part of a long-term plan to slash the number of regular soldiers from 102,000 to 82,000. The government plans to increase the number of reservists.

5. ANALYSTS TO 'HUNT DOWN' WEB PORN

Analysts are to be hired to seek out and block pictures of child abuse posted online. A Whitehall summit between the government and web companies today agreed an increase in funding for the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) which will use the cash to take a more “pro-active approach” to deal with child abuse images.

6. VIOLENCE IN BRAZIL AT WORLD CUP PROTESTS

As many as 250,000 people took to the streets of Brazil’s cities last night to protest against the high costs of staging the 2014 world cup and rising public transport prices. In Rio, a group of youths started a fire as they attempted to break into the state parliament. Police used teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

Cost of World Cup fuels street protests in Brazil - pictures

7. STUART HALL: JAIL TERM TO BE REVIEWED

The Attorney General is to examine the 15-month jail sentence handed down to 83-year-old BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall for two decades of sexual abuse on victims as young as 9, to see if it was “unduly lenient”. Judge Anthony Russell said he was givine hall a “25 per cent discount” on his sentence for pleading guilty.

Stuart Hall's 'unduly lenient' sentence to be reconsidered

8. ABU QATADA COULD BE OUT OF UK 'IN WEEKS'

The extradition from Britain of Abu Qatada came a step closer today when the King of Jordan endorsed a treaty with the UK which guarantees the radical cleric a fair trial. The treaty is expected to become law in the UK by Friday. The BBC says it means Qatada could be put on a plane to Amman "within weeks not months".

Theresa May wins at last: Abu Qatada could be gone in weeks

9. LIONS LOSE UNBEATEN RECORD TO BRUMBIES

The British and Irish Lions lost their unbeaten record in Australia as they went down 14-12 to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra this morning. Injuries forced the tourist to field a makeshift back line, including four players who were not in the original squad, and it showed. The Lions' second half performance was better but the Brumbies held on for victory.

Can Lions bounce back from Brumbies defeat for first Test?

10. HOT TICKET: DEATH IN VENICE AT COLISEUM

The English National Opera has revived Benjamin Britten’s ‘Death in Venice’ at the London Coliseum to celebrate the composer’s centenary. Based on Thomas Mann’s celebrated novel, the opera tells the story of a world-weary novelist who must face desire and mortality during a cholera epidemic in Venice. Until 26 June.

ENO revival of Britten's Death in Venice 'streaked with genius'