Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 15 Aug 2013

1. OUTCRY AS EGYPT TOLL PASSES 500

World leaders condemned Cairo's heavy-handed tactics after 525 Egyptians died yesterday and thousands were injured when two protest camps were cleared by security forces. The White House, under pressure to withdraw aid, said "the world is watching". Foreign Secretary William Hague called for restraint.

Democracy endangered by Egyptian army's bloody assault

2. ASSANGE: MANNING APOLOGY 'COERCED'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange says Private Bradley Manning only apologised for hurting the US by leaking thousands of secret documents because he was coerced. Manning told his sentencing hearing –where he faces up to 90 years for espionage – that he mistakenly believed he could "change the world for the better".

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Chelsea Manning to be released early by Barack Obama

3. OLYMPICS JAMES BOND STUNTMAN KILLED

The stuntman who parachuted into the Olympic stadium dressed as James Bond during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games has died after an accident in Switzerland. Mark Sutton, 42, crashed into a ridge after jumping 10,000 feet from a helicopter during a wing-diving event on Wednesday.

London Games 'James Bond' stuntman killed in Alps jump

4. 'NEW WAVE' OF EAST EUROPEAN WORKERS

The number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK rose by 26% in the quarter April to June – even before border controls are lifted at the end of this year which will allow more immigrants from the two eastern European countries to work in Britain. Official figures show 141,000 were employed here in the April-June quarter.

5. UK CHRISTIAN 'PERSECUTION' IS MYTH

The former Archbishop of Canterbury has warned Christians in the Western world against complaining they are "persecuted". Dr Rowan Williams said the claim makes him feel "very uneasy" and suggested people in Britain who complain they face discrimination or ill-treatment because of their beliefs should "grow up".

Rowan Williams: 'Grow up, UK Christians are not persecuted'

6. BAD MOVE: UKIP IN CHESS 'SEXISM' ROW

UKIP has triggered a fresh controversy after its treasurer made remarks about women in business that were branded 'sexist'. Party treasurer Stuart Wheeler said women's failure to win chess, bridge and poker tournaments suggested they lacked the competitiveness of men and should not be automatically handed places on company boards.

UKIP treasurer: Chess, bridge prove women can't compete with men

7. PRINCE WILLIAM TELLS OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

Prince William said his son George is "pretty loud" but doing well "and of course, extremely good looking". Speaking in Wales, where he will soon finish his tour of duty, he said: "I thought search and rescue duties over Snowdonia were physically and mentally demanding, but looking after a three-week-old baby is certainly up there."

Prince George ‘played sheep in school nativity’

8. BIRMINGHAM BALTI ON SCHOOL SYLLABUS

Children in Birmingham are to be taught how to make a balti as part of their studies. The dish, a one-pot tomato-based curry rumoured to have been invented in the city, will form part of the "Birmingham baccalaureate", a certificate children will work towards alongside their GCSEs. One politician described the plans as "airy fairy".

9. LAMBERT GOAL HELPS ENGLAND BEAT SCOTS

Although Scotland twice took the lead, England beat their northern neighbours 3-2 in a match at Wembley last night. Rickie Lambert scored England's third and final goal three minutes after he came on as a substitute during the first summer friendly between the teams for 14 years. He said he had been "dreaming of that all my life".

New boy Rickie Lambert saves the day for England vs Scots

10. HOT TICKET: LIOLA GIVEN AN IRISH TWIST

Richard Eyre's production of Luigi Pirandello's pastoral comedy 'Liola' has opened at the National Theatre, London. An impotent Sicilian landowner stirs his young wife's hidden desires when he claims another woman's baby as his heir. With an Irish cast. "An unexpected delight," says The Independent. Until 6 November.

Pirandello's Liola gets an Irish twist at National Theatre