Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 11 Sep 2013

1. FRANCE: 15-DAY LIMIT FOR WEAPONS PLAN

France has drafted a UN Security Council resolution giving Syria 15 days to hand over its entire stock of chemical weapons. The French proposal, seen by The Times in a rough translation, is backed by Britain and the US. It is unlikely such a deadline can be met. The Russians today gave the US their plans for securing the weapons handover.

Barack Obama brings out his patchwork quilt of a speech

2. NIGEL EVANS QUITS TO FIGHT SEX CHARGES

Conservative MP Nigel Evans has quit his role as deputy speaker to face eight charges of sexual offences including sexual assault, indecent assault and rape on a total of seven alleged victims, dating back as far as 2002. Asserting his innocence, Evans pledged to carry on as MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire.

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Nigel Evans quits as deputy Speaker following sex charges

3. GOVERNMENT RALLIES SUPPORT FOR HS2

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has launched a report that supports the planned high-speed rail link between London and the north, the much-criticised HS2. The report, compiled by accountants KPMG, claims the line could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year, mostly in regions outside London.

HS2 will inject £15bn a year into UK economy says report

4. APPLE UNVEILS NEW IPHONE HANDSETS

Apple has demonstrated two new models of its iPhone smartphone in California, the 5S and 5C handsets. The former includes a fingerprint sensor, built in to the main button and used to identify the user, while the 5C comes with a plastic back in a choice of colours. The 5S will cost between £549 and £709, the 5C £469.

iPhone 6 bending reports 'overblown' says test firm

5. ANTHONY WEINER OUT OF NEW YORK RACE

Anthony Weiner, the New York City mayoral candidate engulfed in a sexting scandal, finally bowed out of the race last night when he polled only 5% in the Democratic primary. After conceding defeat, he was chased through a McDonald’s by Sydney Leathers, the most recent woman to accuse him of sexting. Bill de Blasio topped the Democratic ballot.

Anthony Weiner crashes out of New York mayoral race

6. QUARTER OF MEN IN ASIA POLL ADMIT RAPE

One in four men questioned by the UN in Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Papa New Guinea have admitted to committing at least one rape. The word "rape" was not used in the survey: instead 10,000 men were asked questions such as “Have you ever had sex with a woman or girl when she was too drunk or drugged to say whether she wanted it or not?”

Quarter of men 'admit to rape' in parts of Asia, UN finds

7. BBC REVEALS DOCTOR WHO 50TH SCHEDULE

The BBC has unveiled its plans to celebrate 50 years of cult sci-fi series Doctor Who with a flurry of programmes including a 75-minute episode titled The Day of the Doctor, starring Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt. Professor Brian Cox will present a BBC2 lecture on the science behind the time-travelling show.

Doctor Who: How is the 50th anniversary being marked?

8. LADY GAGA FACES COURT OVER PA

Lady Gaga will go to court to answer claims by her former personal assistant that she owes her thousands of hours of unpaid overtime. Jennifer O’Neill, who first met the Poker Face singer when they shared an apartment in 2008, says she was once woken in the middle of the night to take a DVD out of the player for Gaga.

Aide sues Lady Gaga over 7,000 hours of 'unpaid overtime'

9. UK UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS 0.1% TO 7.7%

Britain's unemployment rate has fallen from 7.8% to 7.7%, in what The Guardian describes as the "first tentative step" towards the 7% target the Bank of England governor Mark Carney says may signal an economy strong enough to withstand a rise in interest rates.

10. HOT TICKET: CALLOW IN WAGNER’S HEAD

Simon Callow’s one-man show ‘Inside Wagner’s Head’ has opened at the Royal Opera House. Written by and starring Callow, the show explores the life and legacy of the controversial German composer Richard Wagner through words, music and projections. “Highly engaging,” says the Evening Standard. Until 28 September.

Callow gets inside Wagner's head in 'daring' one-man show