Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 2 Sep 2014

1. BORIS: ISLAND AIRPORT DECISION 'MYOPIC'

Boris Johnson has said he will not back a third runway at Heathrow after a proposal for a new island airport in the Thames estuary - dubbed Boris Island because of the London mayor’s support - was rejected as an option by a commission looking into the UK’s airport needs. Johnson said the decision was "myopic".

2. ETHNIC CLEANSING BY ISLAMIC STATE CLAIM

The militants in the self-declared Islamic State in Syria and northern Iraq have been accused of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" against minorities by Amnesty International. Amnesty says IS has turned northern Iraq into "blood-soaked killing fields". The UN said yesterday it was sending a team to investigate.

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Islamic State accused of 'ethnic cleansing on a historic scale'

3. RUSSIA WARNS OF 'NEW MILITARY STRATEGY'

Ukraine’s defence minister has accused Russia of launching a "great war" on its territory which could claim thousands of lives, but Russia denies supporting rebel forces in the east of the country. Fighting in Ukraine continues, and Russia has pledged to alter its military strategy in response to increased Nato activity in the region, itself prompted by concerns over Russia.

Nato to create 'spearhead' strike force to counter Russia

4. SCOTS INDEPENDENCE: BROWN’S DEBT WARNING

Former PM Gordon Brown has begun campaigning against Scottish independence, making a series of speeches across Scotland. In the first he warned that the country would be an “international outcast” if it refused to take on its share of UK debt - something Alex Salmond has threatened not to do.

Scottish independence final result: No voters keep Scotland in the UK

5. FBI PROBES NAKED CELEBRITY PICTURES

The FBI is looking into allegations that a hacker has stolen naked pictures of up to 60 celebrities. Around 20 stars have had photographs shared on the internet so far, including Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence. Apple says it is investigating whether iCloud accounts have been hacked into.

Nude celebrity photo leak investigated by FBI and Apple

6. CALLS FOR ASHYA PARENTS TO BE FREED

Nick Clegg and police have called for the parents of five-year-old brain tumour patient Ashya King to be released from jail in Spain and be reunited with their son. They were arrested after taking him from hospital in Southampton and travelling to Spain. Home Secretary Theresa May said efforts to extradite the couple were under review.

Ashya King 'cured of cancer' by treatment denied on the NHS

7. NEANDERTHAL 'ART' FOUND IN GIBRALTAR

A pattern scratched on the back wall of a cave in Gibraltar could be the most convincing evidence yet that Neanderthals created art. Previously, the early human competitors were thought to be brutish and unsophisticated. The incised grid pattern was found under sediment containing Neanderthal tools.

8. ROTHERHAM: 'POLITICAL CORRECTNESS' TO BLAME

Home Secretary Theresa May has blamed "institutionalised political correctness" for the Rotherham child abuse scandal and said that the government was considering an inspection of the local council. South Yorkshire Police today revealed it had commissioned an independent inquiry into its handling of the scandal.

9. EBOLA: CALLS FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION

There have been calls for military intervention in West Africa to try and contain the Ebola outbreak. Dr Joanne Liu of Medicins Sans Frontiers warned the United Nations that "entire health systems have crumbled" as a result of the disease with health workers dying in shocking numbers and infectious bodies left "rotting in the streets".

Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa

10. HOT TICKET: BEAN'S TOAST REVIVED

A revival of Richard Bean's breakout play Toast has opened at the Park Theatre, London. A group of bread factory workers struggle to save their jobs as management threatens to shut their decrepit factory down. "Constantly compelling," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 21 September.

Toast – reviews of 'vivid' Richard Bean revival

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