Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 7 Sep 2014

1. ‘YES’ CAMP TAKES LEAD FOR FIRST TIME

A new poll puts the Scottish independence ‘yes’ campaign in the lead for the first time. The YouGov survey for The Sunday Times has the ‘yes’ campaign on 51%, with the ‘no’ camp on 49% — overturning a 22-point lead for the Better Together group in the space of a month. The news comes as the Queen is said by an aide to be “horrified” at the thought of Scottish independence.

2. JACK THE RIPPER ‘IDENTIFIED’ AT LAST

Jack the Ripper was a Polish immigrant called Aaron Kosminski, claims the Mail On Sunday. A man who bought a shawl, discovered at the scene of one of the Ripper’s murders, enlisted a DNA expert to test evidence found on the garment. Descendants of Kosminksi, who was a suspect when the Ripper murders took place in 1888, were also tested, allowing a match to be made.

3. MPS’ SALARIES ARE TO RISE BY 10%

The new boss of the expenses watchdog will defy David Cameron and raise MPs’ pay 10% next year, says the Sunday Telegraph. Marcial Boo says that MPs perform an important role and should not be paid “a miserly amount”. The move, which will take MPs’ salaries to £74,000, is in defiance of David Cameron who said that such an increase would be “simply unacceptable”.

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4. EARLY DEMENTIA HIGHER THAN THOUGHT

More than twice as many people in the UK have dementia before the age of 65 than was previously thought, new research has discovered. A report, from the Alzheimer’s Society, found that of 42,000 people estimated to be suffering early onset dementia, thousands of the cases were among those in their 40s, and more than 700 cases among those in their 30s.

5. SHELLING RATTLES UKRAINE CEASEFIRE

Shelling in the south-east of Ukraine is threatening the fragile ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian rebels. Blasts from eastern edges of the city of Mariupol were heard across the city late yesterday. Mariupol is viewed by the rebels as a key city on the route to Crimea. However, Ukrainian and Russian leaders said the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was "largely holding".

6. WAS MUSEUM SUSPECT SYRIA CAPTOR?

A French journalist who was held hostage in Syria says the man held on suspicion of an attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels was one of his captors. Nicolas Henin, released alongside three other journalists, says Mehdi Nemmouche was among his captors for five of the 10 months he spent in the custody of a Syrian extremist group.

7. 60% OF BRITS BACK ISIL MILITARY ACTION

The majority of the British public would support some form of British military action against jihadist fighters in Iraq, suggests a poll for the Sunday Telegraph. The research found 60% of people were in favour of taking action to deal with the threat from ISIL. Meanwhile, Henry Kissinger has called on Barack Obama to launch an “all-out attack” on the terror group.

8. FIFTY SHADES KNICKER RANGE TO LAUNCH

Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James has created an underwear range inspired by her bestselling novel. The 43-piece range is described as "refined, elegant and made in beautiful fabrics, with a focus on quality and style". The womenswear pieces "instil their wearer with the confidence to forge their own style" claim the makers of the range which will be sold only at Tesco.

9. RIVERS TALKED DEATH IN FINAL INTERVIEW

Joan Rivers spoke about death in her final interview, reveals The Sunday Times. The comedienne, who died this week, said she had left strict instructions banning some people from her funeral, adding: “Nobody, when I die, is going to say, ‘How young?’ They’re going to say, ‘She had a great ride.’” She said of her death: "It’s inevitable. It’s no longer an abstract thing.”

10. NAVRATILOVA PROPOSES AT US OPEN

Martina Navratilova announced at the US open semi-final that she will marry her long-term partner Julia Lemigova. Speaking over the big screen, the 18-time former Grand Slamp champion said: "I have been waiting for the right time to ask Julia to marry me. I thought this was the right place and the right time to pop the question and thankfully I got a 'yes'."