Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 9 Sep 2014

1. PARTY LEADERS HEAD TO SCOTLAND

The three main UK party leaders are to visit Scotland to campaign against independence this week, but will not appear together. David Cameron and Ed Miliband will fly north on Wednesday. A new poll by TNS, conducted between 27 August and 4 September with 990 surveyed, puts the Yes and No camps neck and neck, with 41% of the vote each.

2. MH17 BROKE UP AFTER 'BEING HIT BY OBJECTS'

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 suddenly broke up in mid-air over Ukraine after being struck by "numerous objects... at high speed" according to crash investigators from the Dutch Safety Board. There had been no sign of an emergency on board prior to the disaster. Pro-Russian rebels have been accused of shooting down the jet, carrying 298 people.

Missile that downed MH17 came from Russia, investigation rules

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3. PRINCE WILLIAM: I’M IMMENSELY THRILLED

The Duke of Cambridge has said he and wife Kate are “immensely thrilled” to be expecting a second baby but have had a “tricky few days” after the Duchess suffered again from severe morning sickness, forcing her to cancel an engagement and reveal her pregnancy to the public sooner than planned.

Princess Charlotte to start nursery school in January

4. SCOTS INDEPENDENCE: NO CAMP REVEAL PLANS

Scottish Labour, Lib Dems and Conservatives are today to announce their plans to give new powers to the Scottish government if voters reject independence in the referendum on 18 September. Gordon Brown, the former PM and No campaigner, says work will start on enacting them immediately after the vote.

Scottish independence: UK party leaders pledge new powers

5. FRANKLIN EXPEDITION BOAT FOUND

One of two British ships that disappeared during Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition to chart the North West Passage in the Canadian Arctic sea has been discovered. Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper said photographic evidence had confirmed the discovery. The disappearance of the 129-man party was a great mystery of the era.

6. GAMBIA: LIFE TERMS FOR HOMOSEXUAL ACTS

Gambia has passed a bill imposing life sentences for some homosexual acts. The country’s autocratic president, Yahya Jammeh, called in 2008 for gay men and lesbians to leave the country or be beheaded. Speaking in February he said he would fight gay people as if they were “malaria-causing mosquitoes”.

7. UK DONATES ARMS TO NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT

The UK government is to donate heavy machine guns and ammunition worth £1.6m to the new Iraqi government to help in the fight against Islamic State. The equipment will arrive in the country this week. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond earlier welcomed the appointment of Iraq's new government, led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Iraq: new government opens way for US military expansion

8. AUSTRALIA: BRITON KILLED BY SHARK

A British man has died after being attacked by a shark off Byron Bay, a popular tourist beach and renowned surfing spot north of Sydney in Australia. Paul Wilcox, 50, was found floating in shallow water and dragged to the shore by beach-goers, but died. It is the first death blamed on sharks in the country since April.

9. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER LEAVES HOSPITAL

Michael Schumacher has left hospital as he continues his recovery from a serious head injury that left him in a coma for six months. In a statement his manager said his "rehabilitation" would continue at home. The former F1 champion suffered the injury while skiing in December and was transferred to hospital in Switzerland in June.

10. HOT TICKET: GLOBE'S COMEDY OF ERRORS

A new production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors has opened at Shakespeare's Globe, London. Two sets of identical twins, accidentally separated at birth, cross paths in Ephesus resulting in a series of mishaps based on mistaken identity. "Near-perfect," says The Guardian. Until 12 October.

The Comedy of Errors – 'delicious' farce at the Globe