Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 24 Sep 2014

1. U.S STRIKES ON I.S NEAR TURKISH BORDER

US air strikes have reportedly targeted Islamic State militants in Syria, near the border with Turkey. The attacks took place near the Kurdish town of Kobane, under seige from IS. At least 70 IS fighters were killed in the first air strikes launched against Syrian targets on Monday. However, defeating IS could take years, says the US military.

Islamic State: RAF jets carry out first air strikes in Iraq

2. ED MILIBAND 'FORGOT' PARTS OF SPEECH

Ed Miliband has admitted he forgot about a key section of his speech to the Labour Party conference dealing with the issue of Britain's deficit. He also left out a section on immigration, but insisted he got his message across. On the last day of the conference shadow health secretary Andy Burnham promised to "rescue" the "shattered" NHS.

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NHS cash gets public thumbs-up - just as Labour knew it would

3. I.S HOSTAGE'S WIFE SENT AUDIO MESSAGE

The family of British hostage Alan Henning, an aid worker who is under threat of execution from Sunni militants Islamic State (IS), have been sent an audio recording of him pleading for his life. In response, Henning's wife Barbara issued a message calling on the Islamists to set her husband free.

4. THAI POLICE CLOSE TO MURDER ARREST

Police in Thailand say they are "close to making an arrest" over the deaths of two young British holidaymakers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, who were found murdered on Koh Tao on 15 September. Police believe three men were involved and say one fled immediately to Bangkok.

5. RMT: 24-HOUR TUBE PLAN IS A 'DISASTER'

The RMT union says plans to start a 24-hour tube service in London from 12 September 2015 have not been thought through and are a "disaster waiting to happen". The plan is to run six trains an hour on parts of the Jubilee, Victoria, Piccadilly, Central and Northern lines on Fridays and Saturdays.

Night Tube: 24-hour weekend service to begin next year

6. QATADA WALKS FREE FROM COURT IN JORDAN

Radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, deported from the UK after an eight-year fight, has been freed from jail after being cleared of terrorism offences in Jordan. He was found not guilty of involvement in a foiled bomb plot in 2000 targeting tourists during Jordan's Millennium celebrations. He will not be allowed back into the UK.

Abu Qatada to walk free after being cleared of terror charges

7. TRINITY MIRROR ADMITS PHONE HACKING

Trinity Mirror newspaper group has admitted that some of its journalists were involved in phone hacking. The company, which publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, admitted liability and agreed to pay compensation to four people. Six other claims have already been settled, but others are registered at the High Court.

8. JUST 3% WANT WALES TO LEAVE UNION

Support for Welsh independence has fallen to a record low in the wake of the Scottish 'No' vote, according to a survey carried out for BBC Wales by ICM, with just three per cent saying they wanted Wales to leave the union. However, 49% said the Welsh Assembly should have greater powers.

9. INDIAN SATELLITE ENTERS MARS ORBIT

India has become the first nation to successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars on the first attempt. The Mangalyaan robotic probe, one of the cheapest yet, joins the latest US Mars satellite, Maven, to study the red planet's atmosphere. Indian PM Navendra Modi said the nation should celebrate.

India's Mars Orbiter sends first photos: what will Mangalyaan find?

10. HOT TICKET: ANSELM KIEFER AT RA

A major survey show of contemporary German artist Anselm Kiefer opens at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, this weekend. It presents Kiefer's key large-scale paintings, including Ash Flower, as well as sculpture, installation, drawings and books. "Exhilarating," says The Guardian. 27 September-14 December.

Anselm Kiefer – reviews of 'exciting' Royal Academy show