Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 25 Sep 2014

1. PM: WHOLE WORLD MUST UNITE AGAINST I.S

David Cameron told a UN general assembly yesterday that the Sunni militants in Syrian and Iraq calling themselves Islamic State are an “evil against which the whole world must unite”. He added that the UK was ready to “play its part” in the fighting. The US and Arab allies continue to bomb IS in Syria.

2. SHELLSHOCK BUG 'WORSE THAN HEARTBLEED'

A new computer bug, with the potential to affect 500 million computers including Apple Macs, has been discovered. The security flaw, dubbed Shellshock, has been found in a software component known as Bash, found in many operating systems. Experts have described it as "deadly serious" and say it is more serious than this year's Heartbleed scare.

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3. ALGERIA BEHEADING: FRENCH TOURIST DEAD

A terror group based in Algeria which says it is allied to IS in Syria has released a video showing the beheading of a French mountain guide, 55-year-old Herve Gourdel. Gourdel had arrived in Algeria only one day before his kidnapping but had often visited north Africa, training mountain guides in Morocco.

4. PM TO APOLOGISE TO QUEEN FOR ‘PURRING’

David Cameron is to apologise to the Queen in person for saying she “purred down the phone” when told the Scottish independence referendum had been a ‘No’ vote. Cameron’s remark, made to former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg was caught on a microphone that the PM did not realise was nearby.

David Cameron to apologise to Queen over 'purr' gaffe

5. APPLE APOLOGISES OVER SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Apple has apologised after an update of its operating system left some owners of new iPhones unable to make phone calls or use the built-in fingerprint sensor. The update, iOS 8.0.1, was released on Wednesday evening but was pulled hours later as the tech giant issued instructions on its website telling users how to downgrade back to iOS 8.0.

iOS 8.0.1 withdrawn: what went wrong with Apple update?

6. CHOUDARY ARRESTED IN ANTI-TERROR RAIDS

Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary was among nine men arrested by anti-terror police in a series of raids in London and Stoke today. The men, aged between 22 and 51, were detained on suspicion of encouraging terrorism or having links with a banned organisation, believed to be Al-Muhajiroun, for which Choudary has acted as spokesman.

Anjem Choudary arrested in 'Islamist terror' raids

7. SIERRA LEONE EXTENDS EBOLA QUARANTINE

New quarantine restrictions in Sierra Leone mean a third of the country's population is now unable to move freely as the government attempts to curb the spread of Ebola. Only those delivering essential supplies will be allowed in and out of the affected regions. President Koroma said the move was to ensure the "survival of our country".

Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa

8. JASON ORANGE TO QUIT TAKE THAT

Singer Jason Orange, 44, has announced he is quitting Take That, almost 25 years after the boy band formed. Orange stressed there had been no “falling out” but that he simply didn’t want to continue. Robbie Williams earlier announced he will leave. The remaining band members are working on new material.

9. BRANSON GIVES STAFF UNLIMITED HOLIDAY

Richard Branson has offered his 170 personal staff as much holiday as they want. He says staff are now free to “take off whenever they want for as long as they want” without asking for approval or saying when they return. He hopes staff will only go when they feel their work is up-to-speed.

Richard Branson announces unlimited holiday for Virgin staff

10. HOT TICKET: MAXINE PEAKE'S HAMLET

A new gender-switching production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, starring Maxine Peake, is playing at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Peake plays the troubled prince of Denmark who mourns the death of his father and contemplates a terrible revenge. "Fabulous," says The Times. Until 25 October.

Hamlet – reviews of gender switching Shakespeare

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