Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 10 Aug 2013

1. MUGABE'S NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN

Robert Mugabe has signed a secret deal with Iran to sell uranium for a nuclear weapon in direct breach of international sanctions, a senior government official has told The Times. The move will provoke particular international outrage as both regimes are facing sanctions. “Mining is Zimbabwe’s ticket,” the official said.

2. ED MILIBAND IS 'SO, SO' SAYS LORD LEVY

Ed Miliband has received two less than fulsome tributes to his leadership from within Labour ranks. Lord Levy, asked by the Daily Telegraph to assess Miliband's performance as party leader, replies: “So, so. I don’t think he’s doing brilliantly, and I don’t think he’s doing very badly.” Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham tells the Guardian Miliband needs “to shout louder”.

3. ECONOMY HAS 'REGAINED MOMENTUM'

The economy has “regained momentum” and a full-blown recovery is underway, says the economic secretary to the treasury. Sajid Javid wrote: “While there is still a long way to go, the plan is working. The economy has moved out of intensive care and into recovery. Momentum has returned to our economy.” Javid said Labour policies would spark a new “crisis”.

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4. 'ISLAM' CANDIDATE PULLS OUT OF RACE

The Australian election candidate featured in a viral internet video in which she mistook Islam for a country has withdrawn her candidacy. Stephanie Banister was running for a seat in Queensland for the anti-immigration One Nation Party when, during a television interview, she described Islam as “a country” and said Jewish people worship Jesus Christ.

5. METER PLAN COULD DOUBLE WATER BILLS

Millions of families face higher bills under plans to fit homes with compulsory water meters, as ministers declare that reservoirs are at risk of running dry. Some families' bills could double as water companies across a third of the country are ordered to consider fitting all properties in their areas with a water meter and billing customers for every drop they use.

6. OBAMA PROMISES SURVEILLANCE REFORMS

President Barack Obama has promised "appropriate reforms" to guarantee greater transparency in controversial US surveillance programs. "It is not enough for me as president to have confidence in these programs. The American people need to have confidence in them as well," he told a White House news conference.

7. KEEP CHANGE, RYANAIR STAFF TOLD

A handbook used by Ryanair advises staff to pretend they are short of change when selling passengers items from the trolley. The document says: “Keep the change! A simple and effective method to help boost your passenger spend count.” The airline says the advice is from “a third party” and insists Ryanair's policy is that “change is returned immediately to passengers”.

8. POLICE INJURED IN BELFAST VIOLENCE

Police say 26 officers were injured during violence in Belfast city centre last night. Loyalist protestors prevented a Republican parade from passing along Royal Avenue. Police say they came under intense and prolonged attack by crowds “intent on creating disorder”, with five officers hospitalised. Officers used plastic rounds and a water cannon to restore order.

9. TORY MEMBERSHIP LEVELS SLUMP

Membership of the Conservative Party has fallen to “dire” levels in a series of key marginal seats, leading some party figures to question whether it can win an outright majority in 2015. The party does not publish national membership figures but MPs admit the figure may be below 100,000. Membership has as much as halved in a number of seats.

10. ROONEY AIMS SWIPE AT DAVID MOYES

Wayne Rooney has made what is being interpreted as a thinly-veiled swipe at Manchester United boss David Moyes. The striker, who has been training with the reserves at Old Trafford, publicly thanked England boss Roy Hodgson for standing by him. “Big thanks to Roy Hodgson for selecting me and showing his faith and support – appreciate it,” he wrote on his Facebook page.