Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 25 Aug 2013

1. SYRIA: WEST WARNS OF 'SERIOUS RESPONSE'

David Cameron and Barack Obama have threatened a "serious response" if it emerges Syria used chemical weapons last week. The two leaders, who spoke for 40 minutes on the phone yesterday, are "gravely concerned" by "increasing signs” of a “significant chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime", says Cameron's office.

2. POLL SLAMS MILIBAND PERFORMANCE

Just one in five voters believe Ed Miliband is doing a “good job”, according to a new survey in the Sunday Telegraph. The Labour leader's performance was rated positively by only 21% of those surveyed for the Telegraph, with 51% describing his track record as “bad”. However, the poll, conducted by ICM, gave Labour a 2% lead over the Conservatives.

3. ANDREW AND FERGIE TO REMARRY?

The Duchess of York has reportedly rekindled her romance with her former husband, the Duke of York. “Mark my words, they will remarry,” one friend told a newspaper. “It is only a matter of time.” The couple have remained close since their 1996 divorce. The Queen invited Sarah Ferguson to visit her at Balmoral Castle earlier this month.

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4. BRITAIN'S GREEN BELT BUILDING DOUBLES

The number of houses planned for England’s green belt has doubled in a year, says a report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Plans now exist for more than 150,000 homes to be built on protected land, and more than 1,000 acres will be lost to office blocks, warehouses and the HS2 rail link, says the report.

5. ARMSTRONG SETTLES WITH SUNDAY TIMES

Disgraced cycling champion Lance Armstrong has reached a settlement with The Sunday Times, which had sued him for more than £1m. Armstrong had been paid £300,000 to settle a libel case in 2004 after the newspaper alleged he had cheated. After he admitted cheating last year, the newspaper demanded he return the money, together with interest and costs.

6. MAY ANNOUNCES MODERN SLAVERY LAW

Home Secretary Theresa May is to announce a new anti-slavery law to fight traffickers. Under the law, slave masters who bring immigrants to Britain and force them to work will face long prison sentences and be banned from running companies. Those convicted of using abduction, threats or extortion to control slaves would face sentences of up to 14 years.

7. FRAUD WARNING OVER MISLABELLED MANUKA

Manuka honey, the expensive health supplement, is at the centre of an international food fraud investigation amid evidence that much of it is fake. The Food Standards Agency says much of the £45-a-jar product may be ordinary honey wrongly labelled as manuka. Actress Scarlett Johansson and tennis player Novak Djokovic have praised manuka in the past.

8. CHARITY: UK RISKS 'SOCIAL APARTHEID'

Britain is at risk of "sleepwalking” into a situation whereby children “grow up in a state of social apartheid", according to a leading charity. The National Children's Bureau found that more children are growing up in relative poverty today than the 1960s – 3.6m compared with 2m – and claims that these children suffer "devastating consequences throughout their lives".

9. COLE'S TATTOO COMES UP ROSES

A new tattoo has become the talk of Twitter and beyond – thanks to the fact it belongs to Cheryl Cole and covers her entire backside. The singer revealed an enormous back tattoo when she performed with Girls Aloud earlier this year. However, in a new photograph posted onto Twitter, it is graphically revealed that the rosy design covers her entire derrière.

10. GUNNERS AND LIVERPOOL WIN

Arsenal secured their first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Fulham yesterday. Lukas Podolski scored in each half to help the Gunners to victory in torrential rain. Liverpool maintained their 100% start to the season as Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal of the game at Aston Villa. Manchester City play at Cardiff today.