Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 2 Sep 2013

1. CAMERON RULES OUT FRESH VOTE ON SYRIA

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both ruled out a fresh Commons vote on military intervention in Syria, despite pressure from senior figures in all three main parties. London mayor Boris Johnson today added his voice to those who say British forces could still be deployed in Syria in light of "more compelling" evidence that the Assad regime has used sarin gas.

PM rules out fresh vote on Syria despite political mood swing

2. KIM DOTCOM TO LAUNCH POLITICAL PARTY

Kim Dotcom, the flamboyant founder of the now-defunct file-storage website Megaupload, has announced he will launch a political party in New Zealand to contest next year's elections. The internet mogul, who is fighting attempts to extradite him to the US, described his political plans as "embryonic".

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Kim Dotcom to launch party to fight New Zealand election

3. BLAIR, CAMERON PAY TRIBUTE TO TV'S FROST

David Cameron has described Sir David Frost as "an extraordinary man - with charm, wit, talent, intelligence and warmth in equal measure". The PM was just one of the politicians and celebrities who paid tribute to the 74-year-old who died on a cruise liner yesterday after suffering a heart attack.

David Frost: tributes to TV's 'most illustrious inquisitor'

4. BACK TO SCHOOL: NO MORE GIVING UP MATHS

Secondary pupils returning to school this week face tougher requirements regarding English and maths. Those who failed to score a grade C or above in their GCSEs must continue to study the subjects to the age of 18. Education Secretary Michael Gove has introduced the new rule to make school leavers more employable.

Can Gove solve the maths and English skills conundrum?

5. NELSON MANDELA TO BE CARED FOR AT HOME

Nelson Mandela has left hospital in Pretoria and gone to his home in the Houghton suburb of Johannesburg where a special unit has been created to ensure his continued care. His condition remains critical and at times unstable. President Jacob Zuma's office has appealed for Mandela's privacy and dignity to be respected.

Nelson Mandela's will divides estate worth £2.5m

6. GARETH BALE JOINS REAL MADRID FOR £85M

After months of speculation, Real Madrid have signed Tottenham's Gareth Bale for a world record £85.3m, beating the £80m paid by the same club for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker says Bale's ability is phenomenal – the only question is whether he has the mental strength to cope with the spotlight.

Transfer deadline day: Arsenal 'close to getting Ozil for £40m-plus'

7. INDIAN GURU HELD ON ASHRAM RAPE CHARGE

An Indian spiritual guru with hundreds of thousands of followers has been arrested on a charge of raping a 16-year-old girl who visited his ashram in Jodhpur. Asaram Bapu denies the charge, calling the girl "mentally unstable." He was held after members of the girl's family began a hunger strike in protest at the lack of legal action.

Protests in India as guru held over schoolgirl rape claim

8. FORD FOCUS 'BEST CAR OF LAST 25 YEARS'

The Ford Focus Mk1 has been voted the greatest car of the last 25 years. The no-nonsense family car, first introduced in 1998 to replace the Ford Escort, beat an Aston Martin, a Porsche and a Ferrari to win the accolade. Second in the poll organised by Auto Express was the Lancia Delta Integrale rally car. Third was the 240mph McLaren F1.

9. 'DON'T BE AFRAID': HEANEY'S FINAL WORDS

The final message from Ireland’s Nobel laureate poet was “Don’t be afraid”, it was revealed at his funeral in Dublin today. Heaney sent the text message to his wife as he lay in a hospital bed. Mourners at the service ranged from the Irish PM Enda Kenny to Bono and The Edge from rock band U2.

10. HOT TICKET: RAYMAN BACK WITH LEGENDS

A new instalment of the popular 2D platforming video game 'Rayman' has been released in the UK. In 'Rayman Legends', Rayman and friends awake from a century-long sleep to discover the Bubbledreamer's nightmares have plunged the world into chaos and order must be restored. "Insanely inventive," says Metro.

Rayman Legends: stunning return of mystical game