Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 20 Sep 2013

1. SYRIA SUBMITS DATA ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The Syrian regime has started sending details of its chemical weapons stockpiles to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. A UN diplomat told Reuters: “It’s quite long… and being translated.” Earlier, the country’s deputy PM told The Guardian that neither side was strong enough to win the civil war.

Syria: regime admits stalemate and may call for a ceasefire

2. BRITISH CHILDREN IN ONLINE SEX THREAT

Hundreds of British children are being blackmailed into performing sex acts online, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre has warned. Abusers pose as children and then threaten to send shared pictures to the child's family. Ceop says in 12 cases over two years, 424 children have been blackmailed, with 184 of them in the UK.

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Cyber-blackmail: why are sex abusers targeting UK children?

3. PRISON SMOKING BAN PROPOSED BY 2015

A ban on smoking in all areas of jails in England and Wales could be introduced by 2015. The move by the Prison Service is understood to be linked to potential legal action by staff and inmates concerned by the effects of passive smoking. A pilot is expected to begin next year. An estimated 80 per cent of prisoners are thought to be smokers.

Smoking in prisons: a human right or luxury health hazard?

4. HOW BROWN'S AIDE DROVE OUT RIVALS

Gordon Brown's former spin doctor, Damian McBride, has admitted to running smear campaigns in a bid to drive two former Home Secretaries, Charles Clarke and John Reid, out of the Cabinet. In a memoir, he says he routinely discredited opponents by tipping off papers about “drug use, spousal abuse, alcoholism and extra-marital affairs".

Can Ed Miliband sidestep Damian McBride's river of slime?

5. POPE REVEALS 'NEW BALANCE' FOR CHURCH

Pope Francis has called for a less condemnatory approach towards gay people, divorcees and women who have had an abortion. In an interview with an Italian Jesuit journal, the leader of the Catholic church warned that unless a new balance was found "the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards".

6. 'CHILLAXED' CAMERON PHOTO POSTED ON WEB

An intimate photograph of David Cameron taking a nap on a four-poster bed has been uploaded to the photo-sharing website Instagram. The picture shows the barefooted Prime Minister asleep with a ministerial red box beside him and was posted by Emily Sheffield, Samantha Cameron's sister, just before a recent wedding.

7. MURRAY TO MISS TOUR FOR BACK OPERATION

Andy Murray is to undergo surgery on a long-standing back injury next week and is unlikely to play again this season. The 26-year-old has a disc problem which affects a nerve in his lower back and causes pain in his upper leg. He is set to miss this year's remaining tour events, including November's World Tour Finals in London.

8. FARAGE: WE'LL SOON OVERTAKE LIB DEMS

Nigel Farage has told the Ukip party conference he expects to overtake the Liberal Democrats in terms of membership within two years. Saying Ukip was “growing up”, he pledged to turn next year’s European elections into “a referendum on EU membership”. He also said the party was “fiercely” opposed to racism.

9. THIRTEEN WOUNDED IN CHICAGO SHOOTING

As many as 13 people including a small child have been wounded by two gunmen who opened fire at a basketball court in Chicago, three weeks after an outbreak of violence and gang warfare left eight dead and 20 injured. The three-year-old boy was hit in the cheek and left in a critical condition. No arrests have been made.

10. HOT TICKET: AUSSIE BLOCKBUSTER AT RA

A major exhibition of Australian art opens tomorrow at the Royal Academy, London. 'Australia' presents key works from 1800 to the present day with a focus on landscape, including traditional and contemporary Indigenous art. "Wonderfully fresh,” says The Times. Until 8 December.

RA's 'long overdue' Australia show is 'wonderfully fresh'