Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 25 Sep 2013

1. MILIBAND DEFENDS FUEL PRICE PLEDGE

Ed Miliband's controversial pledge to freeze gas and electricity bills for 20 months if Labour wins the 2015 election has started a row. Energy firms have condemned the plan, saying it would be economically disastrous and could lead to blackouts. But Labour dismissed those fears and Miliband told the BBC he would "take action" against firms that defied him.

Can Ed Miliband get public on side as he takes on the fat cats?

2. NO MEETING FOR OBAMA AND ROUHANI

A much-anticipated meeting between Barack Obama and Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani at the UN general assembly did not go ahead. But, addressing the assembly, Rouhani said he was willing to engage in talks on his peaceful nuclear programme and said Iran posed no “threat" to the international community.

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3. KENYA MALL ATTACK: MOURNING BEGINS

Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the Islamist al-Shabaab attack on a Nairobi shopping mall. At least 67 have died, with some reports saying the death toll could rise to 130 as more bodies are recovered. Eleven suspects have been arrested, with five dead.

Nairobi attack death toll 'may reach 130'

4. UK WOMEN ADMIT PERU DRUGS CHARGE

Two 20-year-old British women in Lima have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 11kg of cocaine out of Peru. Michaella McCollum, of Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, of Lenzie, near Glasgow had claimed they were forced to carry the drugs. They are each to be jailed for six years and eight months.

British drug smuggler Melissa Reid released from Peru prison

5. FIRE BRIGADE STRIKES OVER PENSIONS ROW

Firefighters across England and Wales staged a four hour walkout at midday today. Union members are campaigning against changes which they say will mean working longer, making higher pension contributions and getting less back . Some brigades are hired private contractors to provide cover during the strike.

6. EARTHQUAKE KILLS 300 IN PAKISTAN

An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude has killed more than 300 people in rural Pakistan, destroying hundreds of homes and cutting communications links. The earthquake struck the province of Baluchistan yesterday and was so powerful it has caused a new island to emerge from the sea just off the Pakistan coast. The death toll is expected to rise.

7. SURVEY: QUARTER ‘DO NOT TRUST MUSLIMS’

A survey has found that more than a quarter of 18-24 year olds do not trust Muslims. The survey interviewed 1,000 people for BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat programme. Twenty-eight per cent said Britain would be better off with fewer Muslims while 44% said Muslims had different values than the rest of the UK.

8. LIBOR: BROKER FINED AND TRADERS CHARGED

London-based brokerage firm ICAP has been fined £55m and three of its former employees charged with wire fraud in New York in connection with the Libor interest rate-rigging scandal. The company has been fined £14m by the Financial Conduct Authority in London, and £41m by US authorities for manipulating the yen Libor rate. The traders face 30 years in jail on each count, if convicted.

9. WILDLIFE PARK BANS ANIMAL PRINT

A wildlife park in Surrey has banned visitors from wearing animal print clothing because it is confusing the inmates. Chessington World of Adventures has hired bouncers to enforce the rule, and those who break it will be forced to wear boiler suits. A spokesman said animals at the attraction were "becoming baffled" by people dressed like zebras and giraffes.

10. HOT TICKET: FIFA GAME RETURNS

The latest instalment in Electronic Arts’ popular Fifa football videogame series is released in the UK this week. Fifa 14 enables players to build teams of their favourite players and experience football tournaments and one-off games in more than 60 stadiums around the world. “Extremely polished,” says the Daily Mirror.

Fifa 14: football game 'still in a league of its own'