Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 30 Sep 2013

1. OSBORNE: 'PICK UP LITTER OR LOSE DOLE'

The long-term unemployed will have to work for free in the community - picking up litter, for instance - if they want to continue to receive the dole under a plan to be unveiled by George Osborne at the Tory conference today. The popular press is divided: "decades overdue," says The Sun; "forced labour," says the Daily Mirror.

George Osborne's Help to Work scheme: how will it work?

2. MARKETS FALL ON US SHUTDOWN FEARS

American share prices fell as the US government teetered on the brink of its first shutdown in 17 years. If the White House and Republicans - who are seeking to delay President Obama's healthcare reform - fail to broker a deal by the end of the day non-essential services such as parks and museums will close. More than 800,000 federal employees face temporary unpaid leave.

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US shutdown: Is Republican party really to blame?

3. MAY PROMISES DEPORTATION REFORMS

Home secretary Theresa May has told the Conservative Party conference that foreign criminals will have fewer opportunities to appeal against deportation orders. She also said that Britain could leave the European Convention on Human rights to "fix our human rights laws".

Ed Miliband gets big poll boost: how can Tories respond?

4. NIGERIAN STUDENTS SHOT DEAD IN BED

As many as 50 students were killed in their beds on Saturday night when gunmen, suspected of being members of Boko Haram, attacked the Yobe state agriculture college in north-eastern Nigeria. About 1,000 students fled the campus. Boko Haram wants to overthrow Nigeria's government in favour of an Islamic state.

5. ARSENAL & LIVERPOOL LEAD PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal lead the Premier League after beating Swansea 2-1 on Saturday and Liverpool are second after a 3-1 victory over Sunderland yesterday, two goals coming from Luis Suarez. Manchester Utd are in 12th place after their shock 2-1 defeat at home to West Brom: it is their worst start to a new season since 1989.

Sturridge and Suarez lead the line for team of the week

6. EUROSTAR TO BID FOR EAST COAST MAINLINE

Eurostar has joined forces with a French rail company to bid for the right to run trains between London and Edinburgh. The line has been in public control since National Express was forced to hand back the franchise mid-way through its term. Both Eurostar and its partner, Keolis, are part-owned by the French state rail operator SNCF.

Eurostar bids to run East Coast rail franchise

7. AMANDA KNOX CASE BACK IN COURT

The retrial of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito began in Florence with the court hearing arguments about what evidence should be reconsidered. Knox and Sollecito were first convicted of murdering British student Meredith Kercher and then acquitted on appeal. The Supreme Court ordered a second trial after ruling that the appeal had been mishandled.

Amanda Knox claims inmate tried to seduce her behind bars

8. DOZENS KILLED IN IRAQ BLASTS

Dozens of people are reported dead after a series of car bombs exploded in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The blasts, aimed at markets and car parks, took place in Shia neighbourhoods. There were at least five explosions and the death toll has been put at 42. An increase in sectarian violence has killed 5,000 people so far this year, according to the UN.

9. TOURISTS JUMP INTO THAMES TO ESCAPE FIRE

Thirty people, many of them foreign tourists, had to be rescued from the Thames yesterday when an amphibious Duck Boat caught fire. Some jumped into the river to escape the smoke. Donna Wood said: "I was scared the boat might blow. I've lost my bag with my passport, everything I need to get back to Australia."

10. HOT TICKET: ARTURO UI RISES AGAIN

A revival of Bertolt Brecht's Hitler satire The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui has transferred to the Duchess Theatre, West End, from Chichester. Set in Depression-era Chicago, it charts the rise of a small-time gangster. Stars Henry Goodman. "Savagely funny," says The Independent. Until 7 December.

Henry Goodman 'electrifying' in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui