Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 1 Oct 2013

1. TORIES PLEDGE 2015 FUEL DUTY FREEZE

George Osborne has announced he will freeze fuel duty until 2015 as part of his attempts to ensure British households "share in the rewards" of the economic recovery. The move comes as the Conservative party responds to Ed Miliband's pledge last week to limit energy prices. A 2p-a-litre rise in fuel was due next September.

David Cameron backs Osborne on 'squeeze' for rest of decade

2. US DEADLOCK SPARKS FEDERAL SHUTDOWN

The US government has begun a partial shutdown for the first time in 17 years after President Barack Obama refused demands to delay his signature health reform law, known as Obamacare. Some 700,000 federal workers will be placed on indefinite unpaid leave after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree a budget for next year.

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US shutdown trivial in light of what the Tea Party plans next

3. US GENERALS SACKED OVER 'HARRY ATTACK'

Two US Marine generals have been sacked for negligence over security lapses that allowed the Taliban to launch an attack on the Afghanistan airbase at which Prince Harry was based. The prince was held in a safe room during the assault, which killed two American soldiers and injured five RAF officers.

4. MORE SEX CHARGES FOR DAVE LEE TRAVIS

Former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis has been charged with two more counts of indecent assault. The latest allegations relate to a woman aged over 16 and took place in the early 1990s. The 68-year-old, who was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, is due to stand trial on 11 counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault next year.

5. WAR ON DRUGS A FAILURE, SAYS REPORT

Illegal drugs are now cheaper and purer than at any time over the last 20 years, a new report has warned. The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy suggested the war on drugs had failed. It found the average price of opiates and cocaine in Europe decreased by 74 per cent and 51 per cent respectively between 1990 and 2010.

6. WEAPONS INSPECTORS ENTER SYRIA

A UN team has arrived in Syria to begin work securing and destroying the country's chemical weapons stockpile. The Syrian Government has promised to co-operate with the mission, the result of a deal between the US and Russia, but the task facing the inspectors has been described as "daunting".

7. MILIBAND TAKES ON THE DAILY MAIL

Ed Miliband has written a furious defence of his father, described recently in the Daily Mail as "the man who hated Britain". The Labour leader described the article as a lurid smear and said that his father, a Jewish refugee, had loved his adopted country and been proud to serve in the Royal Navy.

Ed Miliband vs Daily Mail: row erupts over father 'smear'

8. UK HOUSE PRICES TO SURGE 20% BY 2018

House prices across Britain will rise by an average of 23.7 per cent to a record £278,000 over the next five years, according to a think tank. The Centre for Economics and Business Research says prices across the UK will rise 2.9 per cent to an average of £225,000 this year, followed by a 3.9 per cent jump in 2014.

9. BORIS AND PM IN GANGNAM STYLE BOND

David Cameron confirmed this morning that he will support a bid by Boris Johnson to regain a seat in Parliament at the 2015 general election. The BBC's Nick Robinson told Today programme listeners that the two men had bonded at a family lunch at Chequers, dancing Gangam Style together and playing football on the lawn.

Boris and Dave love-in boosts mayor's chance of leading Tories

10. HOT TICKET: INGMAR BERGMAN REVIVAL

A revival of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage has opened at St James Theatre, London. Trevor Nunn directs this stage adaptation of Bergman's 1970s drama about the disintegration of a marriage between a power couple. Stars Olivia Williams. "A grisly treat," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 9 November.

Revival of Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage 'a grisly treat'