Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 11 Oct 2013

1. NOBEL GOES TO SYRIA WEAPONS WATCHDOG

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has won the Nobel Peace Prize. The body, which recently sent inspectors to dismantle Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons, was honoured for its extensive work carried out since 1997. Schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, shot by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education, had been the bookies’ favourite.

Nobel Peace Prize Q&A: What is the OPCW, this year's winner?

2. ROYAL MAIL SHARES SOAR BY OVER 30%

Shares in Royal Mail have soared in conditional trading, with their value jumping more than 30%. The spike has boosted the value of the company to more than £4.5bn, up from the pre-flotation pricing of £3.3bn. Shares opened at 8am on the London Stock Exchange at 430p each and jumped above 450p within minutes.

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Royal Mail: shares surge as trading begins

3. DRIVING AGE MAY BE RAISED TO 18

The government is considering green paper proposals to raise the driving age from 17 to 18 in order to cut accidents. Other measures considered include a probationary license for the first year of driving and a curfew on new drivers between 10pm and 5am, during which they must have a driver over 30 in the car.

4. COUNCIL’S ‘REGRET’ FOR BRUISED TODDLER

Haringey council in London, which has previously been censured for failing to protect ‘Baby P’ and Victoria Climbie has expressed its “sincere regret” for the suffering of a third toddler, known as Child T, who suffered horrific abuse before he was finally taken into care. At one stage, the child was found to have 50 bruises.

5. US SHUTDOWN: ‘GOOD MEETING’ BUT NO DEAL

Barack Obama has had a “useful and productive” meeting with the Republican party, says a White House aide, but no deal has been reached on ending the government shutdown in the US, or on raising the nation’s debt limit. Republicans offered to extend the debt limit for one month during the 90-minute talks.

US shutdown: no deal struck despite offer to lift debt ceiling

6. SYRIA REBELS FACE ‘WAR CRIMES’ CLAIM

Anti-government fighters in Syria have been accused of war crimes by Human Rights Watch. The group says the rebels killed at least 190 civilians, and took 200 hostage, during an August offensive. After interviewing survivors from both sides, the group says its findings “strongly suggest” crimes against humanity.

7. BARCLAYS JOINS HELP TO BUY SCHEME

Barclays is the latest bank to announce that it is signing up to the government's Help to Buy scheme; an initiative designed to help those who can only afford small deposits to buy a house. The move means Nationwide is now the only major UK mortgage lender not to have signed up to the scheme.

The pros and cons of Help to Buy: is it worth it?

8. NAZI ERICH PRIEBKE DIES IN ITALY

One of the last surviving Nazi war criminals, former SS captain Erich Priebke, died in Rome today at the age of 100, according to reports. Priebke, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1998 for his role in a massacre at Rome's Ardeatine caves in March 1944, spent the last few years under house arrest.

9. ELEPHANTS ‘UNDERSTAND POINTING’

Researchers from the University of St Andrews believe elephants have an innate understanding of human gestures including pointing. Dogs understand pointing but our close relatives, chimpanzees, do not. The scientists believe this could reflect a long history of domesticating elephants - or that the animals point themselves.

10. HOT TICKET: COUPLE COMEDY LE WEEK-END

New British comedy-drama Le Week-End, opens in UK cinemas today. The Roger Michell/Hanif Kureshi collaboration stars Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan as an ageing couple trying to rejuvenate their marriage with a weekend getaway in Paris. With Jeff Goldblum. "Engaging, " says the Hollywood Reporter.

Le Week-End: grown-up comedy with outstanding performances