Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 24 Nov 2013

1. IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL AGREED IN GENEVA

Six world powers say they have reached a deal with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Under the agreement, Iran will curb its nuclear activities, initially for six months, in return for limited relief from sanctions. After four days of talks between and Iran and the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany, agreement was reached in the early hours of Sunday.

2. CAMERON PLANNING ‘DIRTY SMEAR CAMPAIGN’

David Cameron is planning to run the “dirtiest election campaign” in two decades, says Ed Miliband. Writing in the Independent on Sunday, the Labour leader says the prime minister will put “smear and character assassination” at the heart of the Tory campaign. Miliband says Cameron “demeans his office” and has decided “mud-slinging” matters more than British people.

3. LONDON ‘SLAVES’ MET IN POLITICAL CULT

Two women held as slaves for 30 years in south London met their captors in a “collective” through a “shared political ideology”, says the Sunday Telegraph. Police say the alleged captors, a man and a woman both aged 67, are an Indian and a Tanzanian who came to Britain in the 1960s. Neighbours say they believed the alleged captors were “carers” for the slaves.

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4. CAMERON TO DEFY EU ON IMMIGRANTS

David Cameron is ready to defy the EU by extending the length of time that new arrivals have to stay in the country before they qualify for benefits. Amid growing fears over the impact of an expected influx of Romanians and Bulgarians, the prime minister may rule that immigrants will have to prove they have been resident for a year – four times the current period.

5. ASHES: AUSSIES ON BRINK OF VICTORY

Australia are closing in on victory against England in the first Ashes test. Chasing 561 to win, the visitors suffered another batting collapse, with Cook’s 65 the only serious resistance. During one particularly poor spell, England slumped to 151-8 from 142-4. Mitchell Johnson has taken four wickets. Following a break for rain, England lost Tremlett to leave the Aussies on the brink of victory.

6. LOCAL BOBBIES ARE ‘DISAPPEARING’

Neighbourhood policing is under threat as police "retreat to a discredited reactive approach", says the Independent Police Commission. In a report to be published tomorrow, it will state that “bobbies on the beat are disappearing and neighbourhood policing must be saved”. Figures suggest that the number of frontline officers has dropped by 8.3% in the last three years.

7. LABOUR PARTY FACES CO-OP CASH CUT

The Paul Flowers scandal could prompt a cash crisis for the Labour Party, reports The Observer. The beleaguered Co-operative Group has told the party it will slash its funding, with at least a third of the £850,000 annual donation to be cut. One senior Labour figure says he believes the mutual could soon stop all its funding. The GMB union recently cut its £1m a year funding by 90%.

8. MORE WOMEN IN WHO’S WHO BOOK

More women than ever have entered the pages of Who’s Who this year, reports the Independent on Sunday, but women still constitute just 27% of the 2014 intake, up from 23% last year. A spokeswoman for the annual index of influential people says the trend is “encouraging”. She adds: “Who’s Who reflects society rather than shapes it.”

9. JAGGER TO BE GREAT-GRANDFATHER

Mick Jagger is to become a great-grandfather, reports the Sunday Times. His granddaughter Assisi is due to give birth early in the new year. The Rolling Stone frontman’s daughter, Jade, confirmed the rumour for the first time, saying: “It’s true. I am going to be a grandmother.” Mick's seven children have four different mothers between them.

10. FOUR-POINT LEAD FOR GIROUD'S GUNNERS

A goal in each half from Olivier Giroud handed Arsenal a 2-0 win over Southampton and moved them four points clear at the top of the Premier League. A late equaliser from Daniel Sturridge grabbed Liverpool a point in a vintage Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. The 3-3 draw was enough to keep the Reds in second place.