Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 5 Aug 2013

1. RAIN HELPS ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES

The weather came to England's rescue at a soggy Old Trafford as Australia's efforts to win the third Ashes Test fizzled out in the rain. Earlier England had been set a victory target of 332 by Australia's overnight declaration and were reduced to 37-3 before the rain started falling at lunchtime. The captains shook hands on a draw at 4.40pm.

2. US KEEPS EMBASSIES CLOSED OVER TERROR

The US is to keep several embassies in north Africa and the Middle East closed until at least Saturday over continued fears of threats from militants, with the government saying it was out of “an abundance of caution”. The UK embassy in Yemen is to remain closed until the Muslim festival of Eid on Thursday.

3. PETER CAPALDI TO BE NEW DOCTOR WHO

The actor Peter Capaldi, best known for his role as foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in political satire The Thick of It, has been revealed as the new Doctor Who. The 55-year-old is considerably older than Matt Smith, whom he is replacing. He said: “I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight.”

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Peter Capaldi: Is he the 'perfect' Doctor Who?

4. CAR PARK ROW LEADS TO 'MANSLAUGHTER'

A pensioner has been bailed after being charged with manslaughter after a row over the use of a disabled parking space in an Asda car park in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. The 65-year-old is alleged to have punched the 64-year-old victim in front of families after the dispute, knocking him to the ground. He died in hospital.

Asda car park fight: man dead after row over disabled space

5. TOMLINSON FAMILY GET POLICE PAYOUT

Four years after London newsvendor Ian Tomlinson died during the G20 protests, the Met police have paid his family an undisclosed settlement and admitted for the first time that he was unlawfully killed because PC Simon Harwood used excessive force to knock him to the ground. Tomlinson's widow, Julia, said it was "as close as the family would get to justice".

Ian Tomlinson: Scotland Yard finally apologises for death

6. EMPTY HIGH ST SHOPS COULD BECOME HOMES

The credit squeeze combined with the rise in internet shopping has led to the unprecedented closure of high street shops in England – and it’s time to convert them into homes, says planning minister Nick Boles. He aims to make it easier for local councils to grant planning permission to convert redundant shops and farm buildings into residential properties.

Time to turn empty High Street shops into housing - minister

7. 'GOOGLE-BURGER' GROWN IN A LAB

The world’s first lab-grown burger was cooked at a news conference in London today – and judged to be "close to meat - but not that juicy". Scientists at Maastricht University in Holland took muscle cells from a cow to "grow" the burger. The research has been funded by Sergey Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, for animal welfare reasons.

What does a lab-grown burger taste like? Not that juicy

8. FALKLANDS' ADMIRAL WOODWARD DIES AT 81

Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward, who commanded the Royal Navy task force sent by Margaret Thatcher to retake the Falkland Islands in 1982, has died at the age of 81 after a long illness. Last year, he said he wished he hadn't been so low-key about the Navy's significant role in the war – the service might then have suffered fewer cuts.

Sandy Woodward: he won back the Falklands against the odds

9. GIBRALTAR: SPAIN’S ‘PARTY IS OVER’ THREAT

Spain’s foreign minister has warned that his country may institute a formal border crossing to British territory Gibraltar or even close airspace over the small colony. Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo is threatening retaliation over an artificial reef designed to stop illegal Spanish fishing in Gibraltan waters.

Gibraltar crisis: why is Spain 'behaving like North Korea'?

10. HOT TICKET: TITANIC MUSICAL HITS TOWN

A scaled-down version of the Broadway musical ‘Titanic’ has opened at the Southwark Playhouse. The Tony award-winning 1997 show, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, depicts the intersecting lives of passengers on the ill-fated ship. “Terrifically sung,” says The Times. Until 31 August.

UK premiere of Broadway's Titanic musical sails to glory