Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 26 Mar 2015

1. ALPS CRASH PILOT ‘WAS LOCKED OUT’

News agency AFP and the New York Times are reporting that the pilot of the Germanwings jet which crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday was locked out of the cockpit. An anonymous source told the Times that on the black box voice recorder he can be heard trying to break the door down as the plane drops.

Woman convicted of fraud after posing as Germanwings crash relative

2. FIRED CLARKSON MAY FACE POLICE INQUIRY

Jeremy Clarkson, fired as presenter of internationally-popular motoring show Top Gear yesterday, may face a police investigation. The North Yorkshire force have asked the BBC for a copy of its report into an incident when Clarkson struck producer Oisin Tymon in the face, leaving him with a bleeding lip.

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3. TORIES AND LIB DEMS PLOT AGAINST BERCOW

The Tories and Lib Dems are to use William Hague’s last day as MP to try to bring down the Speaker, John Bercow, in what his Labour deputy dubbed a “grubby plot”. Labour says Hague tabling a motion calling for a secret vote on his future on Wednesday night in the absence of many Labour MPs was underhand.

Tories aim to 'bury' Speaker thanks to Hague's plotting

4. SAUDI ARABIA STARTS YEMEN AIR STRIKES

Saudi Arabia has launched a military operation, including air strikes, in its neighbour Yemen. It says it is defending the legitimate government of president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi from Houthi Shia rebels, backed by Iran. The rebels have made rapid gains in recent months, forcing the president to flee the capital.

Yemeni government rejects US ceasefire

5. LONDON TAXI FIRM TO CREATE 1,000 JOBS

Cab manufacturer London Taxi Company is to create 1,000 new jobs at a £250m new factory in Coventry. The investment by the firm’s Chinese parent, Geely, is being supported by the Regional Growth Fund. Jaguar Land Rover has also just announced a £600m investment in the West Midlands.

6. LABOUR: WE’LL LIMIT ASYLUM DETENTION

Labour has promised to introduce a limit to the amount of time asylum seekers can be kept in detention while their cases are processed. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the system is “deeply scarring” for applicants - and also inefficient. The move has the support of prisons boss Nick Hardwick.

7. ISIS RECRUITS: UK ON CLIFF EDGE, SAY MPS

The UK is on the “edge of a cliff” in terms of young Britons becoming radicalised and travelling to Syria to join IS (Islamic State), says the Commons home affairs select committee. Not enough is being done to support families or create a stronger “counter-narrative” in the battle for hearts and minds of youngsters.

8. US WARNS OF TERROR ATTACK IN UGANDA

The US embassy in Kampala has warned that westerners in the Ugandan capital may face terror attacks “soon”. It said some events at hotels in the city had already been cancelled. In 2010 a suicide bomber from the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab killed 76 Ugandans as they watched the world cup on TV.

9. ELEPHANTS USED TO PROP UP US LORRY

Police in Louisiana were amazed to find two elephants propping up a stricken eighteen-wheel truck after they received a call saying the vehicle was in danger of overturning beside a motorway. The animals were being moved in the lorry when it pulled over onto soft ground. Their owner led them out to help.

10. BRIEFING: HOW IS PARLIAMENT PROROGUED?

Parliament is expected to be "prorogued" today, before its formal dissolution on Monday. There will be a message from the Queen, the House of Commons will slam its doors in the face of "Black Rod" and officials will speak in Norman French. So what exactly is going on?

What is the prorogation of parliament?