Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 3 Apr 2015

1. OBAMA HAILS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

Barack Obama says a deal reached between six nations and Iran on the latter’s nuclear ambitions is a “historic understanding” which could “peacefully” resolve “one of the greatest threats to our security”. News of the deal brought people onto the street in Tehran to celebrate, looking forward to life without sanctions.

2. TV ELECTION DEBATE: NO CLEAR WINNER

Polls suggest that there was no clear ‘winner’ of last night’s seven-way TV election debate - though David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nicola Sturgeon and Nigel Farage all performed well. Pundits say the result points to another coalition government. Nick Clegg “savaged” Cameron on education cuts, says Sky News.

3. KENYA: AT LEAST 147 KILLED IN UNI ATTACK

The attack on a Kenya university yesterday is al-Shabab’s most murderous yet. At least 147 people are known to have been killed by the Somalia-based terrorists. Witnesses said the killers focused particularly on Christians. Four of the gunmen died when their suicide vests detonated - and a fifth was arrested.

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4. COUNCILLOR’S SON ‘TRIED TO REACH SYRIA’

One of the nine Britons detained in Turkey for trying to cross the border into Syria is a councillor’s son, it has emerged. Shakil Ahmed, a Labour councillor in Rochdale, says he thought 21-year-old Waheed was in Birmingham on a work placement. He insisted that Waheed’s loyalties “belong to Britain”.

5. SEVERE DISRUPTION TO TRAINS OVER EASTER

People should “think twice” about travelling over Easter, says transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. Large-scale engineering works are expected to make rail travel difficult across the country, while the RAC predicts that four million drivers will take to the roads on Good Friday - and 4.5 million on Easter Sunday.

6. NEW YORK: WOMEN HELD FOR ‘BOMB PLOT’

Two women, former flatmates in the Jamaica area of Queens, have been charged in New York with plotting a Boston Marathon-style bombing. Asia Siddiqui and Noelle Velentzas are alleged by the prosecution to have contacted Islamic State and to have sourced gas tanks and bomb-making instructions.

7. SAILOR RESCUED AFTER 66-DAYS AT SEA

A sailor has been rescued off the coast of North Carolina after apparently spending 66 days lost at sea, surviving on raw fish and rainwater. Louis Jordan, 37, was found sitting on the hull of his overturned yacht by a passing German tanker. He was some 200 miles offshore and his father believed him dead.

8. TV DEBATE HECKLER: I’D VOTE FOR NO-ONE

A 33-year-old psychology graduate from Salford who heckled David Cameron from the studio audience during last night’s party leaders’ TV debate, and was ejected for her pains, says she wouldn’t vote for any of the participants. Victoria Prosser interrupted the PM to say he was not looking after ex-service people.

9. HENRY VII’S £20M BED LEFT IN CAR PARK

A four-poster recently left in a hotel car park to await collection by auctioneers when it was sold during renovations was Henry VII’s marriage bed - and is worth around £20m. Collector Ian Coulson paid £2,200 for the 500-year-old ornately-carved bed, which has been authenticated by TV historian Dr Jonathan Foyle.

10. BRIEFING: HOW TO STOP COLD CALLERS

Companies that make nuisance calls to members of the public will be fined up to £500,000 and convictions will be easier to secure under new laws to be introduced on Monday. Currently fines can only be imposed if the prosecution can prove that nuisance calls caused "substantial damage or substantial distress", but that requirement will be lifted from 6 April.

How to stop nuisance calls: new laws will help consumers