Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 16 Oct 2015

1. Migrant crisis: EU and Turkey agree plan

The EU has agreed an action plan with Turkey to try to stem the flow of migrants from the Middle East, principally Syria, trying to reach Europe. In return, the EU is to look again at Turkey becoming a member state and to “accelerate” visa liberalisation for Turks wanting to visit Europe. Turkey has also asked for £2.2bn aid.

2. Lockerbie relatives welcome naming of suspects

Relatives of victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, the UK’s worst terrorist attack, have welcomed the news that two fresh suspects have been identified. US and Scottish prosecutors have asked the Libyan authorities to let them interview two men, both currently in jail in Libya, Mohammed Abouajela Masud and Abdullah al-Senussi.

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Lockerbie bombing: will two new suspects face prosecution?

3. Alastair Cook hits record-breaking double century

England cricket captain Alastair Cook scored a record-breaking 263 as England took a first innings lead in the first Test against Pakistan on a flat wicket in Abu Dhabi. Cook's innings was the third longest in history as he batted for 836 minutes to become only the fourth Englishman to score three Test double hundreds and become the most successful non-Asian batsman in Asia.

Alastair Cook: records tumble as England captain scores 263

4. Mercury Music Prize shortlist revealed

Florence + The Machine and former Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes are among those in running for this year's Mercury Music Prize. Roisin Murphy, Aphex Twin, Slaves and Wolf Alice are also on the shortlist, but favourites including Blur, Laura Marling, Foals and New Order were overlooked. The winner will be named on 20 November.

5. Rioters burn Joseph's Tomb in Nablus

Joseph's Tomb, a holy site for both Jews and Muslims, in the West Bank city of Nablus, has been badly damaged by fire after it was targeted by Palestinian rioters armed with petrol bombs. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, and said the damage would be repaired. Israel said it would catch those responsible for the "despicable act".

Ban Ki-moon holds talks in Jerusalem amid ongoing violence

6. Hatton Gardens loot recovered from cemetary

Police have recovered items from the Hatton Garden safety deposit box raid after allowing one of the burglars out of Belmarsh prison for the day to show them the spot in a north London cemetery where he had buried his haul. Police spent four hours excavating the site after Danny Jones, who has admitted his part in the raid, guided police there under armed guard.

How the real Hatton Garden robbery played out

7. High Court says taxi-app Uber is legal

The controversial taxi-hailing app Uber does not break the law, the High Court has ruling. The decision is a blow for black cab drivers who had argued that Uber uses smartphones as meters, which are outlawed for private hire vehicles. The case was brought by Transport for London, which said it was seeking clarification. TfL and Uber both hailed the verdict as a victory.

Who is Uber's new boss Dara Khosrowshahi?

8. New York: baby thrown from flat dies

A six-month-old baby girl has died in New York City after being thrown from a sixth-floor flat in the Fordham Heights area of the Bronx, the third such fatality in the last few months. Police said the child’s mother, 27, was inside with four children at the time. All were taken to hospital for evaluation. No charges have been filed.

9. Turkey shoots down drone near Syrian border

Turkish warplanes have shot down an unidentified drone in the country's air space near the border with Syria. The downed drone's nationality was not immediately clear, but the US said it believed the craft was Russian, while Moscow insisted that it's drones were operating "as planned". Russian jets violated Turkish air space on two occasions earlier this month.

10. Briefing: the pros and cons of grammar schools

Britain's first new grammar school in 50 years was approved yesterday, re-opening a long-running debate about their merits. Supporters say they improve social mobility by giving bright but poor children the chance to excel, while opponents say they're saturated by middle-class kids with sharp-elbowed parents.

Pros and cons of creating new grammar schools

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