Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 21 Oct 2015

1. China and UK sign nuclear deal during state visit

China's president Xi Jinping and David Cameron have confirmed a joint deal for a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset, part funded by China. Xi yesterday addressed peers and MPs and attended a state banquet. Former Tory adviser Steve Hilton said honouring Xi was a "national humiliation" because China is a "rogue state".

Hinkley Point 'will cost public double the amount it should'

2. Suspected serial killer appears in court

Suspected serial killer Stephen Port has been remanded in custody after appearing at the Old Bailey via video link from Pentonville prison accused of murdering four men. The 40-year-old chef from Barking allegedly poisoned the men with an overdose of the "date-rape drug" GHB after he met on gay dating app Grindr.

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Stephen Port: suspected London serial killer appears in court

3. Ebola nurse recovering from meningitis

Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who was infected with Ebola while working in Sierre Leone last year, is recovering from meningitis it has emerged. She was re-admitted to hospital earlier this month after the original virus, which had remained in her body, caused the brain disease. Doctors said she faced a "long recovery" but her condition was improving.

4. Starbucks and Fiat tax deals 'illegal'

Starbucks and Fiat must repay up to €30m in taxes after the European Commission ruled that sweetheart deals the companies had with the Netherlands and Luxembourg respectively amounted to state aid and were illegal. Investigations into Amazon and Apple deals are ongoing. Brussels wants to crack down on private tax deals between EU member states and multinationals.

5. Refugee crisis: Slovenia calls in army to patrol borders

Slovenia's army is to patrol its borders, joining police trying to manage thousands of migrants, most refugees from the Syrian war, trying to cross the country to central Europe. Since Hungary closed its border with Croatia on Saturday, more than 19,460 people have arrived in Slovenia. At least 9,000 are arriving in Europe each day.

6. Assad makes surprise visit to Russia

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has made a surprise visit to Moscow to hold talks with Vladimir Putin after Russia began air strikes in support of his regime. The pair discussed the fight against "terrorist groups" in Syria. The visit comes after Russia agreed a deal with the US in a bid to avoid confrontations in the skies above Syria, where both air forces are operating.

US and Russia spar over vetoed Syria sanctions

7. IRA double agent 'Stakeknife' faces murder probe

A British double agent inside the IRA is to be investigated for crimes including the murder of at least 24 people. The spy had the codename Stakeknife and has been previously identified as Belfast man Fred Scappaticci. Northern Ireland's prosecutors have called for an investigation to look at what information the army, MI5 and the RUC Special Branch received from Stakeknife.

8. US Navy pilot dies in Cambridgeshire crash

A US Navy pilot has died after his F-18 Hornet jet crashed in Cambridgeshire. The plane, which had taken off from RAF Lakenheath, came down on farm land in Redmere, near Ely, at around 10.30am. Witnesses said they saw an explosion in the sky before the crash. It has been claimed the plane returning to the US via the UK after combat deployment to the Middle East.

9. Fans celebrate 'Back to the Future Day'

Today is the day to which Marty McFly, the fictional hero of the Back to the Future films, is supposed to have time-travelled - and fans of the 1980s films are celebrating. The date is refered to in Back to the Future II, when the character, played by Michael J Fox, travels forward 30 years by driving a modified DeLorean car at 88mph.

Queensland police 'deploy Hoverboard Unit to crash'

10. Briefing: is the UK right to roll out the red carpet for President Xi?

This week's state visit by China's President Xi Jinping has divided opinion on whether the UK should be welcoming the Chinese leader with such "pomp and ceremony" or using its diplomatic powers to push for human rights reforms. Xi, who is staying in Buckingham Palace during his time in the UK, rode in a royal carriage, addressed MPs in Westminster and will visit Manchester United Football Club. But his trip has also been marked by protests against China's human rights abuses and concerns about China's state-owned companies having a major role in UK nuclear power.

Xi Jinping: is UK right to roll out the red carpet for China?