Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 6 Nov 2013

1. SHIPBUILDING TO END IN PORTSMOUTH

BAE Systems is to cut 1,775 jobs at its yards in Scotland and England and end shipbuilding altogether at Portsmouth. The firm said 940 staff posts and 170 agency workers will go at the Portsmouth site, which will retain repairs and maintenance work. Some 835 jobs will be lost at yards in Govan and Scotstoun.

BAE job losses Q&A: why is shipbuilding so political?

2. TORONTO MAYOR: I SMOKED CRACK

The mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, has finally admitted that he smoked crack, saying he was in a “drunken stupor” at the time. Refusing to step down, Ford instead pledged to remain in office and contest an election next year, hoping for a second term. He said what he had done was “wrong” and he would never do it again.

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Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, in bizarre crack admission - video

3. SILENT WOMAN IN DUBLIN IDENTIFIED

Police in Dublin have finally identified a woman found wandering the streets a month ago who has still not spoken to them. She had been thought to perhaps be as young as 14 and trafficked to Ireland from eastern Europe - but within hours of releasing her photo she has been identified as an Australian aged 19-20.

4. ELEVEN ARRESTS AT ANONYMOUS DEMO

Scuffles broke out and eleven protesters were arrested last night as the online Anonymous group demonstrated outside Buckingham Palace and Parliament against austerity cuts, corruption and state surveillance. Demos took place in cities all over the world. Comic Russell Brand attended the London protest last night.

Russell Brand joins Anonymous' Bonfire Night protest in London

5. TASKFORCE TO FIND BURKA FUGITIVE

A taskforce has been assembled from the Met police’s terror unit, MI5 and the UK Border Agency to try to locate and catch a terror suspect who escaped police attention by changing into a woman’s burka inside a mosque. Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, 27, is believed to have close links to Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab.

6. DEMOCRAT DE BLASIO BECOMES NYC MAYOR

New York City has its first Democrat mayor for 20 years after former Hillary Clinton campaign manager Bill de Blasio achieved a widely-expected election victory. De Blasio has pledged to raise taxes on the rich, lower the compulsory age for schooling and improve relations between the police and ethnic minorities.

What de Blasio and Christie's big wins mean for America

7. STUART HALL IN COURT ON RAPE CHARGES

Disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall has appeared in court charged with 15 rapes and one count of indecent assault involving two girls aged 16 or under. The offences date back to a five-year period between 1976 and 1981. Hall, 83, is already serving a 30-month sentence after admitting 14 counts of indecent assault.

8. GERMANY DEMANDS ANSWERS ON UK SPYING

The British ambassador in Berlin was summoned for a meeting at the German foreign ministry yesterday to answer claims the UK has been using its embassy to carry out covert surveillance on Angela Merkel’s government, after the Independent newspaper alleged leaks by Edward Snowden reveal a ‘spy nest’ on the roof.

If Britain has been spying on Merkel, there’s a good reason

9. STUBBS KANGAROO PAINTING TO STAY IN UK

Paintings by 18th century animal specialist George Stubbs of a kangaroo and a dingo - the first known depictions of those animals outside Australia - will stay in the UK after a campaign backed by David Attenborough and a £1.5m donation by shipping magnate Eyal Ofer enabled the National Maritime Museum to buy them.

10. HOT TICKET: NEW CALL OF DUTY, GHOSTS

The latest instalment of the action video game series Call of Duty, has been released in the UK. Ghosts is set in a hypothetical future where elite 'Ghost' soldiers fight a guerrilla war to liberate the US from a hostile federation of South American nations. "Immensely enjoyable," says The Mirror.

Military shooter game sequel Call of Duty: Ghosts - reviews