Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 2 Mar 2015

1. JIHADI JOHN DUBBED ‘MODEL EMPLOYEE’

The boss of an IT firm in Kuwait has expressed his shock that a former salesman, Mohammed Emwazi, has been identified as IS (Islamic State) killer ‘Jihadi John’. The man told The Guardian that Emwazi was “the best employee we ever had” and described him as “calm and decent” and “very good with people”.

Jihadi John's death confirmed by Islamic State

2. NHS SPENT £5M ON PRIVATE AMBULANCES

The ambulance service was forced to spend £5m on private firms because its own crews were kept busy queuing outside hospitals which were too full to admit patients as they coped with the winter crisis from December to January. Sky New says some 1,780 days of operational time were lost to queuing.

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3. UK CUTS ‘CONCERN’ US ARMY CHIEF

The head of the US army says he is “very concerned” about spending cuts on the UK’s armed forces. General Raymond Odierno told the Daily Telegraph that in the past US and UK divisions worked alongside each other - but now the situation might shift to UK army battalions operating within US brigades.

Britain 'cannot defend itself against Russia'

4. MISSING TEEN BECKY WATTS: DOG TEAMS USED

Specialist dog teams have joined the search for missing Bristol teenager Becky Watts, who has not been seen since 19 February. A laptop found in woods was yesterday revealed not to be hers. Helicopters and six specialist teams from four counties are now searching within a 1.6-mile radius of Watts’s home.

5. UK TO PIONEER TIDAL LAGOON POWER PLANTS

The UK is to develop the world’s first tidal power plants. Six artificial lagoons, four in Wales and one each in Somerset and Cumbria, will capture water behind giant seawalls as the tide rises and falls, spinning turbines which generate electricity. A £1bn scheme in Swansea will power 155,000 homes.

Plans unveiled for world's first tidal-power lagoons in the UK

6. MURDOCH TO REHIRE REBEKAH BROOKS

Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the News of the World acquitted of phone hacking, is on the point of being rehired by Rupert Murdoch in the US, it has been claimed. Stories say Brooks be looking for online investment ideas for News International, or become boss of social media news agency Storyful.

7. ‘GOOD SAMARITAN’ DRAGGED BY OWN VAN

A man who stopped to help after a lorry had overturned, only to have the driver steal his van, is critically ill with head injuries after being dragged along the motorway outside Salford as he clung to the vehicle trying to stop it being taken. A 43-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

8. LA POLICE SHOOT DEAD HOMELESS MAN

Police officers shot and killed a homeless man in LA on Sunday after a dramatic confrontation which was filmed by a passer-by. Five officers grappled with the man, known as Africa, on the pavement before shooting him five times in front of onlookers. The LAPD said it would investigate the incident.

9. BRIEFING: NEW SAMSUNG SMARTPHONES

Samsung has unveiled its latest smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, at an event in Barcelona. Tech writers say the phones are aimed at tackling Apple’s supremacy, with all-metal bodies intended to give them a luxurious feel. The S6 Edge has a screen that curves around both edges - and wireless charging.

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge: reviews of the new smartphones

10. JOSE: ‘TOTTENHAM WANTED ME’

Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho says he turned down an approach to join Tottenham in 2007. Speaking ahead of today’s Capital One final between the two sides, the manager says that he was approached after leaving the Blues for the first time in September 2007. Asked if he considered joining Spurs, he said: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much."