Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 13 Nov 2015

1. US targets 'Jihadi John' with air strike

The US says with "high degree of certainty" that it has killed British terrorist 'Jihadi John' in a drone strike in Raqqa, Syria where Islamic State has its headquarters. Mohammed Emwazi, who was born in Kuwait, joined IS in Syria in 2013. He was described as the world's most wanted man after being filmed murdering Western hostages including James Foley and David Haines.

Jihadi John's death confirmed by Islamic State

2. Storm Abigail cuts schools, power and ferries

Around 2,000 customers in the Outer Hebrides are without power after Storm Abigail struck Scotland. Winds of 84mph and lightning strikes left power supplies disrupted and have led to the closure today of around half of the country's ferry services and all 60 schools in the Western Isles and Shetland. Amber and yellow alerts are in place.

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3. Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD wins by a landslide

Five days after the first open general election in Myanmar for 25 years, the country's election commission has finally confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition NLD party has won by a landslide. With more than 80% of seats confirmed, the NLD has more than two-thirds. But the constitution bans Suu Kyi from being president.

Aung San Suu Kyi picks aide to become president of Myanmar

4. Becky Watts murderer sentenced to 33 years

The judge in the Becky Watts murder trial broke down as he sentenced her killers today. Becky's stepbrother Nathan Matthews, convicted of murdering the teenager, was told by Mr Justice Dingemans he must serve a minimum of 33 years behind bars. Shauna Hoare, his girlfriend, was sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter. After killing Becky the pair dismembered her body.

Becky Watts murder: stepbrother sentenced to 33 years

5. Scores dead in Paris terror attacks

More than 100 people have been killed in a series of terrorist attacks in Paris. Gunmen a opened fire on restaurants and took hostages at a music venue, where many were killed. A suicide bomber also struck at a football match between Germany and France.

6. Homeopathy 'to be banned from NHS'

The controversial complementary medicine homeopathy, which is not supported by any scientific evidence, may be added to a blacklist of treatments that GPs in England are banned from prescribing after a consultation next year, the BBC says. The consultation comes after lobbying from campaign group the Good Thinking Society.

7. Russia 'on brink' of athletics doping ban

The IAAF will today decide whether to suspend Russia from international competition, and potentially the Rio Olympics. The group is holding an emergency meeting via conference call today and will ask members to support a provisional suspension over doping allegations. Russia says it has launched an investigation and argues only individuals should be punished.

London 2012 'corrupted on unprecedented scale' by doping

8. Islamic State claims responsibility for Beirut attack

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two suicide bomb attacks in the Lebanese capital Beirut, which killed at least 43 people and injured more than 200. The blasts occurred within five minutes of each other in a residential district. The body of a third bomber, killed in the second explosion before he could detonate himself, was recovered from the rubble.

Islamic State claims twin Beirut blasts that killed dozens

9. Producer sues Jeremy Clarkson for racial discrimination

Oisin Tymon, the Irish TV producer who was punched and verbally abused by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson earlier this year, is suing him and the BBC for more than £100,000 claiming racial discrimination and personal injury. Lawyers for the BBC and Clarkson, who was sacked after the incident, attended a hearing at a London employment tribunal on Friday.

Jeremy Clarkson to become a character in Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour Game

10. Briefing: the emissions scandal widens

Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal may soon drag in a host of rival car-makers, as the German motoring watchdog opens investigations into 23 other brands. The probe will cover a total of 50 models from manufacturers including German marques BMW and Mercedes, as well as international peers such as Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, Renault and Toyota.

VW Scandal: Emission fix leaves thousands with problems

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