Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 18 Nov 2015

1. Deaths and arrests in Paris as police hunt mastermind

Seven people have been arrested in Paris after a gunfight at a flat in Saint Denis. Alleged mastermind of Friday's terror attacks Abdelhamid Abaaoud is said to have been the target of the raid. A woman wearing a suicide vest is said to have blown herself up, another suspect was shot dead. Five anti-terror police were injured and a police dog was killed in the siege.

US warns of Europe Christmas terror

2. Obama: calls to reject Muslim refugees 'offensive'

Barack Obama has hit back at Republicans in Congress who want the US to stop taking in Syrian refugees in light of the Paris attacks, or to take only Christians. The US president said the calls were "offensive" and "based on hysteria". He said the anti-Muslim rhetoric was a "potent" recruiting tool for the Islamic State terrorist group.

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Refugee crisis: Calais Jungle children 'have nowhere to sleep'

3. Air France flights diverted after bomb threats

French and American intelligence services are working to discover the source of anonymous telephone bomb threats which forced two Air France flights to divert and land at nearby airports. A flight from Dulles, Texas, landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with all 262 passengers safe while a Los Angeles flight diverted safely to Utah.

Two Air France flights diverted after bomb threats

4. Nigeria: 30 dead in suspected Boko Haram blast

As many as 30 people have been killed by an explosion which hit a busy market in the northern Nigerian city of Yola. It is not known who is responsible but Islamist group Boko Haram have long been active in the area. On Saturday, president Muhammadu Buhari visited the city and declared that the militant group was close to defeat.

Boko Haram: what is it and how can it be stopped?

5. UK to drop coal-fired power stations by 2025

Environment minister Amber Rudd is announcing today that all the UK's coal-fired power stations will be shut down by 2025, with their use restricted by 2023. She said relying on polluting coal was "perverse". The move was welcomed by environtmental groups - but they were critical of her plan to focus on gas instead of renewables.

Britain to close all coal-fired power stations

6. Livingstone apologises over 'psychiatric help' comment

Ken Livingstone, recently appointed as joint chair of Labour's defence review team, has apologised after suggesting a shadow defence minister who criticised him needed "psychiatric help". Kevan Jones, who has suffered from depression, called the remark "gravely offensive". Livingstone subsequently claimed he "had no idea" of Jones's mental health condition.

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking

7. Rugby star Jonah Lomu dies at age of 40

All Blacks star Jonah Lomu, one of New Zealand's greatest rugby union players, has died at the age of 40, 19 years after he was diagnosed with a rare kidney condition. The son of Tongan immigrants, Lomu retired from the game in 2007 when his health worsened. He received a transplant in 2011 but the organ failed.

Jonah Lomu, rugby's greatest superstar, dies at the age of 40

8. Thousands without power after 85mph winds

Thousands of homes are still without power after Storm Barney brought 85mph winds to Wales, the Midlands and eastern and southern England. There is disruption to rail services because of damage to train lines. Gusts of 85mph were recorded in Aberdaron. Further severe weather is forecast in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

9. BBC to close red button services to save money

The BBC says it will close its 'red button' services to save money - and there are plans to cut £12m from the TV budget and £35m from the budget for acquiring major sports tournament rights. The red button replaced Ceefax and also offers extra channels to viewers during big events like the Glastonbury festival or Wimbledon.

10. Briefing: the mastermind behind the Paris attacks

Details have begun to emerge about the suspected mastermind of the terrorist attacks in Paris, which left 129 dead and hundreds more seriously injured. Police believe Islamic State jihadi Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national of Moroccan descent, orchestrated last week's deadly attacks. He remains at large and is believed to be in Syria.

US warns of Europe Christmas terror