Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Dec 2015

1. UK bombs Syria one hour after Commons vote

British jets last night launched air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, less than an hour after MPs voted 397 to 223 in favour of bombing. Four RAF Tornados struck six targets in an IS-controlled oilfield with precision-guided Paveway bombs. The vote was carried with the help of 66 Labour MPs including Hilary Benn. David Cameron today warned of a long campaign in Syria.

Syria 'planning a new chemical attack', US claims

2. US mass shooting: suspects named as 14 die

America has suffered another mass shooting, this time at a daycare centre for adults with disabilities and mental health problems. Fourteen are known to have died in San Bernardino, California. The married couple suspected of the attack - Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27 - were shot dead after a police chase.

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Mass shooting in San Bernardino: 'just another day in America'

3. Ex-prisoner of IS warns air strikes are a 'trap'

A French journalist who was held prisoner by IS for ten months says the UK is falling into a "trap" by carrying out air strikes in Syria. Nicolas Henin was held with four others including Britons Alan Henning and David Haines. In a video for the Syria Campaign group, he said bombing would give IS "fuel" to recruit jihadis.

4. More top Fifa officials arrested in dawn raids

Swiss authorities say more top Fifa officials were arrested early this morning in raids prompted by the ongoing inquiry into corruption at world football's governing body. The New York Times says Concacaf president Alfredo Hawit of Honduras and Juan Angel Napout, president of Conmebol, are among those held by police.

Michel Platini will resign at Uefa's next congress

5. Australia: search for MH370 'in correct zone'

A new analysis of data carried out by Australian experts has led them to conclude that the underwater search for wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is being carried out in the right place. An area of some 120,000 sq km of the ocean floor is being combed, with around 75,000 sq km covered so far without any result.

MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’

6. Yentob quits BBC role over Kids Company

Alan Yentob has stood down from his role of creative director at the BBC over the collapse of Kids Company. It was claimed that Yentob, who was chairman of trustees at the charity, tried to influence BBC coverage of its demise. He called Newsnight before it broadcast a report about the charity and accompanied Camila Batmanghelidjh to a radio interview.

7. Oldham West and Royton goes to the polls

Voters are going to the polls today for a by-election after the death of Labour stalwart Michael Meacher, who held the Oldham West and Royton constituency for 45 years. A former university lecturer, Meacher was environment minister under Tony Blair. Candidates today include Sir Oink A-Lot of the Monster Raving Loonies.

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking

8. Primark breastfeeding liar escapes jail

A woman who accused a Primark security guard of snatching her baby from her while she was breastfeeding has escaped jail by a "whisker". Caroline Starmer's claim made national headlines before it was discovered that she had been lying for publicity. The 28-year-old, who admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, was given a two-year suspended sentence.

9. Oscar Pistorius convicted of murder

South Africas Supreme Court of Appeal has changed Oscar Pistorius's conviction for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp from culpable homicide to murder. It said the original decision was flawed and Pistorius will now be re-sentenced. The 29-year-old dubbed 'blade runner' for his prosthetic legs was released from prison to house arrest in October.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

10. Briefing: Islamic State, Daesh or Isis - naming the extremists

The dilemma of what to call Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's terrorist group has been troubling politicians and the media since the militants began their advance across Iraq and Syria. David Cameron yesterday announced that the government would be using the term Daesh to refer to the extremist group and urged others not to use the name Islamic State. But his critics have described the row as a sideshow.

Islamic State, Daesh or Isis: the dilemma of naming the extremists

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