Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 9 Dec 2015

1. Pentagon and Scotland Yard join Trump condemnation

Donald Trump's comments about Muslims undermine US national security by boosting Islamic State, the Pentagon has warned. Scotland Yard has joined a chorus of condemnation facing Trump after he said that officers were afraid for their lives in London because some areas were so radicalised. David Cameron described Trump’s comments as “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”.

2. Gove to cut thousands of jail sentences

Thousands of convicted criminals will have their jail terms cut under a government proposal to lower the prison population. Michael Gove’s plan would involve more foreign inmates being released at least nine months early on the condition that they leave the country. British prisoners would also have sentences reduced and more would be let out on day release.

3. More heavy rain on way to Cumbria

Cumbria is to face more heavy rain with further flooding "possible", residents in the storm-hit area have been warned. Forecasters are predicting 12 hours of rainfall - between 20mm and 40mm - starting in the afternoon. However, flooding will not be on the scale seen in recent days in the wake of Storm Desmond, according to BBC Weather.

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4. Arnie: go vegetarian to save the planet

Arnold Schwarzenegger says we can save the planet by eating less meat. The movie star and former governor of California told climate change talks in Paris that going vegetarian one or two days can cut harmful emissions. Arnie explained that around 28% of global greenhouse gases are caused by farming, with most coming from nitrogen fertilisers and belching livestock.

5. Why are Hamas fighters defecting to Islamic State?

Hamas fighters are defecting to Islamic State, reports The Times. The Palestinian group is facing a growing challenge to its authority from an IS volunteer battalion in Gaza. Hamas is an Islamist group, but IS propaganda is accusing it of corruption and a lack of religious fervour, while also castigating it for agreeing ceasefires and other deals with Israel.

6. Middle-class kids 'more likely to become alcoholics'

Middle-class children are at greater risk of becoming alcoholics, according to government research. The study found that affluent parents are twice as likely as the poorest to be regular drinkers. Young people from middle-class backgrounds are also more likely to have tried alcohol and to continue with the habit once they have started, said the survey of 120,000 15-year-olds.

7. Tyson Fury stripped of his IBF title

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been stripped of his IBF title less than two weeks after winning it. To hold the belt, the 27-year-old Brit had to agree to fight the IBF's mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov but has chosen instead to face Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch. Police are also investigating an allegation of hate crime against Fury over remarks he made about homosexuality.

8. Good looking men 'discriminated against at work'

Does being good-looking man hinder a man’s career? A study has found handsome men are less likely to be promoted by men as they are deemed a threat to male rivals. The research, co-authored by academics from the London Business School and the University of Maryland, also found that the same issue did not apply to women as being pretty is not associated with competence.

9. Will Arsenal follow United into the Europa League?

Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League through a late loss at Wolfsburg. Louis van Gaal’s side made a promising start when Anthony Martial touched Juan Mata's pinpoint pass into the bottom corner, but eventually lost 3-2. Arsenal will also exit the competition tonight unless they better Olympiakos's 3-2 win in London.

10. Briefing: the case for and against sending ground troops to Syria

The Syrian government says three of its soldiers were killed this week in an air strike on a military camp – the first in which regime forces were apparently targeted. Both Russia and the US are investigating the incident, which draws attention to the two parallel wars taking place in Syria: one in the air and one on the ground. While there's little agreement between groups opposed to British air strikes and those who seek more extensive engagement in Syria, one argument unites them: that aerial bombardment alone cannot win the war. But would the West ever commit ground troops?

Syria 'planning a new chemical attack', US claims