Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 18 Nov 2016

1. Court backs teen's right to be frozen

The High Court has backed a teenage girl's right to have her body frozen at a cryogenics facility in California, after her estranged father had opposed her dying wish. The 14-year-old Londoner sent a letter to the court explaining that she hoped medical advances could one day bring her back to life, as she faced the last few months of her life.

Dying 14-year-old girl won right to be cryogenically frozen

2. May and EU leaders meet Obama in Germany

Prime Minister Theresa May and other EU leaders are meeting US President Barack Obama in Germany today, on what was supposed to be his farewell tour but has become a series of urgent meetings with foreign leaders concerned about his successor. The informal summit will discuss "pressing global issues", including sanctions on Russia.

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3. Schauble: 'UK will pay after Brexit'

German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble has said the UK will have to keep honouring financial commitments to the EU for as long as ten years after Brexit. The Guardian says the comments show Germany hardening its stance on the UK's exit and will dash Theresa May's hopes that Germany might soften France's hardline position.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

4. Trump names Sessions as attorney general

US president-elect Donald Trump has appointed Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Sessions was turned down as a federal judge in 1986 over allegedly making racist remarks. Trump has also appointed Republican Mike Pompeo, a Tea Party supporter, as CIA director and retired Lt-Gen Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

5. Abe: 'Japan confident in Trump presidency'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last night he has "great confidence" in Donald Trump, after becoming the first foreign leader to meet the US president-elect. Abe visited Trump in New York for a 90-minute discussion. Meanwhile it has emerged that Trump told PM Threresa May: "If you travel to the US you should let me know".

Donald Trump sued by two states over business links

6. MPs urge 50% cut in air travel tax

The Commons British Infrastructure Group (BIG) is urging the government to cut air travel tax by 50%, and eventually scrap it altogether, saying it works directly against Britain's national business interests. The tax will rise in April from £146 to £150 on long-haul business flights and from £73 to £75 on long-haul economy.

7. Ten-year refurbishment plan for Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is to undergo a ten-year refurbishment with cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers, some of which are 60 years old, to be replaced. The "urgent overhaul" will cost £369m and will begin next April, the Treasury has announced. The Queen will not move out during the repairs.

8. Murray cruises into last four of the ATP World Tour Finals

Andy Murray is into the last four of the ATP World Tour Finals after beating Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2. It was a 22nd consecutive win for the world number one who will face Canadian Milos Raonic in the semi-final on Saturday, with the prospect of a final against Novak Djokovic, which will decide who ends the year at the top of the standings, looming.

9. Marilyn Monroe dress sells for $4.8m

The dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday to US president John F Kennedy in May 1962 has sold at auction for $4.8m (£3.9m) in Los Angeles. Sheer and flesh-coloured, the gown is covered with more than 2,500 hand-stitched crystals. The dress was bought by entertainment chain Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

10. Briefing: Are Brexit fears cooling the jobs market?

Uncertainty following the shock Brexit vote in June could finally be feeding through into the employment market, the Office for National Statistics has said. Unemployment is at its lowest since September 2005, but growth has been getting steadily slower.

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'