Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 23 Mar 2017

1. Islamic State claims responsibility for Westminster attack

Islamic State says it was responsible for the terror attack in Westminster that left four people dead, including the assailant. A statement from the terror group said attacker Khalid Masood, 52, was a "soldier of the Islamic State" acting "in response to calls to target citizens of the coalition". Police have arrested eight people in London and Birmingham in connection with the attack.

Khalid Masood: Police unlock Westminster attacker's final text

2. Murdered Westminster PC named as Keith Palmer

Officials have named the police officer stabbed to death outside the Palace of Westminster yesterday as PC Keith Palmer, 48. The husband and father was trying to stop terrorist Khalid Masood. Two other victims have been named, they are US tourist Kurt Cochran and college worker Aysha Frade were killed. Three French schoolchildren and tourists are among the injured.

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Westminster attack: Police and public praised for standing up to terror

3. Bill Clinton to attend funeral of Martin McGuinness

Former US president Bill Clinton is expected to attend the funeral of former IRA chief Martin McGuinness, who will be buried in the Bogside neighbourhood of Derry today. Ireland's President Michael D Higgins and his predecessor Mary McAleese, along with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will also attend. McGuinness, who resigned as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland in January, died from a rare heart condition on Tuesday, aged 66.

4. Donald Trump's son under fire after Sadiq Khan tweet

Donald Trump Jr has come under fire after tweeting an article written by London Mayor Sadiq Khan six months ago, in which he said terror attacks were "part and parcel of living in a big city". In a tweet written shortly after yesterday's attack at Westminster, the US President's son quoted the headline and wrote: "You have to be kidding me?!" He has been accused of implying the article had just been written and of trying to exploit the tragedy.

5. Under-30s 'may have to work until they're 70'

Millions of young people may have to work until they are 70 before qualifying for a state pension, two separate reports released today suggest. An analysis for the Department of Work and Pensions proposes raising the retirement age for those now under 30, while a report by John Cridland says those under 45 will work until they are 68. There are also calls for the state pension "triple lock" to be withdrawn in the next parliament.

Under-30s could have to work until they're 70

6. English primaries ethnically segregated, say charities

A quarter of primary schools in England are unofficially ethnically segregated and the situation is worsening, warn social integration charities. Their report, Understanding School Segregation in England: 2011 to 2016, also found 30% of primaries and 28% of secondaries are split on socio-economic lines. The charities said the findings were "deeply worrying".

7. Syrian civilians killed in US air strike

A US-led coalition air strike has reportedly killed dozens of civilians sheltering in a school near the Syrian city of Raqqa. At least 33 people died in Wednesday's attack on the small town of Mansoura, many of whom had fled fighting in other parts of the country, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Pentagon said reports of civilian deaths were still under investigation.

US-led airstrike in Syria kills 'dozens' of civilians

8. 'New' cloud types recognised in International Cloud Atlas

Twelve newly classified types of clouds will feature in the next edition of the International Cloud Atlas, which was last revised in 1987. They include wave-like "asperitas" clouds, first recorded in the US in 2006 and added following a campaign by the Cloud Appreciation Society. The new atlas will be available online.

9. Teacher-training numbers drop 7% in England and Wales

There has been a 6.9% drop in the number of people starting teacher-training courses in England and Wales and headteachers warn the fall will worsen the recruitment crisis. Around 30,000 new teachers are needed every year due to the high turnover in the profession, but only 26,000 started training in 2016-2017. The Department for Education said there were more teachers than ever before in England's schools.

10. Briefing: The UK electronics flight ban

The UK has followed the US in issuing new travel rules banning travellers flying from certain airports in the Middle East and Africa from carrying laptops, tablets, e-readers and large smartphones in their luggage.

All inbound flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tunisia are affected indefinitely, while the UK carriers hit are British Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomson and Thomas Cook.

The foreign carriers are Atlas-Global, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Middle East Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia.

Laptop ban on flights 'ineffective for keeping passengers safe'