Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 22 Aug 2015

1. US men prevent French train massacre

Three people have been hurt after an armed man opened fire on a train in northern France, before being overpowered by American passengers. The incident took place on a high-speed service from Amsterdam to Paris.

US President Barack Obama praised the American passengers, who included two off-duty US military personnel.

2. North and South Korea ‘on brink of war’

North and South Korea are on the brink of war, says the Daily Telegraph. Kim Jong-un has told Seoul it will face military action if it does not halt anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts by Saturday afternoon. He declared a “quasi-state of war” after an exchange of gunfire across the border on Thursday. South Korea has put its own forces on the highest level of alert.

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3. FTSE endures historically hard week

The FTSE 100 index has endured its biggest weekly loss this year after weak manufacturing figures in China fanned the flames of global economic fears. The London index has fallen 5.2% - 363 points - since Monday. Markets in Paris and Frankfurt saw falls of about 3%, with shares also plunging on Wall Street, Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S&P 500.

4. Immigration ‘now leading concern in Britain’

Immigration has overtaken the NHS and the economy as the chief concern of British voters. Following weeks of drama over migrants at Calais, and the revelation that the number of EU-born workers in Britain has reached more than two million for the first time, 50% of the public said immigration was among the issues that concerned them most.

5. Will Britain face tornado weekend?

Parts of Britain are expected to be hit by tornadoes this weekend, claims the Daily Mail. A brief heatwave will see southern and eastern England basking in rich sunshine with highs of 30C in London, 28C Norwich and 26C in Birmingham.

However, hot and humid air pushing up from the Continent is due to clash with cooler air causing wild storms, say some forecasters.

6. Unions: Corbyn can win over voters

The leaders of six of Britain's biggest trade unions think Jeremy Corbyn can win over public opinion. In an open letter shown to the Daily Mirror, they say he can deliver growing prosperity by "abandoning austerity and cuts in favour of investment, growth and building a modern economy". Corbyn’s leadership rivals will hold a crisis meeting next week.

7. Holocaust trauma ‘passed on through genes’

A study of Holocaust survivors has shown that their trauma is passed on to their children’s genes, reports The Guardian. Genetic changes stemming from the trauma suffered by the subjects of the study were capable of being passed on to their children. The news is the clearest sign yet that one person’s life experience can affect subsequent generations.

8. Chilcot to say he ‘shares anguish’ of families

Sir John Chilcot is expected to tell the families of soldiers killed in Iraq that he understands the "anguish" they are going through as the publication of his report continues to be delayed. Meanwhile, Hans Blix, the former UN weapons inspector, is heaping further pressure on Sir John, saying that the inquiry report should be published "sooner than later".

9. ISIS deputy ‘killed by US strike’

A deputy leader of Islamic State has been killed in a US military strike in northern Iraq, according to the White House. Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, also known as Hajji Mutazz, is described by US officials as the second in command of the group. Washington claims he was killed in an attack on his car in Mosul earlier this week and that his death will damage IS operations.

10. Mourinho slams Chelsea seven

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has named and shamed seven players who have underperformed in the club's worst Premier League start in 17 years. "I'm not happy with anyone," Mourinho said. "I'm not happy with Branislav Ivanovic's form, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic."