Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 17 Oct 2015

1. Migrant crisis: Hungary closes Croatia border

Hungary has closed its border with Croatia to stem the flow of migrants through the country. In response, Croatia said it would begin directing migrants to Slovenia instead. Many immigrants have been passing through Hungary as they aim to reach Austria and Germany. Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far in 2015, many of them travelling from Turkey.

2. Donald Trump in 9/11 row with Bushes

Donald Trump has sparked a storm in the US by blaming George W Bush for not preventing the 9/11 attacks. “When you talk about George Bush – I mean, say what you want, the World Trade Center came down during his time,” said the businessman and White House hopeful. Jeb Bush, one of Trump’s rivals, called the statement “pathetic”.

3. Report to recommend current account charges

Is the end of free banking in sight? The Daily Telegraph says lenders could be ordered to introduce charges for current accounts or spell out the hidden fees they are imposing on customers. Consumer watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority is expected to lay out plans to ask banks that offer "free" current accounts to explain how they make a profit.

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4. Met Office brushes off ‘mega-cold winter’ claims

The Met Office has dismissed reports that the coldest winter for 50 years is coming, reports The Times. After developing the world’s most accurate three-month forecast the Met Office said that our late autumn and early winter are more likely to be milder and wetter than the average. A spokesman said the coming winter was less likely to be as cold as 2009-10.

5. MPs plan to derail Sunday trading loosening

Tory MPs are planning a rebellion to sink a proposed relaxation in Sunday trading hours. At least 20 Tory members are set to join forces with Labour and vote against the changes when they are debated within the next 10 days. However, communities and local government secretary Greg Clark will try to head off the rebellion at a private meeting of some of the Tory MPs on Monday.

6. Report finds rogue landlords escape justice

Rogue landlords are pocketing hundreds of millions of pounds from the taxpayer and escaping justice despite housing people in filthy and dangerous conditions, according to The Times. The newspaper’s investigation found that more than a quarter of councils have failed to prosecute a single landlord for providing unsafe accommodation in the past five years.

7. Jeremy Corbyn to take new role at CND

Jeremy Corbyn is to become the vice-president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. His move comes despite the Labour conference’s endorsement of the party's existing policy to support renewing Trident nuclear weapons system.

Corbyn was also criticised by many pundits and some of his own MPs for saying he would never use nuclear weapons if he became prime minister.

8. Figures dent grammar schools ‘mobility’ claim

Grammar schools do not boost social mobility, according to a new report. Fresh data from Buckinghamshire – which has a fully selective system, so all state school pupils are entered for an 11-plus exam – showed that children from private schools are two-and-a-half times more likely to pass while the pass rate for children on free school meals is one-eighth of the average.

Pros and cons of creating new grammar schools

9. Man fined for £550 for bin outside his house

A man was fined £550 for leaving a wheelie bin in front of his house. Gerald Thompson told magistrates he had no choice but to leave the bin at the front of his house but he was found guilty of “failing to comply with a requirement imposed by a waste collection authority”. The 51-year-old said that the only way to move the bin to the back of his house would be to wheel it through his terraced house.

10. Home nations prepare for rugby quarter finals

Wales, Ireland and Scotland are preparing for a huge weekend at the Rugby World Cup. The quarter finals begin today when Wales face two-time champions South Africa at Twickenham. Ireland, aiming for their first semi-final, play Argentina in Cardiff tomorrow. Scotland face England's conquerors Australia. Meanwhile, holders New Zealand will take on France.

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