Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 19 Oct 2015

1. Tensions mount as migrants stall in Balkans

Thousands of migrants, the majority refugees from the Syrian civil war, are stranded in the Balkans after finding their path to safety in Europe blocked. Slovenia is refusing to take more than 2,500 a day from neighbouring Croatia, leading to a bottle-neck on the Croatian-Serbian border. Rain and cold are making things worse.

Islamic State targets vulnerable refugee children for recruitment

2. New measures to stop teenagers joining IS

David Cameron is today announcing new counter-terrorism measures to stop teens from joining Islamic State or other radical groups. Existing legislation under which 16-year-olds can be stopped from travelling abroad is to be extended to 17-year-olds. And people convicted of terrorism will be barred from working with children.

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Extremists to be barred from working with children

3. Barking: man charged with murder of four

A man has been charged with administering poison and with the murder of four young men over a 15-month period in Barking, Essex, on the edge of London. Stephen Port, 40, is appearing in court this evening charged with four murders between June 2014 and September 2015. One body was found near the ruins of Barking Abbey and two others close to St Margaret's Church.

Stephen Port: suspected London serial killer appears in court

4. Low turnout as Egypt elections continue

Elections are underway in Egypt and a new parliament, the first since June 2012, is scheduled to meet in December. The two-part elections began on Sunday. Polls are open in 14 of Egypt's 27 governorates – the other 13 will vote on 21 November. So far turnout is said to be extremely low with some voters citing a lack of opposition parties.

Egypt elections: turnout low as voters go to the polls

5. Philippines: race to help as floodwaters rise

Floods caused by Typhoon Koppu are rising as rains which began at the weekend continue to drench the northern Philippines. Troops have been sent to save people trapped on roofs and high ground but are struggling to reach remote villages. The storm has displaced at least 16,000 people, with at least two deaths. The storm has been downgraded but more rain is expected.

6. Xi visit: William to give conservation speech

With China’s president, Xi Jinping, in the UK for a state visit, Prince William is to give a speech on the illegal ivory trade which will be broadcast on Chinese state television. Xi is to be here for four days, during which he will stay in Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. He will also dine with the PM at Chequers.

Xi Jinping: is UK right to roll out the red carpet for China?

7. Ebola nurse's condition improves slightly

The condition of Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferky has improved from "critical" to "serious but stable" according to the hospital where she is being treated. Cafferky contracted the disease in Sierra Leone where she was working last year. She recovered and was thought have been free of the disease before she fell ill again and was readmitted to hospital earlier this month.

8. Star Wars fans surprised by ticket sale

Cinemas in the UK surprised Star Wars fans yesterday by announcing tickets for The Force Awakens would go on sale at 8am this morning, with screenings still two months away. Some fans took to Twitter to express frustration that many people would be commuting to work when tickets for the film became available. A new trailer was due to debut on US TV on Monday night.

9. Footballers offer homeless group a winter shelter

Former Manchester United footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have told a group of homeless people, squatting in a building they own which is earmarked for redevelopment, that they can stay there over the winter. Giggs and Neville are turning the former Stock Exchange building in Manchester city centre into a luxury hotel, but work will not begin until next year.

10. Briefing: the pros and cons of Trident

The Scottish National Party is planning to call an early Westminster debate on Trident, putting pressure on Labour to come up with a united stance on whether or not to renew the nuclear submarines. But the issue looks set to reopen rifts with his shadow cabinet, several of whom have publicly criticised him for saying he would never push the nuclear button if he was prime minister.

The pros and cons of Trident