Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 12 Nov 2015

1. Writers urge Cameron to press Modi on free speech

Hundreds of writers - including luminaries Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwen and Hari Kunzru - have signed a joint letter to David Cameron, urging him to press Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on freedom of speech and address a "rising climate of fear" in Modi's India. Modi is arriving in the UK for a three-day visit today.

2. Migrant crisis: Sweden introduces border checks

Sweden has introduced temporary checks at its borders to "get better control of the flow" of migrants entering the country. Interior minister Anders Ygeman said the measure was not intended to limit numbers but to protect public order. EU and African leaders are meanwhile holding a second day of talks aimed at reducing numbers.

3. Jeremy Corbyn 'did not kneel before Queen'

The Guardian says that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a confirmed opponent of monarchy, was sworn-in to the privy council yesterday without kneeling to the Queen. The paper says: "It is understood Buckingham Palace does not force privy council members to do things they are not comfortable with and that Corbyn did not kneel".

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4. Clooney pops up to Scotland for a sandwich

Hollywood star George Clooney is to visit a sandwich shop run by and for the homeless in Edinburgh today. The Social Bite chain donates all its profits to the homeless and one quarter of its staff are former rough sleepers. Clooney will address the Scottish Business Awards, which is making a donation to his humanitarian charity.

5. Putin orders athletics doping investigation

Vladimir Putin has ordered an investigation into allegations that Russian athletes have been part of a systematic doping programme. Speaking for the first time after the World Anti-Doping Agency made the claims on Monday, the Russian president said he wanted "the most open, professional co-operation" with anti-doping bodies.

6. British nurse beats Ebola for second time

Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey has recovered from the Ebola virus for a second time. The Royal Free Hospital in London said the 39-year-old had made a "full recovery" and was no longer infectious. She has been transferred to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. She said she was looking forward to seeing her family.

7. Billionaire buys daughter diamond for $48m

A Hong Kong property tycoon has spent $48m on a 12.03-carat blue diamond for his seven-year-old daughter, making it the most expensive jewel ever sold. Joseph Lau named the gem 'Blue Moon of Josephine'. He bought it at Sotheby's one day after spending $28.5m at Christie's on a 16.08-carat pink diamond he dubbed 'Sweet Josephine'.

8. Medics warn that A&E units face 'perfect storm'

The president of the Society for Acute Medicine, Dr Mark Holland, has warned that A&E units are facing the "perfect storm" of an early start to the usual extra demand on services over winter, under-staffing and a junior doctors' strike. He said: "There is already talk of putting ambulances on divert, of taking patients to other hospitals."

9. Russian TV accidentally shows nuclear torpedo plans

The Kremlin has admitted state TV accidentally showed secret plans for a new nuclear torpedo system in documents legible as a military official looked through them. The new weapon is titled Status-6 and would create "zones of extensive radioactive contamination … unsuitable for military or economic activity for a long period".

10. Briefing: will Channel 4 be privatised?

Rumours that the broadcaster will be privatised have been circulating for over 20 years, but now they seem to have a little more substance. David Cameron confirmed during last week's Prime Minister's Questions that the government is considering selling off the channel - but it's not definite, and those on either side of the debate are bound to press their case.

Channel 4 part-privatisation still in the frame