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

1. 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.

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. Modi visit a 'historic opportunity', says Cameron

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

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

India's Narendra Modi arrives in the UK: what's on the agenda?

4. 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".

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking

5. Europe-wide raids on 'jihadist network'

Suspected members of a jihadist network have been arrested in a series of raids around Europe. Six people were held in Italy, four in Britain, and three in Norway. Police say some of the suspects may have travelled to Syria or Iraq. It is believed they were planning a jailbreak to free their leader, radical Islamist Mullah Krekar, who is in detention in Norway.

6. NHS shows the strain as A&E units face 'perfect storm'

The NHS in England fell short on many of its performance indicators in September, including A&E waiting times, cancer diagnosis and hospital discharge targets. The president of the Society for Acute Medicine, Dr Mark Holland, has warned that A&E units are already facing the "perfect storm" of extra winter demand for services, under-staffing and a junior doctors' strike.

7. Scotland braced for 90mph winds as Abigail hits

Scotland is braced for the force of storm Abigail, which is forecast to bring heavy rain, lightning and winds of up to 90mph and could last until Friday afternoon. Transport problems are forecast with ferry services expected to be disrupted. Schools in Shetland will be closed on Friday. Northern Ireland and the north of England are also expected to be affected.

Will we get snow on Christmas Day?

8. 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'.

Record-breaking 'Blue Moon' diamond bought for 7-year-old

9. Cult leader on trial accused of rape and indecent assault

A cult leader who brainwashed and sexually assaulted his female followers and imprisoned his own daughter for 30 years has gone on trial at Southwark Crown Court. Aravindan Balakrishnan, 75, of Enfield, denies charges including rape and indecent assault. He convinced his disciples that he was "all-powerful and all-seeing" and used violence and sexual degradation to control them.

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