Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 7 Sep 2016

1. Sports Direct chairman offered to resign

Embattled sportswear chain Sports Direct has revealed its chairman, former government drugs tsar Keith Hellawell, offered to resign at the weekend – but the offer was rejected by the board. Yesterday, the firm said an independent report had revealed "serious shortcomings" and pledged to end zero-hours contracts for retail staff.

Sports Direct shares surge despite profit plunge

2. Calais: Work to start on four-metre wall

UK immigration minister Robert Goodwill has confirmed that work is to start on a four-metre high wall to prevent migrants boarding lorries in Calais, as part of a £17m Anglo-French security package. The plan has already attracted the anger of local residents, who say the £1.9m 'great wall of Calais' could make matters even worse.

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Refugee crisis: Calais Jungle children 'have nowhere to sleep'

3. Syrian forces 'drop chlorine on Aleppo'

Syrian government forces have been accused of using gas against civilians again, with rebel groups saying 80 people were injured by barrel bombs of chlorine dropped on an Aleppo suburb. The reports could not be independently verified but the UN ruled last month that Syrian forces have used chlorine on at least two occasions.

Syria 'planning a new chemical attack', US claims

4. Trade talks to begin with Australia

Preliminary talks are to begin with Australia about the outline of a new trade deal after the UK leaves the EU, the government says. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and his Australian counterpart, Steven Ciobo, said they shared a "strong political commitment" to trade liberalisation. Ciobo is to visit London to discuss a future deal.

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

5. Southern rail passengers hit by another strike

Train services in London and across the South East have been disrupted by another strike involving Southern rail. The 48-hour walkout, which began this morning, is the latest in a bitter dispute between the rail franchise's parent firm, Govia Thameslink, and the RMT union over the role of conductors. The RMT has warned disruption could last until Christmas.

6. Poll shows lead for Clinton in key states

A major new poll has shown Hillary Clinton ahead in key US states. Carried out by the Washington Post and SurveyMonkey, it found the Democratic candidate threatening her rival, Donald Trump, in key parts of the Republican base. The poll comes after Trump broke a losing streak of polls with one showing him the preferred candidate.

Donald Trump sued by two states over business links

7. Ecclestone to remain with F1 for 'another three years'

Formula 1 ringleader Bernie Ecclestone says he has been asked to stay on for three years if a proposed £6.5bn takeover of the sport by US company Liberty Media goes through. The company is in talks with current owner CVC media over a deal to acquire its 35% stake of F1. Ecclestone, 85, has run the sport for 40 years and said the new owners "want me to be here for three years".

F1 takeover: Ecclestone rumours overshadow Italian Grand Prix

8. London club Fabric to close permanently

London club Fabric – one of the UK's best-known nightclubs – is to close permanently after the drug-related deaths in recent months of two revellers. Islington council said searches by security staff had been "inadequate and in breach of the licence" and the club must close. It said staff had known drugs were being sold there.

9. Turkey and US could drive IS out of Raqqa

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has hinted that he could take joint action with the US to drive Islamic State out of its de facto capital city, Raqqa in Syria. He said the idea had been floated by Barak Obama at the G20 summit in China and that he would have "no problem" with such a move. Turkish troops entered Syria last month. The US has not confirmed the claims.

10. Briefing: UK now world's second-biggest arms dealer

The UK is now the second-biggest arms dealer in the world, government figures show – with most of the weapons fuelling deadly conflicts in the Middle East. The news comes as MPs decide whether to call for a ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia in light of allegations of indiscriminate bombing by the Saudi-led coalition during the 18-month-old Yemen civil war.

UK now the second-biggest arms dealer in the world