Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 8 Oct 2016

1. Donald Trump apologises for groping remarks

Donald Trump has apologised for obscene comments about women he made in a newly released videotape from 2005. The US presidential candidate said that "these words don't reflect who I am... I apologise". In the video, the controversial Republican says "you can do anything" to women "when you're a star" and brags about trying to grope and kiss women. Leading Republicans have condemned the comments.

2. Nearly 900 die after Hurricane Matthew batters Haiti

Nearly 900 people have been killed after Hurricane Matthew battered Haiti, as cholera claims more lives in the aftermath. Christian Aid says the situation is "critical" - and is likely to remain that way for 18 months. "The population are really in need of water, shelter, materials,” said a spokesperson. Hurricane Matthew is currently hitting the coastline of Florida but has been downgraded to a Category Two storm.

3. Pound is now worth less than a euro at airports

Travellers were being offered as little as €0.97 to the pound on Friday as bureaux de change sought to profit from a slump in the value of sterling. Sterling has fallen 15% since the EU referendum and hit a 31-year low against the US dollar and a three-year low against the euro yesterday. Business leaders have written to the prime minister urging her to avoid a hard Brexit.

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4. Wayne Rooney facing £3.5m bill after 'tax avoidance'

Wayne Rooney is facing a £3.5m liability after the taxman challenged a suspected avoidance scheme in which he was the prime investor. The footballer used a film investment partnership that generated tax relief for its clients to shelter £12.5m. It is the fifth time in four years that the authorities have challenged investments made by Rooney. There is no suggestion that he has behaved illegally.

5. Abuse in UK universities compared to Savile scandal

The level of sexual harassment and violence by UK university staff has been compared to the scandals involving the Catholic church and Jimmy Savile. The Guardian reports stories of verbal bullying, serial harassment, assault, sexual assault and rape, saying they “expose an alarming pattern of abuse… which remains largely hidden”. End Violence Against Women has called for urgent change within universities.

6. Assange promises disclosures about 'shady' Google

Julian Assange has promised "significant" disclosures on subjects including the US election and Google in the coming weeks as WikiLeaks marks its 10th anniversary. Assange said WikiLeaks plans to start publishing new material starting this week, and warned that the "October Surprise" may embarrass Google. Assange has previously said that Google has integrated with the "shadiest of US power structures".

7. UK property is 50% less affordable than 14 years ago

Property in the UK is 50% less affordable than it was 14 years ago and buyers now need six times average income to buy the average home. Official figures show that house prices have risen from 4.1 average earnings in 2002 to 6.3 times earnings last year. Burnley is the most affordable place to buy a home in England and Wales, while Westminster in London is the least affordable.

8. New evidence suggests women's ovaries can grow new eggs

Scientists have discovered evidence that the human ovary may be able to grow new eggs in adulthood. If confirmed, the revelation would overturn the view that women are born with a fixed number of eggs and that the body has no capacity to increase this supply. It would also raise the prospect of new treatments to allow older women to conceive and for infertility problems in younger women.

9. Corbyn's shadow reshuffle causes new Labour row

Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet reshuffle has sparked a new row after the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party said he was not informed about it. John Cryer told MPs that the party leadership had not told him or sacked chief whip Rosie Winterton about the changes. Tom Watson has been appointed shadow culture secretary, while Jon Ashworth became shadow health secretary, and Diane Abbott became shadow home secretary.

10. All 3.6m EU migrants will be allowed to stay in UK after Brexit

All EU nationals currently living in Britain will be allowed to stay following Brexit, after the government discovered that five in six could not legally be deported. Of the 3.6m EU citizens living in the UK, more than 80% will have permanent residency rights by the time Britain leaves the union in early 2019, official research has concluded. The remainder – more than 600,000 people – will be offered an amnesty.

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