Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 12 Aug 2017

1. Donald Trump warns North Korea of 'big, big trouble'

Donald Trump has told North Korea it can expect "big, big trouble" if it attacks the US territory of Guam. The US President promised the territory would be "very safe, believe me". Reports in the US media say Trump has a secret channel to North Korea with Joseph Yun, the US envoy for North Korea policy, and Pak Song-il, a senior diplomat at North Korea’s UN mission in New York, in regular contact.

2. Eleven family members convicted after slavery trials

Eleven members of a family in Lincolnshire have been found guilty of modern slavery offences. The members of the Rooney family forced at least 18 victims – including homeless people and some with learning disabilities – to work for little or no pay and live in foul conditions for up to 26 years. Prosecutors said the impact of the forced labour on the mental and physical health of the victims had been severe.

3. Uni admissions a 'free for all' since restrictions lifted

Universities are allowing admissions to descend into a "free for all", say critics, after it emerged that unconditional offers at some of Britain’s leading institutions have more than doubled over the past five years. Universities are accused of acting like businesses since the 2015 lifting of student number controls in England gave them free rein to recruit as many undergraduates as they see fit.

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4. Pollution 'to overtake smoking as top lung cancer cause'

Pollution has been blamed as lung cancer rates among non-smokers doubled over the past decade, according to the UK’s largest cancer surgery centre. Researchers predict that the number of lung cancer deaths among people who have never smoked will overtake deaths from smoking-related cancer within a decade if the trend continues. There are 46,400 new cases and 36,000 associated deaths in Britain each year.

5. Theresa May risks Hague appearance over single market

Theresa May risks a new battle in international courts if she tries to quit the European Union’s single market without giving other countries official notice, claims The Independent. Legal experts say the Prime Minister will leave the UK open to legal action in the Hague if she pulls out of the European Economic Area without formally telling its other members 12 months in advance.

6. Anti-Islam activist joins the Ukip leadership race

A former Labour activist who has called Islam "evil" has been allowed to stand for the Ukip leadership. The campaign of Anne Marie Waters, a founder of the Sharia Watch pressure group, has split the party, with some MEPs threatening to quit if she was allowed into the race. The party's former leader, Paul Nuttall, has previously said her views made him "uncomfortable".

7. Midwives drop their 'natural birth' campaign

Midwives have "backed down" from their decade-long campaign for natural birth, reports The Times. The Royal College of Midwives says women will no longer be told that they should have babies without medical intervention because it makes women feel like failures. Instead, less loaded terms such as "physiological birth" will be used to avoid giving the impression that interventions such as caesareans and epidurals are abnormal.

8. Ministers consider licence system for laser pens

The government is considering making it compulsory for laser pen owners to have a licence. Amid concerns over the number of attacks on aircraft, ministers say they could also bring in new measures to license retailers and restrict advertising after warnings about the risks to pilots and planes. During 2016, there were 1,258 recorded incidents of lasers being shone at aircraft.

9. Judge throws out DJ's claim against Taylor Swift

A judge has dismissed claims that Taylor Swift got a radio DJ fired but legal proceedings will continue to consider the pop star’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her. David Mueller says Swift slandered him to his radio station, claiming that her complaint led to his unfair dismissal. Swift, meanwhile, is counter-suing Mueller, alleging he groped her in 2013.

10. Opinion poll grim reading for Charles and Camilla

Most British people want Prince William to be the next King and more than a third believe Camilla Parker-Bowles should not become Queen if Prince Charles takes the throne, according to a poll in The Sun. Only 22% of respondents backed Charles — with the majority of his support coming from the over-75s. Camilla’s biographer Penny Junor said: "Gosh that’s got to hurt."