Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 9 Oct 2014

1. EBOLA IS BIGGEST CHALLENGE SINCE AIDS

The Ebola crisis is the biggest public health challenge since Aids, Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US has told the World Bank. Its president, Jim Kim, says the international community has “failed miserably” in its response. The UK government has been urged to bring in Ebola screening at airports after the US introduced the measure.

Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa

2. UKIP EXPECTING 'HISTORIC' VICTORY

If Ukip win today’s by-election in Clacton it will mean the party has “broken through the closed shop that is British politics”, says Nigel Farage. Tory defector Douglas Carswell is expected to win the Essex seat to become Ukip’s first MP. “People have often said ‘I like you, but I can’t vote for you because you can’t win’,” said Farage. “The busting of that perception is very, very important.”

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Cameron: from Birmingham bounce to Clacton calamity?

3. TURKEY WILL NOT LEAD I.S GROUND OPERATION

Washington and London have warned that air strikes alone will not be enough to prevent Islamic State fighters from seizing the Syrian town of Kobane. “There are limitations associated with the exclusive use of air power,” said Obama’s spokesman, Josh Earnest. Turkey says it cannot be expected to lead a ground operation against IS.

Air strikes alone will not save Kobane, say UK and US

4. MH17 VICTIM WAS 'WEARING OXYGEN MASK'

One of the passengers on board Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, shot out of the sky by a missile over Ukraine, was wearing an oxygen mask when it crashed, suggesting that not everyone on board was killed instantly. The revelation came from Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans after he was criticised for an emotive speech about the deaths of those on board.

5. LONDON TUBE STRIKE CALLED OFF

A 48-hour Tube strike planned by London Understand staff next week has been called off after "substantial progress" in negotiations held at the conciliation service Acas. The RMT union, which opposes plans to cut station staff, said the action had been suspended after progress in key areas of talks with Transport for London.

Tube commuters face more delays as engineers begin industrial action

6. DEWANI SURFED GAY WEBSITES AFTER MURDER

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani surfed gay and fetish websites the day after his wife's body was discovered, according to court documents. He also looked at gay dating website Gaydar as he and his new wife, Anni, waited for a flight to Cape Town. The court heard today how a "fixer", offered immunity from prosecution, knew about the plot to kill Anni.

Shrien Dewani: will inquest resolve unanswered questions?

7. HONG KONG PROTEST TALKS CALLED OFF

The Hong Kong government has called off talks with pro-democracy protesters this week claiming it would be "impossible to have a constructive dialogue" after leaders said they would encourage demonstrators to re-occupy parts of the city if the government did not offer concessions. Protesters want a free vote when a new chief executive is chosen in 2017.

8. MODIANO WINS NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE

French author Patrick Modiano has been named the 107th winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. The novelist, whose books have often focused on the Nazi occupation of France, was described as "a Marcel Proust of our time". The 69-year-old author's first novel was published in 1968, but he is not widely known outside his homeland.

9. HOT TICKET: BRITISH LIBRARY GOTHIC

Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination, a new exhibition tracing 250 years of the gothic tradition, has opened at the British Library, London. The show features 200 exhibits from books and photos to movie clips, and a Victorian vampire-slaying kit. "Perversely enlightening," says the Guardian. Until 20 January

Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination – reviews

10. POLICE LOSE DATA FROM SEIZED PHONES

Police forces around the country have admitted losing data held on mobile phones and tablets seized from suspected criminals, after the devices were wiped remotely while in police custody. Technology that allows users to get rid of data was designed to allow owners to protect sensitive data if the device is stolen.