Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 17 Oct 2014

1. BAN KI MOON JOINS EBOLA CRITICISM

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has joined those including Barack Obama critical of the international response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa and made an urgent appeal for donations. Ban said a $1bn trust fund launched last month has only raised $100,000. One medical charity said international pledges of aid had yet to have any impact.

Ebola response: who has donated the most?

2. HONG KONG POLICE SWOOP ON PROTESTERS

Hundreds of police officers in Hong Kong mounted a dawn raid on a pro-democracy protest site this morning, taking down barricades and tents which demonstrators had erected over the past fortnight. Reports said there were just dozens of protesters left in the area - though other areas of protest remain.

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3. FOUR IN COURT OVER 'TERROR PLOT'

Four men arrested in London earlier this month have appeared in court charged with plotting a terror attack in the capital. They are accused of taking an oath of allegiance to Islamic State, arranging to buy a handgun and silencer and carrying out "hostile reconnaissance" of a police station and Army barracks. Another man faces firearms charges.

Counter-terror chief reveals scale of extremist threat to UK

4. PUTIN IN MILAN FOR UKRAINE TALKS

Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of a summit in Milan today to discuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine. David Cameron and other European leaders will also be present and are expected to lean on Putin to do more to end the fighting.

5. ISLAMIC STATE 'TRAINING FIGHTER PILOTS'

Islamic State militants are being taught to fly three captured fighter jets by Iraqi pilots who have joined the movement. The jets, captured in Syria, have been seen flying over Aleppo. Meanwhile, IS fighters have almost been driven out of Kobane near the Turkish border by Kurdish fighters backed by US air strikes.

How to stop Islamic State: go for the roots, not the head

6. APPLE UNVEILS NEW IPADS AND ‘APPLE PAY’

Apple has unveiled two new versions of its iPad tablet hours after their details were apparently leaked online by mistake. The tech giant also announced it will launch mobile payment service Apple Pay on Monday. The iPads Air 2 and Mini 3 feature fingerprint recognition and a camera ‘burst mode’.

Apple iPad Air 2: New 'soft sim' could drive down mobile costs

7. OSCAR PISTORIUS 'BROKE AND BROKEN'

Oscar Pistorius must wait until Tuesday to discover his fate after his sentencing hearing in South Africa was adjourned until next week. In final arguments the prosection called for a ten-year jail term for the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp. The defence have argued against prison and described Pistorius as "broke and broken" after his trial.

Oscar Pistorius out of legal options as request to appeal rejected

8. MORE TREKKERS RESCUED AFTER NEPAL STORMS

Search teams in Nepal have rescued dozens of trekkers from the popular Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas after storms hit the range on Wednesday, but at least 29 people are now known to have died in the Nepal's worst-ever climbing disaster. More than 230 people have now been rescued from the mountains but the death toll is expected to rise.

9. 16 DIE IN SOUTH KOREA CONCERT COLLAPSE

At least 16 people have been killed and 11 injured at a pop concert in South Korea after a ventilation grate they had been standing on gave way. The victims, who had climbed on top of the grate to get a better view at the outdoor event, fell ten metres into an underground carpark. Popular girlband 4Minute had been performing at the concert in Seongnam.

10. HOT TICKET: COPPOLA DEBUT PALO ALTO

American teen drama Palo Alto opens in UK cinemas today. Gia Coppola's debut, based on a collection of short stories by James Franco, follows a shy class virgin torn between an illicit flirtation with her high-school football coach (played by Franco), and her unrequited crush on an introspective artist. "Lyrical," says The Scotsman.

Palo Alto – reviews of 'dreamy, lyrical' coming-of-age film