Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 19 Oct 2016

1. One killed and two wounded at Pentonville prison

A prisoner has been killed and two others critically injured in a stabbing at Pentonville prison in London. Two inmates aged 34 and 26 were arrested and a murder investigation has been launched. The Prison Governors Association called for a public inquiry into what is says is an "unprecedented" rise in violence and suicide in prisons.

2. US accuses Islamic State of using human shields

The US has accused Islamic State of using human shields as Iraqi and Kurdish forces move closer to the terror group's Iraq stronghold Mosul. Thousands of civilians have fled the city and around 5,000 people have crossed the border into Syria in the last ten days and are staying in refugee camps, says aid agency Save the Children.

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UK 'risks repeating Libya mistakes in Mosul'

3. Indonesia to chemically castrate paedophiles

Indonesian President Joko Widodo says he plans to "wipe out" paedophilia with chemical castration, despite human rights worries. Laws authorising the technique were passed after fierce debate earlier this month. The Indonesian Doctors' Association says the procedure would violate medical ethics.

4. Ecuador admits curb on Assange web access

Ecuador has admitted restricting Julian Assange's internet access over fears he was releasing material that could impact on the US election. Assange has been holed up in the country's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. Ecuador said its had not been pressurised by Washington into making the decision.

5. European Mars lander to touch down

The European Space Agency hopes to "gain its spurs" today with the landing of the Schiaparelli spacecraft on Mars to collect data from the surface. Until now, with the exception of 14.5secs of science carried out by a Russian craft in 1971, only Nasa has successfully carried out experiments on the surface of the Red Planet.

ExoMars mission: Schiaparelli feared lost on Mars

6. Saudi Prince put to death for murder

Saudi Arabia has executed Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabir for shooting dead a man during a fight in 2012. While it is rare for a case to involve the royal family, the Prince was the 134th person executed in the country this year.

7. Trump invites Obama's half-brother to debate

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has invited Barack Obama's half-brother Malik to be in the audience for tonight's TV debate with Hillary Clinton. The Muslim, who has both Kenyan and US citizenship, has given his support to Trump, saying he believes he can "make America great again", and said he was "excited" to be at the debate.

US election third and final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump: What happened?

8. Tony Blackburn returns to the BBC

DJ Tony Blackburn is to return to the BBC in January a year after he left the corporation amid claims that he had failed to co=operate with the Jimmy Savile inquiry. The broadcaster, who is 73 years old, was taken off air in February. He will present an hour-long programme on Radio 2 on Friday evenings.

9. Chuck Berry: New album at age of 90

Veteran rock 'n' roll singer Chuck Berry has announced his first new album for 38 years. The 90-year-old musician said: "I've worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes." Berry's son and daughter, Charles Jr and Ingrid, play harmonica and guitar respectively on their father's new album.

10. Briefing: Should we cheer the FTSE's rise?

Earlier this month the FTSE 100 reached a record high of 7,104. This

could be seen as a great sign of the strength of the UK economy, but

many experts are warning investors to steer well clear. Optimists

argue that the index's new heights are a bullish sign for the UK

economy - but a large reason for its rise is the weakness of the

pound.

Should we cheer the FTSE 100 above 7,000?

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