Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 20 Oct 2016

1. Kurds launch 'large-scale' attack on Mosul

Kurdish fighters say they have launched a "large-scale" operation on the Islamic State-held city of Mosul, in Iraq. The Kurds are attacking from the east and north, while Iraqi forces and other groups push up from the south and the US-led coalition provides air strikes. According to the Pentagon, there are signs IS leaders have fled the city.

2. Posthumous pardons for thousands of gay men

Thousands of gay men convicted of sexual offences that are no longer criminal will receive posthumous pardons, while anyone living who has such a conviction will receive an automatic statutory pardon. The move follows the posthumous pardonning in 2013 of computer pioneer Alan Turing, who was convicted of gross indecency in 1952.

Turing law: Thousands of gay men to be posthumously pardoned

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3. May to call for a 'smooth' Brexit

Theresa May attends her first EU summit as Prime Minister today and is expected to tell other European leaders she want a "smooth, constructive, orderly" negotiation of the UK's withdrawal from the bloc. The agenda will be dominated by migration, trade and Russia, not just Brexit, says the BBC.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

4. Trump refuses to say if he will accept election result

Donald Trump left his rival for the US presidency, Hillary Clinton, "horrified" at last night's TV debate after he refused to confirm he would accept the result of the election. Asked if he would mount a legal challenge if he loses, he said: “I will tell you at the time. I will keep you in suspense." The Republican claims the vote is rigged.

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

5. Harry Redknapp's wife hurt in freak car accident

Sandra Redknapp, wife of football manager Harry, suffered "serious injuries" after she was dragged down the road by her husband's Range Rover after getting her coat and foot trapped in the vehicle. The accident happened in Bournemouth as Redknapp was being dropped off by her husband. She was rushed to hospital bu ambulance and has had an operation.

6. MPs vote for Sir Philip Green to lose knighthood

MPs have backed calls for Sir Philip Green to be stripped of his knighthood over the collapse of BHS, comparing him to Napoleon and Robert Maxwell during a three-hour debate in the Commons. The final decision will be taken by the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Sir Philip Green's Arcadia agrees £30m deal in BHS legal battle

7. Fears grow for Schiaparelli Mars lander

Fears are growing that the Schiaparelli space probe has been lost in its attempt to land on Mars. Scientists at the European Space Agency's are waiting for the craft to emit a signal following its touchdown. Schiaparelli had travelled seven months and 310 million miles across the solar system to reach the Red Planet.

ExoMars mission: Schiaparelli feared lost on Mars

8. Navy to 'man-mark' Russian warships in Channel

The Royal Navy says it will shadow Russian warships "every step of the way" in order to "man-mark" them as they travel through the English Channel for a military exercise at the mouth of the Mediterranean. The ships are currently heading south from the Norwegian Sea towards the North Sea in international waters.

9. Escaped gorilla drank blackcurrant squash

A gorilla who escaped his enclosure at London Zoo last week used his freedom to down five litres of undiluted blackcurrant squash, staff say. Kumbuka, a 29 stone silverback, made an "opportunistic" exit through two unlocked doors into a corridor where a keeper was working, officials added.

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?