Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Nov 2016

1. Obama: Fate of world and US at stake

US President Barack Obama has warned voters the fate of the world and the republic is at stake in next Tuesday's election. He added: "I am not on the ballot, but I tell you what - fairness is on the ballot; decency is on the ballot; justice is on the ballot; progress is on the ballot; our democracy is on the ballot."

2. Extra 2,500 prison staff to be recruited

An extra 2,500 prison staff are to be hired to help tackle a "toxic cocktail of drugs, drones and mobile phones" and a sharp increase of violence in jails, Justice Secretary Liz Truss will announce today. Labour says her speech will be a "blatant PR stunt" unless comprehensive plans to address staff cuts were made.

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3. First statues of black Britons given listed status

Three bronze statues thought to be the first public sculptural representations of black Britons in the UK have been given listed status by Historic England. Platforms Piece, created by artist Kevin Atherton in 1986, represents commuters waiting for trains on the platforms at Brixton station in London.

4. Regulator warns Green over BHS pensions

The Pensions Regulator has sent warning notices to former BHS owners Sir Philip Green and Dominic Chappell, saying they "should be liable to support the BHS pension schemes". Green responded by saying he had given the regulator "a credible and substantial proposal" for the scheme's deficit.

The Business: UK betting income rockets as terminals grow

5. Brexit: MPs must approve Article 50, rules court

The government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin the process of leaving the EU without the approval of MPs, senior judges at the High Court in London have ruled. Prime Minister Theresa May had promised to get Brexit underway by the end of March 2017 with the view to leaving the EU by spring 2019, but that timetable is now in doubt.

Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

6. Train collision kills 17 in Pakistan

At least 17 people have died and dozens more been injured when two trains collided at a station in Karachi, Pakistan, this morning. Officials say the trains may have been carrying 1,000 passengers and there are fears the death toll may rise as rescuers cut their way through wreckage.

7. Gambian goalkeeper dies crossing the Mediterranean

Around 250 migrants are feared drowned after two boats capsized off the coast of Libya. News of the shipwrecks emerged when survivors were brought ashore on the Italian island of Lampedusa. The Gambian football association has also confirmed that the 19-year-old goalkeeper of Gambia's national women's football team has drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe.

8. Growth and inflation forecast to increase in 2017

The Bank of England has increased its growth and inflation forecast for 2017 and held interest rates at the record low of 0.25%. It is now predicting that the UK economy will grow by 1.4% next year, up from 0.8%. It also expects inflation to rise to 2.7% in 2017. The stronger outlook makes another interest rate cut unlikely.

9. Cubs win World Series after 108 years

The Chicago Cubs have won baseball's biggest trophy, the World Series, for the first time since 1908. After a thrilling contest, the game was decided by a ground ball in the tenth inning, giving the Cubs an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The Indians have not won the World Series since 1948.

Bill Murray celebrates as Chicago Cubs end 108-year curse

10. Briefing: FBI releases 2005 Bill Clinton investigation files

The FBI has unexpectedly released 129 pages of heavily redacted documents relating to an investigation of former president Bill Clinton, which was closed without charges in 2005. The investigation was prompted by the former president's controversial, last-minute pardon of fugitive billionaire Marc Rich in 2001. Rich fled the US before being indicted on charges of tax evasion.

What is Hillary Clinton doing now?

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