Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 14 Aug 2014

1. UN DECLARES EMERGENCY IN IRAQ

The UN has declared its highest level of emergency in Iraq following the advance of Islamist group Islamic State in the north of the country. Around 1.2m people have been displaced it says. However, the US has ruled out an evacuation of non-Muslim Iraqis trapped on Mount Sinjar as refugees there are fewer in number and healthier than expected.

Islamic State: RAF jets carry out first air strikes in Iraq

2. FIVE-DAY GAZA TRUCE OFF TO SHAKY START

The truce in Gaza has been extended by five days - but the latest period of ceasefire got off to a shaky start after Israel and Hamas immediately traded rocket and air strikes. Hamas denied that rockets had been fired but Israel insisted they had. There was no report of casualties from either side so far.

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3. FOURTH NIGHT OF UNREST IN MISSOURI

Tensions increased last night between police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, during the fourth night of unrest since police shot dead a black teenager, Michael Brown. Protesters are demanding an investigation into the killing. Police fired tear gas at crowds last night after demanding they disperse.

Ferguson: state of emergency declared as protests continue

4. A-LEVEL RESULTS DOWN, BUT UNI PLACES UP

A-level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been receiving their results. But even though the pass rate is down for the first time in 30 years and there are fewer A and A* grades, with an extra 30,000 university places on offer this year, students could still find a place even if they missed their target.

A-level results day 2019: how does clearing work?

5. POLICE SEARCH CLIFF RICHARD'S HOME

Police were today searching a property owned by Sir Cliff Richard in connection to an alleged sex offence dating back to the 1980s. The search in Sunningdale was being carried out by South Yorkshire Police after an allegation involving a boy under the age of 16 in the South Yorkshire area. There is no connection to Operation Yewtree.

What is Cliff Richard doing now?

6. HOME OWNERS SHOULD PREPARE FOR RATE RISIS

Home repossessions are at their lowest level since 2008, but home owners should prepare for interest rate rise warns the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which has urged the Bank of England to raise rates slowly. Meanwhile, the booming housing market in London has come to an abrupt halt because of fears over affordability.

London housing market 'in reverse', say experts

7. BRAZIL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KILLED

Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, has cancelled all election campaigning after her opponent, socialist leader Eduardo Campos, was killed when his plane came down in bad weather in a residential part of the port city of Santos. Six others also died in the crash. Campos had been running third in opinion polls.

8. RUSSIAN AID CONVOY AT UKRAINE BORDER

There has been heavy shelling in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk as government troops try to drive out pro-Russian rebels who occupy the town. At least one person died despite evacuation warnings. Meanwhile a convoy of 260 lorries carrying aid from Moscow has got to within a few miles of the border, but may not be let into the country.

9. PILOT’S ARM ‘CAME OFF DURING LANDING’

A pilot briefly lost control of a Flybe flight from Birmingham to Belfast as he landed it when his artificial arm became detached, air accident investigators have said. The flight, with 47 passengers on board, landed heavily after a bounce on 12 February - but no one was hurt and the plane was not damaged.

One-armed pilot lost control of plane when false limb detached

10. HOT TICKET: JEZ BUTTERWORTH THRILLER

A revival of Jez Butterworth's 2006 play The Winterling is running at the Theatre By The Lake in Keswick. A "twisted thriller", it focuses on a gangland fugitive whose past catches up with him. "Exhilarating," says the Daily Telegraph. Until 5 November.

The Winterling – reviews of Butterworth's 'twisted thriller'