Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 4 Aug 2016

1. Woman dies in Russell Square stabbing

A Norwegian man of Somalian descent has been arrested after a woman died and five people were injured in a knife attack in central London. Police were called at to reports of a man with a knife in Russell Square and an American woman in her 60s was later pronounced dead. Police say mental health was a "significant factor" in the attacks.

London stabbing: Victim named as Darlene Horton

2. Bank of England cuts interest rates to 0.25%

The Bank of England has cut UK interest rates to a new record low of 0.25%. The previous rate of 0.5% had stood since March 2009, but the bank has been under pressure to act amid economic uncertainty in the wake of the Brexit vote. The bank has also voted to expand its quantitative easing programme by £60bn.

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Pound plunges after Bank of England's dovish rates signal

3. Trump 'asked why US cannot use nuclear weapons'

Donald Trump asked a foreign-policy expert three times why the US couldn't use nuclear weapons, claims a former Republican congressman. During an hour-long briefing on foreign affairs, the US presidential nominee allegedly asked: "If we have nuclear weapons why can't we use them?" Trump's spokeswoman said there was "no truth" to the claim.

Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives

4. Summer holidays wipe out children's PE fitness gains

Children's fitness levels are "wiped out" by the summer holidays, a new study says. Research conducted with more than 400 children in 14 schools found that while their fitness levels improved during the academic year, progress was reversed during the summer, when PE classes and walks to school were replaced by gazing at gadgets.

5. Anger at child abuse inquiry head's three-month absence

An outcry has erupted at news that the judge at the head of Britain’s public inquiry into child abuse spent three months on holiday or abroad during her first year in the job, says The Times. Dame Lowell Goddard, who is paid £500,000 a year, spent 44 working days in New Zealand and Australia after becoming chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in April last year.

6. Corbyn: We could all be living richer lives

Jeremy Corbyn will today set out ten pledges "to rebuild and transform Britain". Speaking in London, the Labour leader will promise to ensure full employment as prime minister by creating one million jobs to build new infrastructure and call for an NHS free of private-sector involvement. "We could all be living richer lives in a sustainable, more prosperous and more caring society," he is to say.

Jeremy Corbyn is a 'disaster', says Stephen Hawking

7. Criminal inquiry into Iraqi abuse claim 'bribes'

A senior human rights lawyer is facing a criminal inquiry into claims Iraqi civilians were bribed to bring abuse claims against UK soldiers. Legal regulators accuse Phil Shiner of knowing about the bribes, which were allegedly disguised as expenses and then submitted as legal-aid claims. Shiner's firm has brought more than 1,000 allegations against British soldiers.

8. Supermarket promotions favour unhealthy products

More than 50% of recent promotions at UK supermarkets were for junk food, sweets and fizzy drinks rather than healthy options, says a new survey. Of the 77,165 offers, 53% involved foods high in fat, saturates, sugar or salt. Consumer group Which? is calling on the stores to offer more healthy options in their promotions.

9. Owen Smith claims Labour could 'bust apart'

Labour could "bust apart and disappear", warns leadership challenger Owen Smith. The MP made the prediction as research suggested support for the party could fall to about 20% if either the right or left splinters away. Smith said he did not want the party to split but such a fate was likely if Jeremy Corbyn remained leader.

10. Briefing: Why Millennials are turning their backs on sex

Millennials are less likely to have had sex than any generation since the 1920s, according to a new study. Researchers at San Diego State University found 15 per cent of 20 to 24-year-olds said they had not had a sexual partner since they were 18, a figure that dropped to six per cent for their predecessors, Generation X. Strikingly, the last generation of young people with a higher rate of sexual abstinence was in the 1920s.

Why are Millennials turning their backs on sex?