Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 11 Aug 2016

1. Katherine Grainger wins fifth Olympic medal

Team GB rower Katherine Grainger has become the first British woman to win five Olympic medals after clinching silver in the double sculls at Rio. Yesterday Team GB moved up ninth in the medals table after winning six medals in six hours. There were golds for Joe Clarke, in kayaking, and Jack Laugher and Chris Mears, who won the men's 3m synchronised diving.

2. New head for child sex abuse inquiry

Professor Alexis Jay, who led the Rotherham abuse inquiry, has been named as the new head of the inquiry into child sex abuse in England and Wales. She replaces Dame Lowell Goddard who stepped down last week. She is the fourth person to head the investigation into claims of abuse of children in public and private institutions.

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3. Government 'looting' from right-to-buy scheme

The Local Government Association has accused the government of "looting" the money from the right-to-buy scheme and says local authorities should receive all the proceeds from the sales of council houses. New figures show local councils last year replaced fewer than 20% of homes sold under the scheme.

4. Oil leaks from rig grounded in Hebrides

Two fuel tanks on the stricken oil rig Transocean Winner, which grounded on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis as it was being towed to a new location, have ruptured, releasing an unknown amount of diesel oil into the Atlantic. The government said there was no sign of oil on the beach or around the rig.

5. Canadian police shoot dead terror suspect

Canadian police shot dead a terror suspect in Ontario yesterday, says local media, which named the dead man as Aaron Driver. One report says the man detonated an explosive device, injuring himself and another person. Driver, 24, was arrested last year for openly supporting Islamic State on social media.

Canadian man killed by police following terror threat

6. Syria: 'Chlorine gas attack' on Aleppo

At least four people have died in an attack on the city of Aleppo, in Syria, that medics believe involved the use of chlorine gas. Witnesses reported seeing barrel bombs dropped from helicopters and a strong smell of gas before victims suffered breathing and eye problems. Doctors are saving fragments of clothing as evidence.

Syria 'planning a new chemical attack', US claims

7. Three children and an adult dead in A34 crash

A woman and three children died in a car crash on the A34 in Berkshire on Wednesday, police have confirmed. The 45-year-old woman, two boys aged 11 and 13 and an 11-year-old girl have not yet been named. A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following the crash, which involved four lorries and four cars.

8. 'Poisoning' of Wimbledon player investigated

Police are investigating claims a British junior tennis player was deliberately poisoned to wreck her tournament chances. Gabriella Taylor, 18, was forced to withdraw midway through her quarter-final match at Wimbledon last month after falling ill. She spent four days in intensive care with a rare bacterial disease which can be transmitted through rat urine.

Was tennis player Gabriella Taylor poisoned at Wimbledon?

9. Man arrested trying to climb Trump Tower

A 20-year-old man has been arrested for attempting to climb Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, using suction cups and ropes. Police said he was taken for psychological evaluation but was not thought to have posed a threat to Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. A British man with autism was accused of trying to kill Trump earlier this year.

Man arrested for climbing Trump Tower with suction cups

10. Briefing: Five Edinburgh Fringe shows not to miss

Originally established as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe is now the world's biggest arts festival. Running over three weeks, parallel to the main festival, it showcases hundreds of acts, from big names in comedy, physical theatre and cabaret, to newcomers hoping to get noticed. Here are five shows not to miss.

Edinburgh Fringe 2016: 10 shows not to miss

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