Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 1 Sep 2016

1. Junior doctors to stage five-day strikes

Junior doctors are to strike for five consecutive days in each of the next four months, with "full withdrawal of labour" between 8am and 5pm, in protest at new contracts they say are unfair for them and dangerous for patients. The first walk-out starts on 12 September. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said 100,000 operations could be cancelled.

Hunt to promise 25% rise in student doctor places

2. Trump vows to deport millions of immigrants

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has hardened his stance on immigration in a speech in Phoenix. The billionaire businessman said there would be no amnesty for illegal aliens and vowed to deport millions of people to Mexico during his "first hour in office".

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Trump travel ban: Judge expands definition of relatives

3. Rocket explodes on Cape Canaveral launch pad

A unmanned SpaceX rocket has exploded at Cape Canaveral as it prepared to launch a satellite. It blew up as it was being test-fired ahead of take-off. The blast shook buildings several miles away and sent a plume of smoke into the sky. SpaceX is developing reusable rockets and last year successfully landed one back on earth after a mission.

4. Child actor killed in police chase crash

A 23-year-old man remains in custody after a woman and her nephew were killed after being hit by a car that was being chased by police in south-east London. Witnesses told how around 20 passers-by lifted the car off trapped children, but aspiring actor Makayah McDermott, 10, and his aunt Rozanne Cooper, 34, both died. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the accident.

5. Riots in Brazil as Rousseff is impeached

Brazil's parliament yesterday voted to remove President Dilma Rousseff from office, one year after first seeking to impeach her for allegedly breaking budget laws to ensure her re-election. Rousseff called the impeachment a "coup", while her supporters took to the streets in riots which were put down by police.

6. EU referendum debate was 'dire'

The Electoral Reform Society has criticised the UK's "dire" EU referendum debate for "glaring democratic deficiencies", saying voters were left disengaged and confused. In a report published today, the group said both campaigns had turned increasingly negative and voters found both Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron to be turn-offs.

When will Brexit be finished?

7. Customers evacuated from Alton Towers ride

Customers at Alton Towers were stranded on The Smiler roller-coaster after it was stopped following reports of debris falling from one of the carriages. Five people were seriously injured in a crash involving the same ride at the theme park in 2015. Around 30 people were safely evacuated from the ride after it was stopped by staff.

8. Transfer day: Premier League spends £1.165bn

Premier League football clubs have now spent a record £1.165bn on transfers for the coming season, with £155m alone spent yesterday on the deadline day. The total spend "shatters" last year's £870m, says the BBC. Thirteen clubs broke their own transfer spending records. The league is awash with cash from a record TV deal.

Deadline Day: £1bn spent, but loans highlight the profligacy

9. Eamonn Holmes steps down from Sky News

Sky News presenter Eamonn Holmes is to step down from presenting the morning show after 11 years as an anchor. In a statement he said he was leaving his role on Sunrise to "produce and present a number of documentary projects" abut continue to work for ITV and Channel 5. Holmes joined Sky News in 2005 after quitting GMTV in protest at the amount of celebrity news.

10. Briefing: What was the Black Death and how did it end?

The Black Death, also known as the Black Plague, was one of the most

costly pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an

estimated 75 to 200 million people and peaking in Europe in the years

1346-53. Although there are many theories, no one has yet provided a

definitive answer as to why the plague ended and although the disease

is no longer a major health problem in Europe, it is still prevalent

in some parts of the world.

What was the Black Death and when did it end?