Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 3 Oct 2013

1. DOCTORS: GP CUTS ARE ‘CATASTROPHE’

The General Practitioners system in England is facing “catastrophe” because of government cut-backs, the Royal College of GPs has warned. The doctors’ group believes that, over the past three years, investment in the system has fallen by seven per cent in real terms, despite government plans to rely more on GPs.

2. OBAMA: WALL STREET MUST FEAR SHUT-DOWN

After meeting the head of some of America’s biggest banks, US president Barack Obama has said they should be concerned that a faction of Republicans is willing to allow the nation to default on its debt rather than accept healthcare reform. A government shut-down continues today after a budget could not be agreed.

US debt default: is world facing 'economic Armageddon'?

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3. JACKSONS LOSE NEGLIGENCE CASE

The family of the late singer Michael Jackson have lost their case against concert promoter AEG, which alleged negligence leading to the star’s death and sought millions of dollars in damages. The jury determined that AEG had hired Dr Conrad Murray but decided that the firm was not to blame for his wrongdoings.

4. MAIL APOLOGISES TO MILIBAND

The Mail on Sunday has apologised "unreservedly" and suspended two journalists after a reporter was sent to a private memorial service for Labour leader Ed Miliband's late uncle, to ask guests if they agreed with Daily Mail claims that his dead father Ralph "hated Britain". Miliband has written to the owner of the newspapers, Lord Rothermere, over their conduct.

Ed Miliband and the problems of being Ralph’s heir apparent

5. SCORES DEAD IN REFUGEE BOAT DISASTER

Scores of refugees have died after a boat capsized and caught fire off the coast of Lampedusa, an Italian island south of Sicily in the Mediterranean. The boat is believed to have been carrying around 500 people from north Africa. A pregnant woman and at least two children are said to be among the dead. The rescue operation is continuing.

More than 80 dead as boat of migrants sinks off Italian coast

6. GREECE: GOLDEN DAWN LEADER JAILED

Greek MP Nikolaos Michaloliakos, the leader of extreme right-wing party Golden Dawn, has been jailed by an Athens court to await trial on charges of running a criminal organisation. A further five party members were arrested over the weekend as the government cracked down following a stabbing of a left-wing singer.

Golden Dawn: the rise and fall of Greece's neo-Nazi party

7. GAMBIA TO LEAVE COMMONWEALTH

Branding it a “neo-colonial institution”, west African nation Gambia has said it will withdraw from the Commonwealth after 48 years. No reasons were given, but president Yahya Jammeh has previously accused the UK of backing his opponents. The UK said it would “very much regret” Gambia’s decision to quit.

Gambia withdraws from the Commonwealth

8. HODGSON: HART'S STILL MY NUMBER ONE

England football manager Roy Hodgson has named his squad for next week's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland and says he still has faith in goalkeeper Joe Hart, despite a series of shaky performances for Manchester City. Forwards Wayne Rooney, of Manchester United, and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge are also in the squad.

Joe Hart disaster spells trouble for Man City and England

9. MOTHER GUILTY OF KILLING MUMMIFIED SON

A mother has been found guilty of killing her four-year-old son, whose mummified body lay undiscovered in her bedroom for two years. Amanda Hutton, 43, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence at Bradford Crown Court. Her son Hamzah Khan died, probably of malnutrition, in 2009, but was not found until 2011.

10. HOT TICKET: JAPAN’S EROTIC SHUNGA ART

A new exhibition of Japanese erotic art opens at the British Museum today. Shunga: Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art features over 140 explicit shunga prints, paintings and drawings from 1600 to 1900 exploring all aspects of sexuality. "This art is sexy, " says The Guardian. Until 5 January.

'Astonishingly explicit' Shunga art at the British Museum