Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 10 Jul 2014

1. PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS STRIKE

A mass walk out from members of several unions has led to picket lines outside courts, job centres, council offices and fire stations across the UK today as public sector workers protest their pay failing to keep up with the rising cost of living. Teachers, civil servants and healthcare workers are among those on strike.

Public sector strike briefing: a million workers walk out

2. FREE NHS ‘WILL END IN TEN YEARS’

In a survey of 78 healthcare leaders carried out by the Nuffield Trust, nearly half said they expected the NHS would no longer be free at the point of delivery because of the squeeze on funding. Nuffield has warned of a “funding crisis this year or next” and says patient care may start to suffer as a result.

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NHS funding crisis: how can it plug the gap?

3. ARGENTINA TO FACE GERMANY IN FINAL

After a lacklustre semi-final 0-0 match against Netherlands which was resolved by a penalty shoot-out, Argentina are through to the World Cup final on Sunday, adding to the misery of arch-rivals Brazil. If Germany win, it will be the first time a European team has won a World Cup held in the Americas.

Argentina into final after dire showdown with Holland

4. GERMANY EXPELS CIA AGENT FOR SPYING

Germany has expelled a US CIA agent from the country for spying. The official is said to have acted as a CIA contact at the US embassy. Announcing the move Germany said it was taking action because of America's "failure to cooperate on resolving various allegations, starting with the NSA and up to the latest incidents".

5. ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES KILL 80 IN GAZA

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have now killed more than 80 people, with the latest attacks killing 20 people, including at least five children. Israel says the attacks are a response to rocket strikes by Hamas, it is also threatening a ground assault. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that the situation is "on a knife-edge".

Gaza strikes: half of dead were women and children

6. EMERGENCY DATA LAW IN PARLIAMENT

An emergency data law to give police and security services access to phone and internet records is being rushed through Parliament. The move comes after the European Court of Justice ruled that previous legislation went too far and amounted to an invasion of privacy. David Cameron said the bill gives the authorities "the right tools to keep us all safe".

Drip data law: how it will affect you

7. INTEREST RATES HELD AT 0.5%

The Bank of England has held interest rates at their historic low of 0.5% for a 61st consecutive month as the economy continues to recover from recession. Bank governor Mark Carney has warned over a possible housing bubble but says that interest rates are unlikely to rise until later this year, and that increases will be gradual.

8. LOST AMNESIAC BEGS FOR HELP

An amnesiac has made an appeal for help to find out who he is. The man, in his 20s, has been named George by his nurses. He was discovered unconscious in a Peterborough park in May without a phone, wallet or documents. It is thought he could be Eastern European as he has an accent and understands Russian and Lithuanian.

9. FIFA REJECTS SUAREZ BAN APPEAL

Fifa has rejected Luis Suarez's appeal against a four-month ban from all football for biting an opponent during the World Cup. The Uruguayan FA had claimed the punishment, which included a nine match international ban, was "excessive". Suarez, on the brink of a move from Liverpool to Barcelona, could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Arsenal agree Sanchez deal, is it too late for Puma kit launch?

10. HOT TICKET: MODERN SOUTH AMERICAN ART

A new exhibition of abstract modern art from South America, Radical Geometry, has opened at the Royal Academy, London. The 80 works on display showcase South American artists' experiments with colour, movement and space, inspired by European art. "Dazzling," says The Guardian. Until 28 September.

Radical Geometry – reviews of 'dazzling' South American art