Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 2 Oct 2015

1. Anti-IS coalition warns Russia over Syria air strikes

The US-led coalition against Islamic State has warned Russia that air strikes against Syrian opposition groups and civilians would "only fuel more extremism" in the war-torn country. The warning from countries including the US, UK and Turkey came as the French and Russian presidents met in Paris. The meeting was called to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine, but was overshadowed by Syria.

US and Russia spar over vetoed Syria sanctions

2. Oregon college shooting: victims 'were Christian'

The gunman who killed nine people and injured seven at a community college in Oregon yesterday afternoon reportedly asked his victims for their religion, and shot only Christians. Police shot the attacker, named locally as Chris Harper Mercer, 26, dead. After the incident, President Barack Obama once again called for tighter gun controls.

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Oregon shooting: nine dead in attack on community college

3. Redcar steelworks company is wound up

The company that owns the Redcar steelworks, which was 'mothballed' earlier in the week causing the loss of 1,700 jobs, has gone into liquidation. The parent company of SSI UK was granted an application to wind up the UK arm of its business at the High Court in Manchester. The GMB union is seeking to establish what liquidation would mean for workers.

4. GPs ‘paid not to send patients to hospital’

An investigation by a doctors’ magazine has found that some doctors in England are being offered thousands of pounds not to send patients to hospital. Pulse said scans and consultations with specialists were affected - including those of cancer patients. At least nine clinical commissioning groups pay practices to hit their targets.

Is your GP being paid to stop you going to hospital?

5. Conservatives choose Goldsmith in mayor race

Zac Goldsmith will be the Conservative Party candidate in the 2016 London mayoral election. The MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston won 70% of the vote in an online primary election. Goldsmith, an opponent of Heathrow expansion plans, he was "honoured" to be nominated. His main rival will be Labourt candidate Sadiq Khan.

London Mayor Khan slams foreign investors for leaving homes empty

6. Internet teen terror plotter jailed for life

A 15-year-old boy who helped plan a terror attack in Australia from his bedroom in Lancashire has been jailed for life. The plot to behead police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Melbourne was "shocking in its brutality and scope" Manchester Crown Court heard. The teenager will serve at least five years for inciting terrorism, and will only be released when deradicalised.

7. Blair urged Gaddafi to flee Libya for safety

Private emails sent and received by Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state and now made public under freedom of information rules reveal that Tony Blair warned Muammar Gaddafi in February 2011 to leave Libya and find “a safe place to go” as part of a managed process of political change before the “point of no return”.

Tony Blair urged Colonel Gaddafi to flee to 'safe place'

8. Taller people ‘more likely to get cancer’

Swedish researchers say taller people are more likely to get cancer, while warning that smoking, obesity and a poor diet still pose the greatest risks of contracting the disease. One possible reason for the findings is that taller people simply have more cells in their bodies to become cancerous - another that they burn more energy.

Taller people more likely to develop cancer, say researchers

9. Original Beatles recording found in desk drawer

A tape of the Beatles performing in Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club in 1962 is to be auctioned for charity after a TV producer found it overlooked in a desk drawer. Johnnie Hamp sent a sound engineer to the club to record the track to dub onto a TV show which was never screened. The auction will be in Liverpool on 4 November.

10. Briefing: can Stoptober really help you quit?

Hundreds of thousands of smokers across the country have signed up to 'Stoptober' in a bid to kick the habit. The 28-day national campaign began yesterday – but what's it all about and does it really work? According to the latest research, those who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good and going a month without lighting can even extend your life by up to a week.

Stoptober: can 28-day health campaign help smokers quit?