Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 29 Aug 2016

1. Ten-minute GP visits 'risk patients' health'

The health of patients is being jeopardised by the system of ten-minute appointments with GPs, according to doctors' group the BMA. The group says patient care is being undermined when GPs are forced to see as many as 60 patients a day. NHS England insists there is no national limit forcing ten-minute appointments on doctors.

2. Ceasefire ends 52-years of Colombia strife

A definitive ceasefire between the Colombian government and leftist fighters Farc comes into effect from 5am UK time tonight, ending 52 years of conflict. After four years of talks in Cuba, Farc leader Rodrigo Londono gave the order to stop firing and said: "Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war."

3. Virgin 'broke own policy' over Corbyn row

The Guardian has been given leaked emails it says prove Virgin Trains broke its own rules by releasing CCTV images appearing to show Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn walking past empty seats before recording a video in which he claims a train is full. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the firm of political interference.

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4. 'Crew' leave Mars simulation after one year

The second-longest simulation of a mission to Mars has ended after one year, with the 'crew' leaving an 11-metre by 6-metre dome in Hawaii, on the Mauna Loa mountain where soil is similar to the Red Planet's, where they have spent the past 12 months. During the 'mission', they were only allowed to step outside if wearing a space suit.

5. Boundary changes to affect 200 Labour seats

Analysis by a Tory peer suggests that as many as 200 Labour constituencies will be affected by boundary changes put in action by David Cameron to reduce the number of MPs in the Commons by 50 and equalise the number of voters in each seat. As many as 30 Labour seats could disappear altogether, says analyst Lord Hayward.

6. Swimmer dies on cross-channel attempt

A UK man has died attempting to cross the English channel without a wetsuit. Experienced long-distance swimmer Nick Thomas lost consciousness just one mile from Calais, after 16 hours swimming. He was pulled into his support boat but did not recover. Thomas had previously swum the channel successfully, wearing a wetsuit.

7. Balls: Corbyn leadership is 'leftist fantasy'

Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls says the idea that Jeremy Corbyn could become Prime Minister after taking Labour back to power is a "leftist utopian fantasy", adding that Corbyn's approach is "devoid of connection to the reality of people's lives". He makes the remarks in his forthcoming autobiography, to be titled Speaking Out.

8. More than 1,000 asthma deaths are 'needless'

More than 1,000 people die every year because of asthma "needlessly", a new study has said. The researchers also found that the condition costs the UK £1.1bn a year, and called for an overhaul of treatment to focus on basic care and cut the risk of attacks. The team, led by the University of Edinburgh, called for use of 'smart inhalers'.

9. Australian man 'put acid in sex club lube'

A 62-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly filling a lubricant dispenser in an Australian gay and bisexual sex club with hydrochloric acid. There were no serious injuries reported at the club in the north-west Sydney district of Aarows. Tamper alarms are thought to have been fitted to the dispenser after a previous incident.

10. Briefing: House price gap narrows as North catches up

House prices are rising faster in cities in the north of England and

parts of Scotland than they are in the economically dominant south of

the country, new figures from property market analyst Hometrack show.

While the gap in the average value of property between North and South

is still huge, booming prices in the likes of Glasgow, Leeds and

Manchester far outpaced the growth in London and other southern

cities.

London house prices: study predicts a 2.5% rise for 2020, but a 1% fall in 2021