Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 6 Sep 2012
- 1. ANNECY SHOOTINGS: BRITISH FATHER NAMED
- 2. CAMERON LIFTS HOME IMPROVEMENT RULES
- 3. 'BURGLARY TAKES COURAGE' JUDGE PROBED
- 4. NO CHARGES FOR PAIR WHO SHOT BURGLARS
- 5. BILL CLINTON GIVES OBAMA HIS SUPPORT
- 6. ‘RIP-OFF’ FUEL PRICES TO BE INVESTIGATED
- 7. ‘FAIR TRIAL’ URGED FOR GADDAFI SPY CHIEF
- 8. FEDERER KNOCKED OUT OF US OPEN
- 9. SPANISH PM REVERSES BULLFIGHTING TV BAN
- 10. HOT TICKET: JOIN THE GUILD ONLINE
1. ANNECY SHOOTINGS: BRITISH FATHER NAMED
The British father shot dead along with his wife and and an older woman in a car near Lake Annecy in the French Alps has been named as 50-year-old Saad al-Hilli from Claygate in Greater London. A seriously wounded eight-year-old girl was found on the ground near the car, while her unharmed four-year-old sister was found beneath the legs of her mother. A French cyclist was also killed.
Annecy shootings: British father named as Saad al-Hilli
2. CAMERON LIFTS HOME IMPROVEMENT RULES
David Cameron is to announce a “holiday” from planning rules to allow homeowners to build extensions, garages and conservatories without permits in a bid to stimulate the economy with a home improvement boom. He will also back a proposal to waive the “affordable housing” rule to encourage new investment by developers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. 'BURGLARY TAKES COURAGE' JUDGE PROBED
Judge Peter Bowers, who told a criminal he had shown "huge courage" in committing a series of burglaries, is to be investigated by the Office for Judicial Complaints. Richard Rochford, 26, burgled three homes in East Cleveland, but Judge Bowers refused to give him a custodial sentence, saying prison "very rarely does anybody any good".
Does burglary ‘take courage’ or is it just a despicable crime?
4. NO CHARGES FOR PAIR WHO SHOT BURGLARS
There will be no charges against Andy and Tracie Ferrie, the Leicestershire couple who shot burglars in their farmhouse, the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday, as they had “acted in reasonable self defence” when “faced with intruders in frightening circumstances”. Daniel Mansell, 33, pleaded guilty to burglary at Loughborough magistrates' court.
Demand for change in law after pair held over burglary shooting
5. BILL CLINTON GIVES OBAMA HIS SUPPORT
Former President Bill Clinton weighed in last night for Barack Obama as he formally proposed him as Democratic presidential nominee, telling Americans to vote for him if they wanted "a 'we're-all-in-this-together' society’” rather than a Republican “winner takes all”. Bad weather forced Obama to cancel plans to make today’s speech in a sports stadium.
Clinton dazzles Democrats, but will it backfire on Obama?
6. ‘RIP-OFF’ FUEL PRICES TO BE INVESTIGATED
Claims that motorists are being cheated at the pumps by overcharging are to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading, it was announced yesterday. Investigators suspect that refiners and retailers are operating “rocket and feather” practices, in which petrol prices shoot up when the cost of crude rises, but drift down only slowly when they fall.
7. ‘FAIR TRIAL’ URGED FOR GADDAFI SPY CHIEF
The US and human rights groups yesterday called on Libya to give a fair trial to Col Gaddafi's ex-spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi, in jail in Tripoli last night after being deported from Mauritania. He is accused of ordering the slaughter of 1,000 jailed dissidents, and, among other crimes, the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie and an Air France flight over Nigeria.
8. FEDERER KNOCKED OUT OF US OPEN
Roger Federer has been knocked out of the US Open by sixth seed Tomas Berdych, losing 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 3-6 6-3 - his first quarter-final defeat in New York since 2003. “I'm disappointed,” said Federer. “I really expected myself to play better.” Berdych of the Czech Republic will now meet Andy Murray, who beat Croatia’s Marin Cilic to reach Saturday’s semi-finals.
9. SPANISH PM REVERSES BULLFIGHTING TV BAN
Spain’s public television channel last night broadcast a live bullfight for the first time in six years after the conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy threw out a ban imposed by the previous socialist government. Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, banned bullfighting last year, but Rajoy claims it is an art form rooted in Spanish history.
10. HOT TICKET: JOIN THE GUILD ONLINE
Guild Wars 2, the sequel to the popular online role-playing game Guild Wars, has launched online. Players fight a range of mythical beasts and take on tasks with a guild of dragon slayers in the fantasy world of Tyria. “Bewilderingly gorgeous”, says The Guardian.
Can Guild Wars 2 steal World of Warcraft’s crown?
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 24, 2024
Daily Briefing Trump closes in on nomination with New Hampshire win over Haley, 'Oppenheimer' leads the 2024 Oscar nominations, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 23, 2024
Daily Briefing Haley makes last stand in New Hampshire as Trump extends polling lead, justices side with US over Texas in border fight, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 22, 2024
Daily Briefing DeSantis ends his presidential campaign and endorses Trump, the US and Arab allies push plan to end Gaza war, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 19, 2024
Daily Briefing Congress averts a government shutdown, DOJ report cites failures in police response to Texas school shooting, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 18, 2024
Daily Briefing Judge threatens to remove Trump from his defamation trial, medicine for hostages and Palestinians reach Gaza, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 17, 2024
Daily Briefing The US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen a third time, Trump's second sex defamation trial begins, and more
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published