Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 6 Sep 2012

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.

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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?