Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 12 Oct 2012

1. SEVEN MARINES HELD IN MURDER INQUIRY

Seven Royal Marines have been arrested on suspicion of murder following an incident in Afghanistan in 2011, the Ministry of Defence confirmed last night. No names were revealed and a spokesman described the incident only as an "engagement with an insurgent" in which no civilians were involved. They are the first arrests for murder of UK servicemen in Afghanistan.

'Murder in Helmand': why have seven Marines been arrested?

2. COUNCILS DEMOLISH PM'S EXTENSION PLAN

Local councils yesterday united to demolish David Cameron's plan to boost the building industry by doubling the size of house extensions and conservatories which could be built without planning permission. The Local Government Association voted to refuse to implement the scheme which would "encourage unsightly development and tension between neighbours."

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Local councils try to scupper PM's home extension plan

3. JOE BIDEN BEATS PAUL RYAN IN VEEP DEBATE

Vice-president Joe Biden landed the big punch in last night's 'Veep debate' with Republican Paul Ryan, castigating Mitt Romney for his '47 per cent' remark, pledging to serve all Americans and winning the TV viewers' vote. But a pre-debate poll showed Romney opening up a seven-point lead in Florida, a crucial swing state.

Biden wins VP debate - but did he go too far in bullying Ryan?

4. BRITISH GAS DELIVERS NEW PRICE HIKE

British Gas has announced increases to its gas and electricity charges of around 6%, adding almost £100 a year to the average household energy bill. In August 2011, British Gas raised prices by 18% for gas and 16% for electricity. Rivals SSE, which includes Southern Electric, and Npower, will raise prices by around 9%.

5. HILLSBOROUGH: POLICE FACE PROBE

Police officers who tried to cover up events at the Hillsborough disaster could face criminal charges after the Independent Police Complaints Commission and Director of Public Prosecutions launched investigations into the tragedy after a damning report last month. It will be the UK's biggest-ever inquiry into police actions.

6. JOHN PEEL ACCUSED AS BBC SCANDAL GROWS

A woman has told the Daily Mail that as a 15-year-old she had an affair with the respected BBC disc jockey John Peel, who made her pregnant. As more BBC presenters are dragged into the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, Jane Nevin, now 59, says she was "totally in awe" of Peel with whom she made love backstage at concerts and at his BBC studio.

John Peel 'got 15-year-old girl pregnant in three-month affair'

7. PLEBGATE: ANDREW MITCHELL 'MUST GO'

The Daily Telegraph, the 'noticeboard' of the Tory party, has called today for the Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell to stand down over the 'plebs' remark he is said to have made to Downing Street police. "He is a walking, talking embodiment of everything with which David Cameron would least like his party to be associated," the paper says.

Plebgate: Mitchell looks doomed as Telegraph calls for his head

8. EU NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RIDICULED

The decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union has been met with ridicule. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the economic bloc has "helped transform Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace". But commentators expressed surprise at the timing of the award, with EU-backed austerity measures causing social upheaval in EU countries. Others drew attention to the fact Norway has twice rejected EU membership.

Nobel ridiculed as 2012 Peace Prize is awarded to the EU

9. ARMSTRONG SCANDAL: FIVE MORE BANNED

Five of Lance Armstrong's former team-mates were yesterday given six-month doping bans by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada). Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie got reduced sentences because they gave evidence against Armstrong, who is banned for life and facing jail on perjury charges.

Wiggins: 'I was lucky to avoid Armstrong drugs conspiracy'

10. HOT TICKET: RUBY SPARKS ROMANCE

US rom-com 'Ruby Sparks' opens at UK cinemas today. From the directors of 'Little Miss Sunshine', and starring debut scriptwriter Zoe Kazan, it tells the story of a struggling writer whose fictional dream girl comes to life, but refuses to follow his script. "Sparkles with wit and substance", says Empire.

Ruby Sparks – a charming, quirky debut by Zoe Kazan