Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 6 Aug 2016

1. Rio 2016 underway with lively opening ceremony

The 2016 Olympics have been opened with a vibrant ceremony at Rio's Maracana stadium. With an estimated audience of three billion, the ceremony celebrated Brazil's history and culture. The Guardian says it was “at times delightful, at others a little rickety and home-made”. The Times says it was “heavy on lights and special effects but short on actual dancers, a reflection of the straitened times Brazil is going through”.

2. Patients needlessly losing teeth as dentists chase profit

Thousands of patients are losing teeth unnecessarily because it is more profitable for NHS dentists to take them out than try to save them, claims The Times. Dentists are extracting teeth to avoid more complicated treatments, for which they are paid the same by the health service. Some dentists earn almost £500,000 a year because the system rewards them for cramming in as many patients as they can.

3. French bar fire kills 13 at birthday party

A fire at a bar in the French city of Rouen has killed at least 13 people during a birthday party. Fire broke out in the basement of the Cuba Libre bar where the private party was being held on Friday night. Authorities say the fire was an accident, possibly started by candles on the birthday cake setting fire to flammable sound insulation in the ceiling.

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4. Teenager charged with Russell Square murder

A 19-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a US tourist in a knife attack in London's Russell Square. Zakaria Bulhan was charged with the murder of Darlene Horton, 64, and the attempted murder of five other people. The Metropolitan Police have said Bulhan - a Norwegian national of Somali origin - will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

5. Celebs lose millions as alleged tax ruse fails

Top celebrities are among the hundreds of investors to have lost £700m in tax relief after HMRC won a battle over an alleged tax avoidance scheme. David Beckham and Gary Lineker are among those who invested in the Ingenious scheme which tried to use artificial losses from investments in a range of hit films — including Avatar, Life of Pi and Die Hard 4.0 — to generate tax relief.

6. Donald Trump calls Hillary Clinton a 'monster'

Donald Trump has ended a rift at the top of the Republican party by formally endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan following a four day stand-off between them. After the tycoon eased the tension between two of the party's most powerful members he resumed throwing insults at rival Hillary Clinton. He described the Democrat candidate as "unhinged" and a "monster".

7. Further riots could break out after conditions worsen

The conditions that caused the English riots have worsened, says a leading expert. Prof Tim Newburn, who studied 2011 disturbances, says economic and social conditions have deteriorated for people involved in unrest. “I’d say everything’s worsened,” he told The Guardian. “Certainly it’s not implausible that there could be more riots.” David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, agreed, saying: “rifts in society are wider than ever”.

8. BBC detection vans to spy on internet users

The BBC will spy on internet users by using Wi-Fi detection vans to identify those illicitly watching its programmes online. BBC vans will roll out across the country from next month, capturing information from private Wi-Fi networks in homes to “sniff out” those who have not paid the licence fee. A spokesman for Privacy International says the plan is “startlingly invasive”.

9. Coalition 'kills Syrian civilians' with 'scorched earth policy'

The US-led coalition has been accused of deploying a “scorched earth policy” in Syria. An activist group says air strikes supporting a key offensive in Manbij are killing innocent families. “The international coalition is using a scorched earth policy in the city and supporting the Syrian Democratic forces that have been surrounding the city for two months,” the group claimed.

10. Oftsed chair says Isle of Wight an 'inbreeding ghetto'

The chair of Ofsted has described the Isle of Wight as a poor, white “ghetto” that suffers from “inbreeding”. David Hoare, a former banker, made the comments as part of a discussion on the island’s underperforming schools. “They think of it as holiday land. But it is shocking,” he said. “It’s a ghetto; there has been inbreeding.” An Isle of Wight councilor said the remarks were "an insult”.