Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 8 Aug 2012

The Bank of England has predicted zero growth for the UK economy in 2012 in its quarterly growth forecast. Just a year ago, the Bank was predicting the UK economy would grow by 2% this year. The forecast will put pressure on chancellor George Osborne to relent on his 'Plan A' of austerity measures.

Egypt has carried out air strikes on its own territory, firing missiles from helicopters on suspected Islamist militants in a village on the Sinai peninsula, killing 20. The militants are said to have killed 16 border guards in that area on Sunday. Israel said then it had killed some of the culprits after they broke through into its territory.

The missing 12-year-old, Tia Sharp, was left in the care of an ex-prisoner, reports the Daily Telegraph. The last person to see the girl on Friday was her grandmother's partner, 37-year-old Stuart Hazell who was jailed for 12 months in 2010 after being caught with a machete. Tia's family say they are distraught as she remains missing.

Somerset residents have been forced to buy mosquito nets after a plague of the biting insects was fomented by lying floodwater. The Somerset Levels area was hit by severe flooding earlier this year. A local MP has accused the environment agency of creating an ecological disaster by not de-silting local rivers or alleviating floods.

A gambling game for Facebook which allows users to play for real money has been launched in the UK - the first time any FB app has allowed users to play for real money. Only available in the UK initially, the game has been developed by a London firm. The social network will use age-rating technology to keep out under-eighteens.