Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 16 Mar 2012

1. CAMERON VISITS GROUND ZERO

David Cameron and his wife Samantha rounded off their official visit to the US by visiting the site of the former World Trade Center, where they laid flowers. Samantha Cameron recalled that she was visiting New York on the day of the attacks. The couple met the widower of one of the British victims.

2. OSBORNE POISED TO CUT 50P TAX RATE

The Chancellor will cut the top rate of income tax from 50p to 40p in his budget next week, according to the Guardian. Lib Dems in the coalition have had to accept that they cannot block what is Osborne's key aspiration for the budget, and are instead seeking concessions from the Tories on other matters.

Osborne set to abolish 50p tax rate at next week's Budget

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3. ASSAD'S FATHER-IN-LAW 'ADVISED FROM LONDON'

A 66-year-old Harley Street cardiologist has acted as a close adviser to his son-in-law Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime during its brutal repression of opposition, according to a cache of emails sent to the president, now in the possession of the Guardian. They include advice on how to spin child torture allegations.

Syrian uprising 'like London riots' claims Assad's father-in-law

4. TENDULKAR SCORES 100th HUNDRED

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has finally scored his 100th international hundred in a one-day match against Bangladesh in Dhaka. The 'Little Master', worshipped by millions in his homeland had been stuck on 99 centuries for over a year. Observers agree that no-one will ever match his achievement.

'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar scores his 100th hundred

5. ELDERLY CARE AT HOME IS 'DISGRACEFUL'

Which? magazine has described the standard of care provided for elderly people in their own homes as "shocking and disgraceful" with cases of missed visits, food left out of reach, medication not given and people left in soiled beds. The Which? group said elderly people were given "little time or respect".

6. RAMPAGE SOLDIER WAS 'RELUCTANT TO SERVE'

A US lawyer says the unnamed soldier who shot dead 16 Afghan civilians was "reluctant" to serve in Afghanistan because he had already made three tours of duty in Iraq and had been injured twice. John Henry Browne, who represented serial killer Ted Bundy, says the soldier has contacted him.

Afghan rampage: it will only stop when the troops come home

7. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY QUITS

Dr Rowan Williams has announced he will step down as Archbishop of Canterbury in December to become Master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge. The Archbishop said he had made the decision with “immense sadness”. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu,is favourite to take over as head of the Anglican Church.

Rowan Williams quits as Archbishop of Canterbury

8. MASTERCHEF WON WITH MUTTON CURRY

Octopus, mutton curry with green banana pickle and chilli pumpkin quenelle were the dishes which last night made British-born Mauritian Shelina Permalloo the champion of this year's BBC cookery competition, MasterChef. Judge John Torode said her food made him want "to weep … it's just so fantastic".

9. SYNCHRONISED WINS GOLD CUP

Synchronised, ridden by Tony McCoy, has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto Star, who many hoped would win his third title this afternoon, was pulled up early in the race. His owner, Paul Nicholls, said the veteran horse is "absolutely fine".

10. HOT TICKET: MATT AND SCARLETT AT THE ZOO

We Bought a Zoo, Cameron Crowe’s comedy drama based on a true story of a family who take over a dilapidated zoo, opens at UK cinemas today. Matt Damon plays a widower who quits his newspaper job to run the zoo with the help of Scarlett Johansson. “Heart-on-sleeve touching”, says Time Out.

Matt charms while Scarlett smoulders in We Bought a Zoo