Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 18 Mar 2012

1. SUNDAY TRADING CURBS SUSPENDED

The Government will suspend Sunday trading laws for eight weeks this summer to coincide with the Olympics and will consider making the change permanent if it is a success. Large stores in England and Wales will be allowed to open for longer than six hours during the test.

2. OSBORNE VOWS HELP FOR LOW EARNERS

The bulk of the measures to be announced in Wednesday’s Budget will be aimed at helping low and middle income earners, Chancellor George Osborne told the BBC’s Andrew Marr this morning. He refused to comment on rumours of a cut in the 50p top rate tax, but promised to clamp down on rich people who avoid stamp duty by buying their UK homes through offshore companies.

3. MUAMBA REMAINS CRITICALLY ILL

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba remained critically ill in hospital on Sunday morning after his shocking collapse during an FA Cup tie at Tottenham yesterday. Bolton manager Owen Coyle said of Muamba's condition: "The next 24 hours are going to be absolutely crucial."

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4. SCHOOLS BAN BEST FRIENDS

Primary schools are trying to prevent children from having best friends to protect them from the hurt they would face if they fell out. Pupils are encouraged to play in large groups instead. The National Association of Head Teachers said the policy is "bizarre".

5. DOCTORS VOW TO UNSEAT MPS

An group of nearly 250 doctors have vowed to stand at the next general election against any Conservative or Liberal Democrat MPs that back the Health and Social Care Bill. In a letter to The Independent On Sunday, the group describes the bill as an "embarrassment to democracy".

6. ARCHBISHOP 'TO WAGE WAR' ON COALITION

The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury will "wage war" on the Government during his last months in office, reports The Sunday Times. Friends of Rowan Williams say he will “fight for the poor and marginalised” and warn that the 61-year-old “is not going to shut up".

7. BRAWL MP FEARS ALCOHOL DEATH

Eric Joyce, the MP found guilty of head-butting a Conservative MP in a House of Commons bar, says he will “die or go to jail” if he does not address his alcohol problems. He tells The Sunday Times he "saw red" in the bar after some “yahs” described one of his friends as an "oik".

8. JENSON BUTTON WINS AUSSIE GRAND PRIX

Lewis Hamilton started the Australian Grand Prix in pole position, but allowed his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button to beat him to the first corner and go on to win the season’s first Formula One race. After an unlucky encounter with a safety car, Hamilton lost second spot to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and had to settle for coming third.

9. KONY ACTIVIST 'STRESSED' SAYS WIFE

The wife of Kony 2012 campaigner Jason Russell has blamed her husband's hospitalisation on stress caused by the global attention his viral video received. She said Russell, arrested after allegedly masturbating in public, had taken recent personal attacks "very hard".

10. WALES WIN SIX NATIONS

Wales withstood a fine performance from France to win a third Grand Slam in eight years in a thrilling Six Nations encounter at the Millennium Stadium. The Wales team, which beat France 16-9, dedicated the victory to former captain Mervyn Davies, who died on Thursday. England beat Ireland 30-9 at Twickenham.