Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 22 Mar 2012

1. OSBORNE ACCUSED OF TAXING GRANNIES

Opponents have accused Chancellor George Osborne of introducing a “granny tax” to fund a tax cut for the wealthy. In his Budget yesterday, Osborne announced a freeze on the amount of income over-65s can earn before paying tax, while reducing tax on income over £150,000 from 50% to 45%.

Alienating the elderly is unwise. But the big worry is growth

2. TOULOUSE GUNMAN KILLED

Toulouse gunman Mohammed Merah was shot dead by a police sniper as he jumped from the window of the flat where he was holed up. The 32-hour siege ended when Merah opened fire on police as they tried to storm the flat. Merah killed seven people in three separate attacks over two weeks.

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Toulouse gunman shot dead in firefight with police

3. TEAM GB OLYMPIC KIT IS UNVEILED

The outfits British athletes will wear at the London Olympics have been unveiled. The kits, designed by Stella McCartney and manufactured by Adidas, were modelled by stars including Jessica Ennis. The mainly blue designs did not go down well with everyone. Swimmer Fran Halsall tweeted: "I was expecting better."

In pictures: Team GB Olympic kit

4. DE NIRO SORRY FOR 'WHITE FIRST LADY' JOKE

Robert De Niro has apologised for joking that America might not be "ready for a white first lady" at a Democratic fundraiser. The Oscar-winner was introducing Michelle Obama when he delivered the well-received line. But Republicans, including Newt Gingrich, claimed they were offended by the "divisive" comment.

Robert De Niro feels the wrath of an unamused Newt

5. MADOFF ATTACKS ‘GREED’ OF HIS VICTIMS

Bernie Madoff has attacked the “pure greed” of some of the victims of his Ponzi fraud, for which he is serving a 150-year prison sentence. In emails to his biographer, he said his clients had signed documents declaring they were wealthy enough to withstand losses and now “have to sell their second or third vacation homes”.

Bernie Madoff slams 'pure greed' of his Ponzi victims

6. KEN ACCUSED OF 'CLASSIC ANTI-SEMITISM'

Jewish Labour supporters have accused Ken Livingstone of “classic anti-semitism”. In a letter to Labour leader Ed Miliband, they wrote that at a meeting with the London mayoral candidate: “Ken stated that he did not expect the Jewish community to vote Labour as votes for the left are inversely proportional to wealth levels.”

Livingstone 'rich Jews' remark angers his own supporters

7. GLAXO INVESTS £500M IN THE UK

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline is to invest £500m in its UK operations, including a new factory in Ulverston, Cumbria, the BBC reports. The company says it made the move, which will create up to 1,000 jobs, because of the Chancellor’s decision in the Budget to allow businesses to pay a lower rate of tax on profits derived from UK-owned patents.

GlaxoSmithKline to create 1,000 news jobs in Cumbria

8. AUSTRALIAN MAN HELD AFTER 7-YEAR HUNT

An Australian man wanted for murder has been captured by police in a midnight raid in New South Wales after a seven-year manhunt. Malcolm Naden, 38, has been charged with the murder of 24-year-old Kristy Scholes in 2005 and aggravated indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in 2004.

Australia's most wanted man caught after years in bush

9. FIVE POLICE INJURED IN LONDON DOG ATTACK

Five police officers have been hospitalised after being attacked by a "pit bull-type" dog as they tried to arrest a man in east London today. The dog was "contained and subsequently shot dead" but four of the injured officers are in a serious but stable condition in hospital. A man in his 20s was arrested.

10. HOT TICKET – SWEENEY TODD TRIUMPH

Jonathan Kent’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical Sweeney Todd has transferred to London’s West End. Michael Ball plays the “demon barber” of Fleet Street and Imelda Staunton as his pie-maker accomplice Mrs Lovett. “An absolute bleedin’ triumph”, says The Times.

Gorgeously grisly Sweeney Todd is a bleedin' triumph