Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 4 Mar 2015

1. WAGES ‘STILL BELOW PRE-CRISIS LEVELS’

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says real incomes for those of working age are still below the levels they were at before the 2007 crisis. Living standards have risen more slowly than after other recessions because of weak earnings growth, says the IFS. Only over-60s can expect higher incomes this year.

2. BRITISH MAN KILLED FIGHTING I.S IN SYRIA

A British man reportedly killed fighting Islamic State (IS) in Syria has been named by Kurdish fighters as Konstandinos Erik Scurfield. It is believed he may have been a royal marine but it is not clear if he was a Greek living in the UK or a British national. His mother was told by Kurdish sources that there is a body.

3. BECKY WATTS: STEP-BROTHER QUESTIONED

The stepbrother of Becky Watts and his girlfriend are being questioned over the missing teenager’s kidnap and murder after police found body parts at a house near her Bristol home. Nathan Matthews and Shauna Phillips have a young child. Five others have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

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4. UKIP: 5-YEAR BAN ON UNSKILLED MIGRANTS

Nigel Farage will say today that his party would ban unskilled migrants from entering the UK for the next five years - and set up a new migration control watchdog to bring the overall numbers moving to the UK down. Speaking in central London, the Ukip leader will say no other party can be trusted on immigration.

5. MAN ARRESTED OVER LONDON CYCLIST DEATH

An 18-year-old man has been arrested over the stabbing to death in north London of Alan Cartwright, killed as he rode his bike with friends. The 15-year-old’s death was recorded by CCTV cameras in Islington on Friday. Two of his companions had their bikes stolen after being pushed from them by attackers.

6. ROYAL HOAX STATION BROKE THE LAW

The radio station which tricked a UK nurse, who later killed herself, into revealing details of the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy broke the law. 2Day FM should have obtained permission from the two staff they had recorded, the Australian High Court has ruled. The station may have its licence revoked.

7. UK GOVERNMENT SELLS EUROSTAR STAKE

The government has said it is selling stake in Eurostar to an Anglo-Canadian consortium for £757.1m. French and Belgian national railways will continue to own the majority after Patina Rail LLP takes ownership of the UK’s 40%. George Osborne said it was “a good deal” and would cut the national debt.

8. SOMERSET: BUILDING CONTROL FOR FAIRIES

Trustees of a woodland in Somerset say they have introduced building control for ‘fairies’ after a trend of installing small doors at the foot of trees escalated. The first ‘fairy door’ appeared around 2000 and was tolerated - but now there are hundreds in Wayford Woods, Crewkerne. Children post letters through them.

9. LANCASHIRE: 16-FOOT PYTHON IN CANAL

A python measuring 16 feet was found dead in a canal in Rishton, Lancashire, by walkers on Sunday, it has emerged. The reptile had signs of respiratory disease and is thought to have been living in the wild for some days. Police believe it may have been released by its owner. It was big enough to have attacked humans.

10. BRIEFING: SPYING ON AL-QAEDA

A founding member of al-Qaeda who became a spy for MI5 and MI6 has shed light for the first time on the inner workings of the terrorist group and its members' motivations to wage jihad. Aimen Dean was personally welcomed into al-Qaeda by Osama bin Laden before turning against the group and joining the security services.

MI5 double agent offers rare insight into al-Qaeda and jihad