Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 9 Mar 2015

1. TWO CHARGED WITH NEMTSOV KILLING

Two men have been charged with the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. The men, both of Chechen origin, are Zaur Dadayev and Anzor Gubashev. A judge claimed that Dadayev - a deputy commander for a battalion attached to the Chechen interior ministry - has admitted involvement in the killing and will be held in custody until 28 April.

Boris Nemtsov: will his killers be brought to justice?

2. BLAIR MARRIAGE 'UNDER STRAIN'

Tony and Cherie Blair now lead separate lives, according to a book serialised in the Daily Mail. In Blair Inc: The Man Behind The Mask, the authors claim that Cherie still resents her treatment at Downing Street and her husband’s closeness to Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife, Wendi Deng. “Will Tony and Cherie get divorced?” asks the newspaper.

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3. PM TO PLEDGE 500 MORE FREE SCHOOLS

A further 500 free schools would be opened under a future Conservative government, David Cameron will pledge today. The prime minister will commit to creating an extra 270,000 places, if re-elected, by 2020. Free schools are one of the most controversial areas of education policy. Labour's Tristram Hunt says they are "funnelling money into areas of surplus school places".

4. ROW OVER ONLINE HEART ATTACK TEST

The NHS is launching a calculator which predicts when you will have a heart attack or stroke. The controversial online tool compares a person’s “heart age” with their biological age. Health experts say it will give individuals “a wake-up call”, but critics question its accuracy and fear that the tool could be used to push millions more people into taking medication.

5. DOG POISONED AT CRUFTS, SAY OWNERS

The owners of a dog who they claim was poisoned at the world famous Crufts dog show say they have lost "our love, family member and best friend to our son". Jagger, a prize-winning Irish setter who died in Belgium the day after appearing at the show in Birmingham, was owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott.

Crufts murder mystery: prize-winning dog 'poisoned' at show

6. ANTI-TERROR STRATEGY IS ‘TOXIC’

The government's strategy for stopping violent extremism has become "a toxic brand", says a former senior Muslim police officer. Most Muslims do not trust the ‘Prevent’ programme and many see it as a form of spying, said Dal Babu. He also claimed that some officers involved in the initiative lack basic knowledge of race and faith issues.

Prevent: anti-terror strategy condemned as 'toxic brand'

7. REPORT: 90% OF CYCLISTS ‘STILL DOPE’

As much as 90% of professional cyclists are still doping, according to a “respected” witness quoted in a long-awaited report. The 227-page document, commissioned by the UCI at an estimated cost of £3million, claims riders are ‘micro-dosing’ - taking small but regular amounts of banned substance, to dodge the latest detection methods.

Drugs still widespread in cycling, says report

8. EMMA WATSON SLAMS NAKED THREAT

Emma Watson said that threats to publish nude photos of her have made her more determined to press for women’s rights. The former Harry Potter star, who is fronting a campaign to involve men in feminism, told an International Women’s Day event in London she was “raging” after receiving the threats, which came in the wake of the speech she gave last year at the United Nations.

9. WENGER PREPARES FOR UNITED SHOWDOWN

Blackburn Rovers held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the FA Cup yesterday. This evening, Manchester United host Arsenal in the final tie of the sixth-round weekend. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admits he has sometimes sacrificed his team’s FA Cup prospects in search of European glory. However, the holders are keen to win at Old Trafford.

FA Cup goal drought leaves Liverpool facing Blackburn replay

10. BRIEFING: TRAFALGAR SQUARE SCULPTURE

A new sculpture called the Gift Horse has been unveiled on Trafalgar Square's empty Fourth Plinth. The bronze, by German artist Hans Haacke, is a sculpture of a horse skeleton adorned with a ribbon that displays a live feed from the London Stock Exchange - but debate continues about its meaning.

Trafalgar Square sculpture: what is the meaning of Gift Horse?