Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 18 Mar 2015

1. ISRAEL: SURPRISE WIN FOR NETANYAHU

Despite exit polls suggesting Israel’s election yesterday would be a dead heat, Benjamin Netanyahu is on track to remain PM. His ruling right-wing Likud party has taken a clear majority of seats in the Knesset, with the latest tally giving it 30 seats out of 120. Likud’s nearest rival, the Zionist Union, took 24 seats.

2. OSBORNE’S BUDGET TO HAVE ‘NO GIMMICKS’

George Osborne has promised his last budget before the general election, announced later today, will have “no giveaways, no gimmicks”. He will insist later that “we have a plan that is working”. Measures to be announced will include raising the personal tax allowance from £10,600 to £11,000 at a cost of £2bn.

3. SEVEN ARRESTED FOR SREBRENICA MASSACRE

Seven men have been arrested in Serbia on suspicion of taking part in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia. More than 1,000 Muslims were slaughtered at a warehouse on the outskirts of the town. Serbian police made the arrests at the behest of a joint team of Serbian and Bosnian prosecutors.

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4. MAY: CYRIL SMITH COVER-UP PROSECUTIONS

Home secretary Theresa May says allegations that child abuse carried out by a ring of men including former Liberal MP Cyril Smith was hushed up could lead to prosecutions. May has asked for police whistleblowers to be given immunity to testify against Smith and any other public figures allegedly involved in abuse.

5. CLAUDIA LAWRENCE: ARRESTS POSSIBLE

Police are investigating new leads in the 2009 disappearance of York chef Claudia Lawrence and say they may make further arrests soon. The 35-year-old was last seen six years ago today and was reported missing by her father two days later when she failed to turn up for an early shift at the University of York.

6. BREASTFED BABIES ‘GET HIGHER IQS’

Babies who are breastfed for longer have higher IQs in later life, a Brazilian study suggests. The research followed 3,500 babies from a cross-section of society and found that those who were breastfed for longer scored higher on intelligence tests when they became adults. Wealth was taken into account.

7. SYRIA CLAIMS US DRONE WAS SHOT DOWN

Syrian state media has claimed the country’s air defences downed a US drone. Footage has been broadcast on state TV showing wreckage including a wheel and electronic parts. The US has confirmed a Predator reconnaissance drone is missing but has not admitted that the unmanned vehicle was shot down.

8. FREE FLU JAB FOR THE MORBIDLY OBESE

NHS advisory bodies in England want the morbidly obese to be given a free flu jab, because they are particularly vulnerable to the virus. They would join ‘at risk’ groups including sufferers of asthma, diabetes and heart disease who get the vaccine for free. In the UK, 3% of women and 1% of men are morbidly obese.

9. BUZZ ALDRIN: T-SHIRT FLASH AT STONEHENGE

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin - the second man to walk on the moon - has used a visit to Stonehenge to send a “message to Mars”. Posing for photos, the 85-year-old pulled his shirt open to reveal a T-shirt underneath which urges the resumption of manned space exploration with the message ‘Get your ass to Mars’.

10. BRIEFING: WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE BUDGET

George Osborne will today deliver his final Budget speech before the general election, with further pension changes expected to woo older voters. The Chancellor has insisted there will be "no giveaways, no gimmicks", but the growing economy and low inflation may give him some room for manoeuvre.

Budget 2015: Osborne 'shoots Labour foxes' ahead of election