Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 19 Mar 2015

1. ‘WE’LL FIGHT TERROR’ SAYS TUNISIAN LEADER

The president of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi, says he will fight terrorism “without mercy” after gunmen shot and killed at least 20 people, including one British woman and 16 other foreign tourists, at the famous Bardo Museum in Tunis. Targeting foreign tourists is a new tactic for extremists in Tunisia. Security forces killed two gunmen.

British woman confirmed dead in Bardo Museum massacre

2. OSBORNE’S BUDGET: COMEBACK OR CUTS?

George Osborne drew the election battle lines yesterday, says the BBC, with a budget for a “comeback country”, announcing help for workers, savers and first-time buyers - and signalling austerity could end earlier than thought. But his plans for a post-election spending squeeze are “severe”, warns The Guardian.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

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

3. ASTHMATICS WARNED OVER TOXIC SMOG

The government is warning that asthmatics, the elderly and the young could suffer respiratory problems from a cloud of smog which has drifted over from Europe, combined with local pollution and created a toxic health hazard. The smog will affect large parts of England today, with still weather expected.

4. AL-SHABAB LEADER KILLED BY US DRONE

The US says it has killed the leader of terror group al-Shabab in Somalia. The Pentagon says Adan Garar was hit with Hellfire missiles, fired from a drone, on Friday. Garar was a key suspect in the organisation’s most notorious attack - the 2013 Westgate Mall shootings in Nairobi, in which 67 people were killed.

5. TWO SHOT DEAD IN SWEDISH RESTAURANT

At least two men have been killed and as many as 15 injured by gunmen using assault rifles in a restaurant in Gothenburg, southern Sweden. The killers are believed to have escaped. Police say the attack may have been gang-related. The victims were watching a football match late on Wednesday night.

Sweden shootings: multiple deaths at Gothenburg pub

6. SLEEPOVER: RUSSELL BRAND AND 150 PROTEST

A sleepover organised by comedian Russell Brand to draw attention to a protest at a housing estate in north London had more than 150 attendees on Tuesday night, it is reported. The Sweets Way estate has been cleared to make way for a private housing development - but some residents are refusing to leave.

7. HOLOCAUST-DENYING BISHOP RISKS TROUBLE

A Catholic bishop in Brazil who does not believe the holocaust took place may be excommunicated - but not for denying the genocide of the Jews. Richard Williamson is in trouble for planning to consecrate a new bishop. He was previously excommunicated, but was let back into the church by Pope Francis.

8. NASA PLAN TO LAND SUB ON SATURN’S MOON

Nasa is considering a proposal to land a mini-submarine on Saturn’s moon Titan. The unmanned submersible vehicle would navigate an ocean not of water but of liquid methane and ethane, on a moon where the average temperature is -180C. The sub would travel to the bottom of the ocean and take core samples.

9. COMMUTERS BRACED FOR UK SOLAR ECLIPSE

Commuters can expect to see the world around them plunged into darkness tomorrow morning as the UK witnesses a solar eclipse. The timing will vary across the country. In London, the eclipse begins at 8.24am and reaches its maximum at 9.31am; in Edinburgh it will start at 8.30am and peak at 9.35am.

UK solar eclipse 2015: Britain prepares for 'doomsday' darkness

10. BRIEFING: HELP TO BUY ISAS

George Osborne unveiled a new Help to Buy Isa in yesterday's Budget, which is intended help first-time home buyers save for a deposit. He pledged to give buyers a 25 per cent top-up on their savings – but there are some catches. Not all homes qualify, and there are strict limit in how much you can save each month.

Help to Buy Isas revealed in Budget: how do they work?