Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 22 Mar 2016

1. Osborne defends Budget and pays tribute to IDS

George Osborne has defended his Budget and paid tribute to former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who resigned over disability benefit changes at the end of last week. The Chancellor said he was "proud" of his work with IDS but was prepared to listen to criticism. He also confirmed he had dropped planned cuts to the Personal Independence Payment benefit.

How Osborne got himself in a pickle on disability benefit cuts

2. FBI 'can unlock San Bernardino phone without Apple'

The FBI may have found a way to unlock the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers, without the help of Apple. The tech giant has refused to intervene, resulting in a protracted legal battle between the two sides. Federal prosecutors say "an outside party" has a possible method for unlocking the encrypted handset, which is thought to contain evidence relating to the massacre.

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iPhone 'can be unlocked with £120 high street device'

3. Police spend £1bn a year on child sex abuse cases

Police spend £1bn a year investigating child sex abuse cases, reports The Times. The news comes after Scotland Yard’s inquiry into an alleged Westminster paedophile ring was shut down with no convictions. Britain’s most senior officer in charge of child protection says allegations of child sex offences have increased by 80 per cent in the three years to 2015.

4. Miliband to intervene in EU referendum debate

Ed Miliband is set to warn against an EU exit. In his first substantive intervention in the referendum debate, the former Labour leader will outline his case for why the UK should stay, arguing that social justice can only be achieved by being part of a reformed Europe. He will accuse the Brexit movement of wanting a "free-market, low-regulated, race-to-the-bottom offshore Britain".

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

5. Landline rental for broadband is 'outdated'

Rental charges for landlines used only for broadband access are "outdated", says Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey. He described the charges of around £18 a month as "analogue billing system in a digital world". Meanwhile, Ofcom has told BT to speed up the installation of high-speed cables to businesses and reduce the prices it charges for them.

6. Brussels attack: 31 dead in airport and subway blasts

At least 31 people have been killed in bomb attacks in Brussels. There were two blasts at Brussels Airport and another on the city's subway system this morning. There were reports of shots fired and shouting in Arabic as a suicide bomber struck in the airport check-in area, the metro blast came an hour later. The attack comes four days after the capture of Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam.

Brussels attacks: New footage shows suspect fleeing airport

7. Obama and Castro clash over human rights issues

Cuban leader Raul Castro has hosted a state dinner for Barack and Michelle Obama at Havana's Palace of the Revolution. The show of unity came amid tense wrangling over human rights and trade embargo. The two leaders sparred over issues including the US prison at Guantanamo Bay and Cuba's political prisoners.

Obama locks horns with Castro during historic visit to Havana

8. Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford dies aged 46

Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto, has died at the age of 46. The controversial politician, who battled drug and alcohol addiction and admitted smoking crack cocaine, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2014. Despite a turbulent personal life, he remained popular with supporters and although he did not run for mayor in 2014, he easily won a city council seat.

9. Sex Pistols graffiti given heritage status

Townhouses covered with graffiti drawn by Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten are to be given heritage status. Historic England has recommended that the buildings in London’s Denmark Street, where the singer wrote obscenities and drew cruel caricatures, should be grade II* listed as an important part of Britain's heritage.

Sex Pistols' London home given listed status

10. Briefing: The truth behind the Eddie the Eagle biopic

Eddie the Eagle, a new feel-good film to be released in the UK at Easter, is based on the life of Michael "Eddie" Edwards, an unlikely British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself, even when almost everyone else had lost faith. But how close to the real events is it? Edwards, better known by his nickname of "Eddie the Eagle", became Britain's first ever Olympic ski-jumper when he appeared at the 1988 Calgary games.

Eddie the Eagle: How much of the feel-good biopic is true?

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