Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 8 Mar 2017

1. Budget: £2bn extra for social care in England

Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced an extra £2bn for social care services in England in the Budget - more than anticipated but not enough to fill the black hole identified by experts. There will also be a review to identify struggling local authorities. A green paper will follow, setting out longer-term plans on social care funding.

Hammond's 'humiliating' NI U-turn: How the papers reacted

2. Heseltine sacked for rebelling against Brexit bill

Lord Heseltine has been sacked as a government adviser after rebelling against the Brexit bill in the House of Lords last night. The former minister backed the demand for a parliamentary vote on the final deal to be written into the legislation, telling peers he "deeply" regretted the result of the EU referendum and saying: "The fightback starts here."

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Brexit: Theresa May says ‘trust me’ to deliver

3. Hawaii challenges Trump's revised travel ban

Hawaii has launched a legal challenge to Donald Trump's revised ban on travel to the US by people from six majority-Muslim nations. State attorney general Doug Chin said the executive order was "nothing more than Muslim ban 2.0" and that "under the pretence of national security, it still targets immigrants and refugees".

4. International Women's Day: Global protest for equality

International Women's Day is being marked around the world with demonstrations in favour of equal pay and rights. The theme for 2017 is Be Bold For Change. Women in the US have been asked to down tools both at work and in the home, while in Ireland, marches are being held against laws banning abortions.

International Women's Day: Seven inspirational female pioneers

5. Hammond criticised over National Insurance rise

The Chancellor has been accused of breaking a Conservative manifesto pledge by raising National Insurance contributions for the self-employed in his Budget. Class 4 contributions will rise by 1% to 10% and there will be a further 1% rise in 2019. The tax-free dividend allowance will be reduced from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018.

6. Missing airman's mother fears the worst

The mother of RAF gunner Corrie McKeague, who vanished on a night out in Bury St Edmunds last September, said the news that a bin lorry could be linked to his disappearance could "only mean one thing". Nicola Urquhart added it was "just a matter of time" before her son's body was found. Police have begun searching a landfill site in Milton, near Cambridge.

Corrie McKeague: Bin lorry clue 'only 'means one thing'

7. British backpacker released from Australian hospital

A 22-year-old woman from Liverpool who was allegedly held captive and repeatedly raped in Australia is being comforted by her family after being released from hospital in Queensland. Police say her ordeal took place over one month, not two as previously reported. The woman's Australian ex-boyfriend, also 22, is facing 23 charges.

British backpacker 'raped and kept captive' for nine weeks in Australian Outback

8. Nike launches 'performance' hijab for sport

Nike has become the first global sportswear brand to manufacture a "performance" hijab for athletes. The pull-on scarf, made of light, breathable fabric, has an elongated back so it will not come untucked when the wearer is moving. It also features a large Nike tick. The Guardian says the Islamic clothing market is "lucrative".

9. Kit Kat sugar content to be cut by 10%

Nestle is reducing the sugar content of some of its well-known chocolate bars, including Kit Kat, Yorkie and Aero, in a move it says could have a "significant impact on public health". The bars will have 10% les sugar by next year, around 7,500 tonnes in total. The company says it will increase the quantity of existing and non-artificial ingredients in its products.

10. Briefing: The Pros and cons of creating new grammar schools

Today's Budget is set to pave the way for a new generation of grammar schools, as part of a £500m investment in education reforms.

At least £320m has been earmarked to fund 140 new free schools with 70,000 new places, which look likely to include the first wave of state-funded selective secondary schools in years.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Theresa May says she wants to change the system so the "most academically gifted children get the specialist support to fulfil their potential regardless of their family income or background".

The proposals will be outlined in a schools white paper, to be published in the coming weeks.

Pros and cons of creating new grammar schools