Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 10 Mar 2017

1. May delays national insurance rises

Labour has accused the Tories of a partial U-turn after Theresa May said controversial tax rises from this week's Budget will not be put before MPs until the autumn. Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday announced an increase in national insurance contributions for the self-employed, sparking anger from Tory backbenchers.

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

2. Trump 'unaware Flynn was a foreign agent'

Donald Trump was unaware his original national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was working as a "foreign agent" during the presidential campaign, press secretary Sean Spicer said yesterday. Flynn earned at least $530,000 lobbying for a firm linked to the Turkish government in the run-up to last year's election.

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3. Farmer cleared of GBH after shooting burglar

An 83-year-old farmer who shot a convicted burglar he feared was stealing diesel has been cleared of grievous bodily harm. Kenneth Hugill shot Richard Stables in the foot when found him on his land at 2am. Hugill said he went to investigate lights on his property and said he opened fire when a Land Rover Stables was in "revved up" and drove towards him.

4. German axe attack 'was not terrorism'

German police have detained a 36-year-old man from the former Yugoslavia who injured seven people with an axe in Duesseldorf station last night. They are not describing the attack as terrorism and say the man "attacked people at random". One of the victims was seriously injured and the attacker, who reportedly suffers from psychological problems, is in hospital.

Dusseldorf axe attack: Man arrested after seven injured

5. Arts and languages hit by schools' 'funding crisis'

Schools in England are in a "funding crisis" and have scrapped subjects including arts and languages to cope, according to a headteachers' group. The Association of School and College Leaders says schools have had to make more than £1bn savings this year and warns that figure will rise to £3bn annually by 2020.

6. Two dead in South Korean after president is deposed

Two people have died in demonstrations in South Korea following the removal of president Park Geun-hye from office, months after she was suspended from her duties over corruption allegations. Polls suggest a majority of Koreans wanted her to go, but there are fears her removal could spark violence between opponents and supporters.

South Korea's president thrown out of office

7. Giant statue of Ramses II found in Cairo slum

A colossal statue thought to depict Ramses II has been found buried in an Egyptian slum, 3,000 years after he ruled Egypt. The 26ft statue was found shattered, submerged in groundwater and mud in the eastern part of the city. Antiquities minister Khaled al-Anani has called it one of the most important archaeological discoveries of modern times.

8. BT to legally separate from Openreach

BT is to legally separate from Openreach, the company that controls the UK's broadband infrastructure says the BBC. Regulator Ofcom, which ordered the move, says it will become a distinct company with its own staff and management. Openreach controls the fibre connections, ducts and pipes needed for broadband and sells access to BT's rivals, such as TalkTalk and Sky.

BT faces £342m bill over Openreach delays

9. Jack Monroe wins libel case against Katie Hopkins

Food blogger Jack Monroe has won £24,000 in damages in a libel suit against columnist Katie Hopkins, who posted tweets that caused her "substantial distress". In the messages posted in May 2015 Hopkins asked if Monroe had "scrawled on any memorials recently". The blogger, who is also an anti-poverty campaigner, said it was an accustation she had vandalised a war memorial.

10. Briefing: Budget says house price growth will halve by 2018

Behind the headlines emerging from this week's Budget, there is mixed news on house prices for homeowners and prospective buyers.The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Treasury's independent forecaster, predicts that house price growth will fall to four per cent next year, says City AM.

London house prices: study predicts a 2.5% rise for 2020, but a 1% fall in 2021

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