Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 11 Mar 2018

1. White House 'gets cold feet' over North Korea summit

The White House is "getting cold feet" over Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Kim Jong-un, reports The Sunday Times. "The president will not have the meeting without seeing concrete steps and concrete actions take place by North Korea," said the White House spokeswoman. Another White House official told The Wall Street Journal that if North Korea does not take the steps, "we’ll have to rethink whether this would happen".

2. Nerve agent found in Salisbury's Zizzi restaurant

Five locations in Salisbury have been identified as potential sources of the nerve agent which left former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in a critical condition. The substance was found in one part of the Zizzi restaurant during a continuing forensic examination. More than 250 counter terrorism police are involved in the investigation, which has uncovered 200 pieces of evidence and more than 240 witnesses.

3. China to allow president to stay for life

China will effectively allow Xi Jinping to remain as president for life as it prepares to approve the removal of term limits for its leader. Although China has imposed a two-term limit on its president since the 1990s, Mr Xi defied the tradition of presenting a potential successor during October's Communist Party Congress. Today’s vote on the change at the National People's Congress is expected to pass smoothly.

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4. European Union puts paid to Hammond's austerity claim

The European Commission has dashed the chancellor’s plan to signal the end of austerity this week by delivering a damning assessment of the British economy. Philip Hammond claimed last night that the economy was "at a turning point" and that, after eight years of belt-tightening, "I am confident that there is light at the end of the tunnel." But the EU’s annual assessment of the British economy makes ominous predictions for growth.

5. And new austerity cuts will hurt struggling families

Millions of families are on brink of the deepest benefit cuts in years, reports The Observer. According to research by the Resolution Foundation thinktank, new changes from April will save around £2.5bn and dent the incomes of the "just about managing" families that Theresa May has long promised to help. The Institute of Fiscal Studies says Britain is "nowhere near out of austerity".

6. Bono sorry after bullying claims at his charity

Bono has apologised after allegations of bullying and abuse emerged at One, the charity he co-founded. It was claimed that a female worker was demoted after refusing to "become intimate" with a foreign government official and that her boss made "sexist and suggestive comments" about her to the official. The U2 singer said: "We are all deeply sorry. I hate bullying, can't stand it."

7. West Ham inquiry after 'horrible' pitch invasion

West Ham have launched an inquiry after fans invaded the pitch during yesterday’s 3-0 home defeat by Burnley in the Premier League. A number of spectators invaded the pitch and approached West Ham players. One supporter was thrown to the ground by club captain Mark Noble, who was then restrained by Joe Hart. Noble said that the atmosphere at London Stadium was "horrible".

8. Four times more men in highest-paid bracket

New data shows there are almost four times more men than women in Britain’s highest-paid posts, reports The Observer. According to HMRC, there were 681,000 men earning £100,000 or more in 2015-16, compared with only 179,000 women. Meanwhile, 17,000 men earned £1m in 2015-16, with just 2,000 women earning the same figure. The Women’s Equality party described the news as "scandalous".

9. Catholic nun dies in court during Katy Perry battle

An 89-year-old Catholic nun who has fought pop star Katy Perry over the sale of a Los Angeles convent has collapsed and died in court. Sister Catherine Rose Holzman, who was battling the sale of the eight-acre convent, died on Friday in Los Angeles county court. As she entered the courthouse she had said: "To Katy Perry, please stop. It’s not doing anyone any good except hurting a lot of people."

10. Data shows Russians still donating to Tory party

Russian oligarchs have registered donations of more than £820,000 to the Conservative Party since Theresa May became prime minister, making a mockery of her promise to distance her party from Russian donors. Although she vowed that there would not be a "business as usual" relationship with Moscow, the party has declared donations worth £826,100 from Russian-linked supporters since July 2016.