OSBORNE’S BUDGET

The Chancellor, George Osborne, pledged to reduce the size of pension pots as he presented the final Budget of this Government. From next year, the lifetime pensions allowance will be cut from £1.25m to £1m. Taxpayers will be also able to log on to digital tax accounts rather than filing an annual tax return; the higher tax rate threshold will increase to £43,300 and the personal tax-free allowance will be increased to £11,000 by 2017-8. Firms that aid tax evasion will face new penalties.

ATTACKONTOURISTSIN TUNISIA

The Foreign Office warned British tourists in Tunisia to be on their guard following a mass shooting at the country’s national museum that left 23 people dead, including two attackers killed during a three-hour stand-off with security forces. Sally Adey from Shropshire was among those killed, along with Japanese, Italian and Spanish visitors and three Tunisians. Gunmen dressed as soldiers ambushed tourists arriving by bus from cruise ships. Islamic State militants later claimed responsibility for the attack.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Britain was plunged into twilight but the apocalypse conspicuously failed to materialise on Friday, during the best solar eclipse the country had witnessed since 1999. According to some religious ministers, the rare coincidence of an eclipse, a “supermoon” and the spring equinox spelled doom and disaster for the human race. For many the phenomenon was disappointing in other ways, as a

cold front and heavy clouds obscured the view.

KATE MOORE