News Round-up (March 24th-30th)

BENEFITS: Stay-at-home parents have seen tax increases since coalition came to power, unlike single- or both-parents who go to work, who have all seen reductions. Suggestions that Tories undervalue stay-at-home parents taking root.
(Telegraph)

MEDIA REGULATION: “Hands off from my interwebz!" says local blogger.
(Twitter) 

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Triangular flapjacks banned for health and safety reasons, but not square or rectangular flapjacks. Many concerned about the increase of corner-related injuries.
(BBC Radio 4)

ON THE PAPERS: Telegraph and Sun move to join Financial Times and others embracing paywalls. The Guardian denies intent of doing same, despite its online advertising revenue failing to sustain newsrooms. Many now ask: How much is news worth?
(BBC Radio 4)

CELEBRITY: Angelina Jolie at Nzolo camp in DR Congo fights to raise awareness of warzone rape in Africa.
(Metro)

EDUCATION: Teachers call for children as young as eight to be taught about risks of porn, including sexting. Also in the news, teacher strikes looking likely as general discontent on the increase.
(Metro; Guardian)

NEWS ON NEWS: Various stories of isolated, heart-breaking tragedies involving ordinary people you never knew.
(Metro etc.) 

BANKING: Cyprus decides not to raid Cypriot deposits under EU100,000. Bigger deposits hit by up to 100% as Cyprus attempts to remain in the Euro. Decades of hardship predicted as Cypriot economy teeters on the brink.
(Guardian)

IMMIGRATION: Tory focus on immigrants continues, as new, more stringent conditions on how immigrants access welfare and housing is proposed. Many worry of increased inequality, with the UK at odds with EU legislation on human rights. Farage of UKIP highlights the duty of government to house the homeless as undermining Cameron’s intentions. Others highlight how less than 2% of immigrants claim unemployment benefit, far below the national average.
(Guardian)

FEMINISM: Femen in the spot-light: some question their naked tactics - others emphasis freedoms and empowerment. On Twitter, @winnersusedrugs is faced with misogynistic backlash as she comes out in criticism of video-game conference “booth girls”. Those in support of her analysis called for a better view of women in the gaming industry.
(Guardian; Twitter)

POLITICS: Conservative narrative of ‘anyone can succeed if only they try hard enough’ read by some as ‘poverty is sinful’. Says Guardian journo satirically: "the state must shrink to a nub, because the humans who need it don't deserve it."
(Guardian)

WEATHER: Brits grit teeth as temps hit the pits.
(Various)

POLITICS: Mair maims mayor as Boris Johnston is stripped down by Eddie Mair in publicly celebrated interview accusing the conservative top dog as ‘a nasty piece of work’. Boris later praises Mair’s work.
(BBC)

News Round-Up

HOUSING: Tories divided as local councillors seek to protect ‘environmental safeguards’ accusing government of ‘over-development’ while national Conservative party seeks to galvanise house-building market, injecting £3.5b into New Homes Scheme.

FEMINISM: Twitter inflamed over #Steubenville as sympathy expressed for convicted rapists, including on CNN, and suggestions repeatedly made that rape victim was partly to blame.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Cyprus in chaos as politicians desperately seek solution to crippled banking system – a 25% bank levy on savings deposits over EU100,000 currently proposed. Observers fear bank run and immanent collapse. Banks have been closed for last seven days.

WEATHER: Bristol struck by cold snap, while nation’s eye turns to dwindling gas reserves as supply from Belgium is cut off by pump failure.

POLITICS: Labour pull ahead in polls as Conservative stick to current economic policy (Poll Average: Con: 30  Lab: 40  Lib-Dem: 11)

MEDIA: Newspapers contemplate new cross-party agreement on new regulations backed by law. Early indications suggest some may refuse to sign. Supporters insist regulations protect freedom of the press while protecting the public.

RELIGION: New pope calls for a ‘poor church’.

WELFARE: “Bedroom Tax” to be implemented as “Mansion Tax” is dropped – nation split between the need for housing and the needs of the vulnerable. Conservatives reward both parents when they decide to work by offering more childcare support – many now ask how much Tories value the work of stay-at-home parents.