1. MINISTER: STRIP TAX RELIEF FOR RICH
Wealthy savers should be stripped of the higher-rate tax relief on pensions, says Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander. The Liberal Democrat minister told The Daily Telegraph he also wants workers on the minimum wage to pay no income tax. His remarks could open new tensions within the coalition.
2. ARGENTINA IN NUCLEAR CLAIM
Argentina has accused Britain of sending a nuclear-armed submarine to the South Atlantic. Lodging a formal complaint to the UN, Argentina's foreign minister Hector Timerman also accused Britain of treating the Falklands as the "last refuge of declining empire". Britain denies the claims.
3. CHURCH FIGURES SLAM PRAYER BAN
Church figures and groups have condemned the High Court ruling that banned prayers at council meetings. Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “I am horrified by this. It does look as though the Christian voice is being silenced." The Christian Institute said the ruling is an "assault upon our national heritage".
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4. LANSLEY SHRUGS OFF DISSENT
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has hit back at reported Cabinet dissent over his NHS bill, insisting the government is determined to push through the controversial reforms. Asked if he will resign, the under-fire minister said: "No... we as a government are committed to supporting the NHS."
5. SHOPS TOLD TO SHUT DOORS
Campaigners say high street chains are wasting £1bn a year by heating their stores to over 70f and then leaving the doors open. The Close The Doors campaign points says the bill is footed by the customer. It calls for Britain to follow New York's example and ban retailers from keeping their doors open.
6. UK KIDS ARE 'CULTURE STARVED'
Millions of British children have never visited a theatre, art gallery, or museum, claim researchers. The study found that 40% of children had never been to an art gallery and 25% had yet to visit the theatre. The researchers, commissioned by Visit Birmingham, say our youngsters are "culture starved".
7. ROTHSCHILD LOSES LIBEL CASE
Billionaire financier Nathaniel Rothschild lost his libel action yesterday over a Daily Mail report about a meeting he arranged between then EU Trade Commissioner Lord Mandelson and Russian Oleg Deripaska on the eve of a £500 million deal. Rothschild said the story portrayed him as a "puppet master".
8. GREECE REACHES CRISIS POINT
Violent protests have returned to the streets of Greece as the Finance Minister says the country has until tomorrow to decide whether to bow to the new demands required for a €130bn (£108bn) bail-out. Five ministers resigned in protest at the scale of cuts demanded by the eurozone and IMF.
9. DAMILOLA KILLER BEHIND BARS AGAIN
One of the killers of schoolboy Damilola Taylor has been recalled to prison for the second time after breaching the conditions of his release. Ricky Preddie entered an exclusion zone in Southwark. He first broke his parole terms in March 2011. Damilola's father has called for an inquiry into the handling of the case.
10. REDKNAPP WOULD CONSIDER FA OFFER
Harry Redknapp would consider an offer to manage England if it were made. "At the moment there has been no approach, but if the opportunity comes, and I get asked, I’ll have to consider it," he said. The Spurs boss said the "aggro" that would come with the job would be nothing compared to the traumas of his recent trial.
