1. CAREY LAUNCHES ATTACK ON PM
The archbishop of Canterbury says David Cameron is “aiding and abetting” discrimination against Christians. Writing in the Daily Mail, Lord Carey argues that the prime minister has “done more than any other recent political leader” to “feed” anxiety among Christians. A new poll found that more than two-thirds of Christians now feel they are part of a “persecuted minority”.
2. NORTH KOREA 'IN STATE OF WAR'
North Korea says it is entering a "state of war" with South Korea as tensions heighten against its neighbour and the US. A statement threatening "stern physical actions" against "any provocative act" came just hours after hours after Kim Jong-un vowed to “mercilessly strike the US mainland” if “provoked” by the Unites States.
3. TAX THE TOWNIES, SAYS CAMPAIGNER
Owners of second homes should be hit with tax bills high enough to convince them to give up their countryside retreats, says the head of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Speaking to The Times, Sir Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate, says “townies in the countryside” are “gutting” rural communities. “I would increase taxes on second homes to make it very expensive,” he said.
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4. 'DIVA' BIEBER RISKS MONKEY TRIAL
Justin Bieber has been accused of being “a right diva” who “lives in an alternative reality” after he tried to sneak his pet monkey into Europe on a private jet. The singer could face prosecution in Germany after he trying to bring his pet into the country without any paperwork. The monkey was seized and put into quarantine. Bieber denies rumours he is having a nervous breakdown.
5. IDS MAKES BENEFITS ADMISSION
Works and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith says he is no longer seeking to cut Britain’s benefits bill and is simply “managing” the increase in handouts. Amid tensions in the coalition over welfare reforms, Duncan Smith says the “reality is that this country is not cutting welfare”, adding that “all those on benefits will still see cash increases in every year of this Parliament”.
6. WEIRD CRUISE COMPLAINTS REVEALED
Cruise ship passengers have complained that the sea is too noisy, that staff were so helpful that they had to pay too much in tips, and that Gary Barlow was not present on board. An online travel agency has released a list of bizarre complaints, including one from a man who was disappointed he could not get “an impressive tan” during a cruise around cold Alaska.
7. ED MILIBAND: DAVID'S EXIT A RELIEF
Ed Miliband says his brother's announcement that he is to depart from British politics came as a relief as it brought “clarity” to their relationship and ended the “sense of uncertainty about what he was going to do”. The Labour leader tells the Labour List blog of David's new charity position in New York: “It was a big opportunity, it speaks to our family history, it suits his talents.”
8. STRIKING WORKERS 'IGNORING REALITY'
Thousands of post office staff are on strike today in a row over jobs, pay and closures. About 4,000 members of the Communication Workers Union are staging industrial action after talks with the arbitration service failed. The Post Office says the union is ignoring "harsh realities", with the offices losing £40m a year. It hopes that the strike will cause minimal disruption.
9. SHIVERING UK PREPARES FOR BST
You could be forgiven for forgetting that British Summer Time starts tomorrow given the cold weather, but do remember to set your clocks one hour forward tonight. Daylight Saving Time will remain with us until October 27. The weather shows no sign of being aware of the dawn of BST, with parts of Scotland facing a white Easter.
10. WENGER: FIGHT FOR YOUR FUTURE
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has challenged his players to convince him they have a future at the club. The Gunners, who face Reading today, are four points adrift of fourth place with nine matches left. Manchester United face Sunderland in the lunchtime kick-off, while second-placed Manchester City host Newcastle United at 3pm.
