Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 20 Apr 2014

1. LABOUR 'BECOMING A ONE-TRICK PONY’

Labour risks becoming a “one-trick pony” if it continues to base its electoral strategy on the cost of living issue, senior party figures are warning. “As the economy rebalances Labour needs to rebalance its policy,” former cabinet minister Alan Milburn added. The news comes as a Sunday Times poll shows the Tories are closing the gap on the issue.

Cost of living: is Labour becoming a one-trick pony?

2. ISLAMISM ‘DEADLY’ THREAT TO CHARITY

Islamic extremism is potentially the "most deadly" threat to charities in England and Wales, says the chairman of the Charity Commission. Speaking to the Sunday Times, William Shawcross says the regulator is taking action against charities sending money to various groups in Syria. Speaking of the threat Islamism poses to charities, he added: "It is, alas, growing."

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Islamic extremism’s ‘deadly threat’ to UK charities

3. FERRY RELATIVES IN FURIOUS PROTESTS

Relatives of passengers on the sunken South Korean ferry have staged furious protests over the rescue operation. Police blocked up to 100 people who were trying to leave Jindo island with the intention of marching to Seoul. Hundreds of relatives have been camping on the island, awaiting news. Some 248 people are still missing from the Sewol ferry with 174 passengers rescued.

4. CHURCH RETAINS WONGA INVESTMENT

The Archbishop of Canterbury says he cannot force the Church of England’s investment arm to offload investment in payday loan company Wonga. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the Most Rev Justin Welby speaks of the limits of his power over the Church’s affairs, saying: “I’m not the Pope.” He says he has “warmly” encouraged the Church to offload its investment.

5. FARAGE ‘DIM RACIST’ SAYS UKIP FOUNDER

Nigel Farage is a “dim, racist alcoholic”, according to the founder of Ukip. Dr Alan Sked, a London School of Economics professor, said that Vladimir Putin was a healthy version of Farage and that Farage identifies with the Russian leader because Putin is “a nasty piece of work”.

Marine Le Pen accuses Farage of slander

6. SYRIA: REFUGEES RUNNING OUT OF FOOD

Food is about to run out for Damascus refugees, reports The Observer. The Syrian regime’s blockade of the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp is raising fears for the 18,000 people left starving inside. Some are already resorting to eating leaves and animal feed to survive. A UN Relief and Works Agency spokesman says the crisis is “unprecedented in living memory”.

7. OFSTED TO ACT ON 'ISLAMIST' SCHOOLS

At least six Birmingham schools will face special Ofsted measures after being caught up in an alleged Islamist takeover plot. The Sunday Telegraph says the schools are implicated in the so-called ‘Trojan Horse’ plot by extremists to “Islamise” secular state education in the city. The plot has allegedly seen the illegal segregation of pupils and discrimination against non-Muslim pupils.

Six schools in 'Islamist takeover plot' face special measures

8. LONGLEAT: CAR ON FIRE IN LIONS’ DEN

A day out to Longleat Safari Park turned into a nightmare for one family when they were forced to flee their car which caught fire in the lion enclosure. A mother and her two children had to abandon their car as it started smoking in the enclosure, which is home to 12 lions. Other visitors seemed unwilling to help but rangers saved the family.

9. AGE PROOF REFORM FOR ONLINE PORN

A new law requiring internet users to prove they are 18 before viewing online pornography could be introduced within months. The new system would be introduced for UK-based porn websites by the end of the year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also studying how sites based overseas could be forced to follow suit.

10. CHELSEA LOSS BOOSTS REDS

Chelsea’s title bid was given a huge dent yesterday when bottom club Sunderland beat the Blues 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. The result is a considerable boost to the title prospects of Liverpool who travel to Norwich for today’s lunchtime kick-off. Arsenal are all Hull, with Manchester United at Everton, as the battle for fourth place rages on.

Mourinho hits out at referee as title hopes dashed