1. EUROZONE TALKS WITH GREECE FAIL
Talks between Greece and its creditors in the eurozone have collapsed, with a Greek official saying the austerity conditions imposed on his country are “unacceptable”. The news heightens fears the nation is headed for a disruptive exit from the euro. Greece has asked to be allowed to water down austerity.
2. UKRAINE: BOTH SIDES FAIL TO WITHDRAW
Both the government and rebel sides in Ukraine have failed to meet a deadline to start withdrawing heavy weapons, in line with the ceasefire agreement reached last week after intense negotiations with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany. Separatists are still fighting in the town of Debaltseve.
3. PM: MAKE THE YOUNG WORK FOR BENEFITS
David Cameron has outlined Tory plans to make young people not in work, education or training for six months do unpaid work or lose their benefits, saying it will end dole dependency. The plans will apply to people aged 18 to 21. They will have to do 30 hours community service a week and 10 hours looking for jobs.
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4. TEACH PRIMARY KIDS ABOUT SEX, SAY MPS
Children have a right to learn about sex and relationships and should be taught about them from primary school onwards to keep them safe from abuse, the cross-party education committee of MPs has said. They said the teaching should be statutory but parents should keep the right to withdraw their children.
5. CROWDS MOURN COPENHAGEN DEATHS
Tens of thousands of people gathered in towns and cities across Denmark last night to hold candlelit vigils for the two victims of a gunman, Omar El-Hussein, who appears to have been an Islamist radical. The national flag flew at half-mast all day yesterday and mourners left flowers at the spots where the men died.
6. AUSTRALIA ‘SHOULD AWARD MATEHOODS’
An Australian backbencher has offered his party leader, PM Tony Abbott, a way to save face after his unpopular decision to revive knighthoods. MP John Alexander says Australia’s highest honour should be a “matehood”, with the official greeting for recipients - including Prince Philip - being “G’day, mate.”
7. BRITONS MAKE MARS TRIP SHORTLIST
Five Britons have made the shortlist to join a Dutch project to colonise Mars. One hundred people have been selected from 200,000 applicants for the $6bn mission - all saying they are prepared to make the one-way trip. There has been some scepticism from experts who believe the mission will never happen.
8. LADY GAGA ENGAGED TO ACTOR KINNEY
Outlandishly-styled pop singer Lady Gaga has announced her engagement to actor-model boyfriend Taylor Kinney, telling Twitter he had asked her to marry him on Valentine’s Day and posting a picture of the ring. Kinney appeared in the film Zero Dark Thirty and is one of the starts of NBC TV series Chicago Fire.
9. TELETUBBIES WOMAN DECRIES REMAKE
TV producer Anne Wood, the creator of both the Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, has said she feels “sad” that 1990s hit Teletubbies is being remade. Wood deplored the lack of openness to new ideas in the industry reflected by the decision. She will not be involved in the revived show for toddlers.
10. BRIEFING: EGYPT'S COPTIC CHRISTIANS
Coptic Christians, the latest group to be targeted by IS, make up about 10% of Egypt's population. Their church was founded in the first century by Saint Mark the Apostle, has its own pope based in Alexandria and believes in the single divine nature of Christ. Prayer and fasting are seen by Copts as two of the most important methods by which they can communicate with God.
Egypt's Coptic Christians: Who are they and what do they believe?
