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In the News

  • Independent: Christianity is 'over' in Iraq and will not return, says former vicar of Baghdad
    March 22nd, 2017

    Christianity is all but dead in war-torn Iraq, according to the so-called British "Vicar of Baghdad".

    Canon Andrew White, who was vicar of the only Anglican church in the country before being pulled out in 2014, said the "time has come" where Christianity "is over" in Iraq.

    Mr White, from Kent, was speaking in a Fox News interview as the Iraqi military continues its offensive to drive Isis out of its major Iraqi stronghold Mosul, and after Donald Trump attempted to enforce a travel ban against six Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and north Africa.

    Read more.

  • Care Not Killing: Not Dead Yet to intervene in case - Care NOT Killing - Promoting care, Opposing euthanasia
    March 22nd, 2017

    No mainstream disability advocacy organisation favours a change in the law on assisted suicide, which disabled people fear would threaten how they are perceived and treated by wider society. Those opposed include Not Dead Yet UK (NDY), 'a network of disabled people in the UK who have joined a growing international alliance of disabled people, who oppose the legalised killing of disabled people. All those involved are disabled people including people with physical and sensory impairments, learning difficulties, and mental health conditions.' In response to an application by Noel Conway and Dignity in Dying for a judicial review covering much the same ground as the Nicklinson/Lamb case, which went all the way to the Supreme Court, NDY have announced that they will formally intervene in the case, should it be approved. Juliet Marlow set out their position in principle last month.

    Read more.

  • GOV UK: UK families will soon see bills cut as date announced for the launch of Tax-Free Childcare
    March 22nd, 2017

    Millions of parents can pre-register from today for the government's new childcare offers, with the launch of a new Childcare Choices government website.

    The introduction of the government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme will begin on 28 April, for parents of the youngest children. It will be gradually rolled out over 2017 - cutting childcare costs for working families across the UK by up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.

    On top of this, from September this year parents of three and four year old children living in England will be able to apply for a new 30 hours free childcare offer, worth around £5,000 per child.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Church urged to re-run Bishop of Llandaff appointment
    March 22nd, 2017

    A Christian group wants the Church in Wales to restart its Bishop of Llandaff appointment process after a priest said he was rejected because he is gay.

    Dean of St Albans Cathedral, Dr Jeffrey John, accused the Church in Wales of homophobia after he was not appointed.

    LGBT campaign group One Body One Voice said many in the diocese were unhappy he was not chosen after more than half of the electoral college voted for him.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Fathers 'afraid to ask for flexible working'
    March 22nd, 2017

    Dads who want to be more involved in the care of their children fear that asking for more flexible hours might damage their careers, the chairwoman of a new probe into the issue says.

    Conservative MP Maria Miller says such requests can even lead to employers questioning their workers' commitment.

    Research suggests 44% of dads have lied about family-related responsibilities.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Australia's Northern Territory decriminalises abortion
    March 22nd, 2017

    Australia's Northern Territory has decriminalised abortion as part of wide-ranging reforms on the medical termination of pregnancy.

    Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the laws bring the territory in line with the rest of Australia.

    The reforms legalise the use of abortion drugs, such as RU486, up to nine weeks into a pregnancy.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Best friends become first to co-parent in Canada
    March 22nd, 2017

    Natasha Bakht and Lynda Collins are best friends who fought a two-year-long legal battle to be officially recognised as co-parents to Natasha's disabled son, Elaan.

    It's the first time in Canadian history that two people who have never been in a romantic relationship have been legally recognised as parents.

    Watch here.

  • Independent: New Zealand school abolishes gendered uniforms
    March 21st, 2017

    A primary school in New Zealand has abolished gendered school uniforms to avoid stereotyping, following in the footsteps of dozens of British schools.

    The move comes after some girls at Dunedin North Intermediate School in the South Island complained about having to wear "archaic" kilts, headteacher Heidi Hayward said.

    The school, which has around 200 pupils aged 10-13, began allowing female pupils to wear trousers in 2016.

    Read more.

  • BBC: Queensland abolishes 'gay panic' as criminal defence for murder
    March 21st, 2017

    Parliament in the Australian state of Queensland has voted for legislation to remove a controversial "gay panic" defence from the criminal code.

    It had allowed defendants to reduce criminal responsibility by claiming provocation due to an unwanted sexual advance.

    In 2008, it was used as a partial defence to reduce two men's murder charges to manslaughter.

    Read more.

  • The Conservative Woman: Philippa Taylor: Egg freezing is not all it's cracked up to be
    March 21st, 2017

    A Daily Telegraph article last week asked: 'Motherhood on ice: has the egg-freezing generation of working women been misled?'

    That’s an easy question to answer: Yes!

    The massively profitable egg-freezing industry has an appallingly low 'success' rate, yet still tempts thousands of women to take this route because they know their 'biological clock' is running down.

    Read more.