Newspin: Balancing the News (UK)

News for Mar 05, 2023

Old so and so is at it again… probably. Here's what else is happening, served with a delicious side of slow-cooked analysis.

Consultants want up to 262 an hour to cover strike days for junior doctors -- BBC News (UK)

Consultants in England want at least three times their basic pay to provide emergency cover for junior doctors during this month's three-day walkout; The demands have been described as unreasonable by NHS bosses as they try to plug gaps in emergency care

Outline: (what is this?) junior doctors consultants

Tone: (what is this?) + positive

Discussion: (what is this?) ± NHS, ? BMW, ? Carl

'Massive toll' of living in a leasehold property -- BBC News (UK)

Housing Secretary Michael Gove wants to reform what he calls the "fundamentally unfair" leasehold system; Leaseholders in Leeds told how they face bills they were not expecting

Outline:  ground rent

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ++ Michael Saylor, ? London, ? Peter Ballard

Scottish bakery Morton's Rolls 'ceases trading' -- BBC News (UK)

Scottish bakery Morton's Rolls is understood to have ceased trading after missing a deadline to file accounts

Outline:  scottish bakery morton

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ? Ukraine

Police speak to child about death threats after Quran damaged at Wakefield school -- BBC News (UK)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has spoken of "deep concern" over the case; West Yorkshire Police said officers had spoken to a child alleged to have made threats

Outline:  wakefield school death threats

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  -- Quran, -- UK, - Qur'an

Matt Hancock's reaction to photo of kiss with aide revealed in text leak -- BBC News (UK)

Messages show Matt Hancocks reaction after kiss photo

Outline:  matt hancock whatsapp message row

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  + Hancock, ? bbc, ? Johnson

The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph: 'Hancock's plan to 'frighten the pants off' the public' Sign up for the Front Page newsletter -- The Telegraph

Outline:  front page newsletter

Tone:  + positive

Quarter-zipper becomes the new status symbol for men of a certain position -- The Guardian

John Lewis says it has sold 62% more quarter-zips than crewnecks since the start of the year; At Gant, 10% of sales last December were quarter-zip jumpers

Outline:  quarter zipper

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ++ Guardian, ? John Lewis, ? Bitcoin

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's failure to pay for couture 'tax the rich' dress 'may have broken rules' -- The Telegraph

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's failure to pay for couture 'tax the rich' dress 'may have broken rules'. The dress, handbag, shoes, and jewellery were provided as rentals by designer Aurora James and brand Brother Vellies

Outline:  brand brother vellies alexandria ocasio

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? aoc, ? Bronx, ? DC

When should I get my lawnmower out for first cut? -- BBC News (UK)

The dry weather in February has led to a significant improvement in ground conditions; But when is the best time of year for the first cut

Outline:  grass cutting

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  ± BBC

Snow and ice expected in Scotland and north of England -- BBC News (UK)

Arctic air expected to bring snow, ice and cold winds to parts of the UK early next week; Yellow warning in force for northern and eastern Scotland, north-east England and North Yorkshire

Outline:  cold weather

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  ? BBC, ? HAARP, ? Daff

Sonic boom heard as RAF jets escort aircraft to Stansted Airport -- BBC News (UK)

RAF jets escorting plane to Stansted after communications lost caused massive bang, thought to be a sonic boom, heard across England

Outline:  stansted airport raf jets

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  -- BBC, ? Ukraine, ? Trump

Sergei Lavrov: Russian foreign minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims -- BBC News (UK)

Outline:  ukraine war

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  -- Russia, - Ukraine, -- UN

Russian ministers claim Ukraine war launched against us met with laughter -- The Guardian

Sergei Lavrov says Moscow ‘trying to stop’ war in remarks at India’s Raisina Dialogue conference; ‘The war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us using Ukrainian people, of course, influenced the policy of Russia, including energy policy, he said

Outline:  ukraine war

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? USA, ? Lavrov, ? NATO

Rightwing Republicans rail against US aid for Ukraine: Weve done enough -- The Guardian

War emerges as a wedge issue in the Republican primary election as far right at CPAC call for US to end support; US has provided four rounds of aid to Ukraine, totaling about $113bn, a year after Russia’s unprovoked invasion

Outline:  us funding

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  - US, ++ Putin, ++ Ukraine

Sacred coronation oil will be animal-cruelty free -- BBC News (UK)

Oil used to anoint the King in the coronation is one of the most sacred and mysterious parts of the ceremony; Previous versions have included civet oil, from the glands of small mammals, and ambergris from the intestines of whales

Outline:  sacred coronation oil

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ++ Charles, ± BBC, -- coronation

Government encourages public to share coronation celebrations on digital map -- The Guardian

Interactive map designed to help people ‘find activities, events and celebrations nearby’ King Charles’s coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May; Pubs, clubs and bars across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open for two extra hours over coronation weekend

Outline:  coronation celebrations

Tone:  + positive

Stone of Destiny should not be sent for King's coronation, says Alex Salmond -- ITV News

Outline:  coronation

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? Scotland, ? Stone of Destiny, ? Norwegian Trench

What's the least exercise we can get away with? -- BBC News (UK)

Dr Zoe Saynor says 5,000 to 6,000 steps a day is the least amount of exercise people should do; Dr Saynor is a retired elite-level rugby player and expert in clinical exercise physiology

Outline:  shorter exercise sessions

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ? BBC, ? Andrew

US-made cheese can also be called 'gruyere', court rules -- BBC News (UK)

The name "gruyere" can now be used to label cheeses from outside of the Gruyère region of Switzerland and France; The Virginia court upheld a ruling stating that the US does not have the same strict rules as Europe on the designation of origin for foods

Outline:  cheese producers

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  - US, ? Trump, ? Gruyer

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