31 January - 6 February 2015
Saturday
Protest movement
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central Madrid for a rally organised by left-wingers Podemos. The “March for Change” followed the victory of the party’s ally Syriza in the Greek elections.
Sunday
Grand Slammed
Oh, Andy. You came and you gave without taking - in this case without taking the Australian Open crown. Murray lost to Novak Djokovic in the final of the year’s first major tennis tournament.
Monday
Political miscalculation
According to the government, all children should leave primary school having memorised their times tables. Both Nicky Morgan and David Cameron refused to put their own mental arithmetic to the test.
Tuesday
Switch off to nod off
Put down that iPad, turn off your computers and leave the texting for another time. Teenagers who spend longer on screens throughout the day have lower-quality sleep, a study revealed (bit.lyBMJstudy).
Wednesday
The wheels came off the bus
It was one of two Rosa Parks days - in this case commemorating her birthday. The other one, on 1 December, marks her arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in 1955.
Thursday
Fnfzig Grautne
The Berlinale film festival began in Germany, offering highlights such as the international premiere of the screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey - which may or may not be a spanking good watch.
Friday
Try, try again
It’s the opening weekend of the Six Nations rugby tournament, with Wales taking on England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Scotland heading to France and 2014 champions Ireland playing Italy in Rome.
7-13 February 2015
Saturday
I wanna be your Ford Cortina
Punk performance poet John Cooper Clarke’s I Wanna Be Yours is a staple of the GCSE syllabus. Tune in to Radio 3 to listen to a documentary where he talks about clothes, fatherhood and monkeys.
Sunday
Scientific breakthrough
Roll out the red carpet for the Baftas. Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything is up for awards in the four main categories, including best film. Who said particle physics couldn’t be glamorous?
Monday
Climate change of heart
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m eco-friendly, and I hope you are too. The Climate Coalition is to launch its Show the Love campaign to make Valentine’s Day green. Organic chocolates anyone?
Tuesday
Cats’ miaownifesto
A cat is for life, not just for YouTube: the first Manifesto for Cats will be launched today. Charity Cats Protection wants political parties to pledge to tighten regulations on the breeding and sale of pets.
Wednesday
Long walk to freedom
Nelson Mandela made great strides in the fight against apartheid when he was released on this day in 1990, after spending 27 years in prison. He became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.
Thursday
Mr Mitchell on disadvantage
Educating Yorkshire headteacher Jonny Mitchell will take to the stage at an Early Intervention Foundation conference on breaking the cycle of disadvantage, as will Nicky Morgan and Tristram Hunt.
Friday
Unlucky for you?
It’s that day again. The one feared by all paraskavedekatriaphobics. February’s Friday the 13th is the first of three this year - a sharp increase on 2014‘s one. So cross the fingers of a black cat. Or something.
