People think I’m joking when I say I have no mates but it’s the truth. I just work hard and come home – I never socialise. I’ve been thinking a lot about solitude recently. And not just because of the interminable Easter holidays, which seem to last this year from around mid-March through to the day of the Coronation in May, unhappily augmented by those teachers’ strikes that show no sign of disappearing. It was my decision, sort of, to have three children, and I accept that means an endlessly busy house: my eldest a teenager who seldom leaves either her phone or the sofa; my middle one,...…People think I’m joking when I say I have no mates but it’s the truth. I just work hard and come home – I never socialise. I’ve been thinking a lot about solitude recently. And not just because of the interminable Easter holidays, which seem to last this year from around mid-March through to the day of the Coronation in May, unhappily augmented by those teachers’ strikes that show no sign of disappearing. It was my decision, sort of, to have three children, and I accept that means an endlessly busy house: my eldest a teenager who seldom leaves either her phone or the sofa; my middle one,...WW…

Faith-based sex education resources which say men were “created to be the initiator in sexual relationships” and that women act as “receiver-responders” are being used in UK schools,  can reveal. , which form part of a Catholic relationships and sex education programme called , also say that contraception is “wrong” and suggests that gay people should abstain from sex.  A Fertile Heart was produced by a group of priests from the dioceses of Birmingham, Cardiff, Clifton and Shrewsbury, and has been approved by the...…Faith-based sex education resources which say men were “created to be the initiator in sexual relationships” and that women act as “receiver-responders” are being used in UK schools,  can reveal. , which form part of a Catholic relationships and sex education programme called , also say that contraception is “wrong” and suggests that gay people should abstain from sex.  A Fertile Heart was produced by a group of priests from the dioceses of Birmingham, Cardiff, Clifton and Shrewsbury, and has been approved by the...WW…

BBC staff who are required to be politically neutral have been told not to attend LGBT pride protests under new impartiality rules announced on Thursday, has learned.David Jordan, the corporation’s director of editorial policy and standards, told a meeting of senior executives on Wednesday that the new rules include not attending “political protests”, such as Black Lives Matter events and LGBT protests. According to sources, there was pressure to extend the ban to pride events over concerns the BBC could be seen to take a side in the debate around transgender rights.Separately, one employee...…BBC staff who are required to be politically neutral have been told not to attend LGBT pride protests under new impartiality rules announced on Thursday, has learned.David Jordan, the corporation’s director of editorial policy and standards, told a meeting of senior executives on Wednesday that the new rules include not attending “political protests”, such as Black Lives Matter events and LGBT protests. According to sources, there was pressure to extend the ban to pride events over concerns the BBC could be seen to take a side in the debate around transgender rights.Separately, one employee...WW…

☰☰When in 2008 and , they headed a centrist administration that reflected the moderate mood of their Democratic coalition. Twelve years on, Mr Biden’s Democratic Party is more fractious, with . If Mr Biden is elected president next week, this faction will hold him to a more radical agenda, which they will say helped secure his return to the White House. The standard-bearer of the Democratic left or progressive wing is Vermont Senator , who was Mr Biden’s closest challenger for the party nomination this year, as he was for four years ago. A long-time independent rather than Democrat, he...…☰☰When in 2008 and , they headed a centrist administration that reflected the moderate mood of their Democratic coalition. Twelve years on, Mr Biden’s Democratic Party is more fractious, with . If Mr Biden is elected president next week, this faction will hold him to a more radical agenda, which they will say helped secure his return to the White House. The standard-bearer of the Democratic left or progressive wing is Vermont Senator , who was Mr Biden’s closest challenger for the party nomination this year, as he was for four years ago. A long-time independent rather than Democrat, he...WW…

Plans to build the world’s first island which would provide power for three million households have been given the green light by politicians.  The giant artificial island, to be built in the North Sea, will be as big as 18 football pitches (120,000 square metres) but could end up three times this size, and is the biggest construction project in Danish history, costing an estimated 210 billion kroner (£24 billion).  Situated 50 miles out to sea off Denmark’s west coast, it will serve as a hub for 200...…Plans to build the world’s first island which would provide power for three million households have been given the green light by politicians.  The giant artificial island, to be built in the North Sea, will be as big as 18 football pitches (120,000 square metres) but could end up three times this size, and is the biggest construction project in Danish history, costing an estimated 210 billion kroner (£24 billion).  Situated 50 miles out to sea off Denmark’s west coast, it will serve as a hub for 200...WW…

A novel storage technology, which involves suspending heavy weights above deep mine shafts, is a “serious contender” in the global energy storage market, its creators have said.  Gravitricity told  its demonstrator project built in Edinburgh earlier this year has proved a success, with the team raising and lowering two 25-tonne weights to generate power.  “These tests confirm our modelling and show that gravity energy storage is a serious contender in the global energy storage market,” said company managing director Charlie...…A novel storage technology, which involves suspending heavy weights above deep mine shafts, is a “serious contender” in the global energy storage market, its creators have said.  Gravitricity told  its demonstrator project built in Edinburgh earlier this year has proved a success, with the team raising and lowering two 25-tonne weights to generate power.  “These tests confirm our modelling and show that gravity energy storage is a serious contender in the global energy storage market,” said company managing director Charlie...WW…

Independent bookshops have joined forces to take on the might of Amazon in the run up to Christmas.Scores of independent retailers have signed up to sell books via the platform , which is billed as the “socially conscious alternative” to ’ e-commerce giant. The site, which launched in the US this year, hopes to loosen Amazon’s grip on the book industry and offer local bricks-and-mortar shops a better chance to compete.Bookshops are invited to create online store profiles for the site and, the start-up promises, will earn 30 per cent of the cover price – the entire profit margin –...…Independent bookshops have joined forces to take on the might of Amazon in the run up to Christmas.Scores of independent retailers have signed up to sell books via the platform , which is billed as the “socially conscious alternative” to ’ e-commerce giant. The site, which launched in the US this year, hopes to loosen Amazon’s grip on the book industry and offer local bricks-and-mortar shops a better chance to compete.Bookshops are invited to create online store profiles for the site and, the start-up promises, will earn 30 per cent of the cover price – the entire profit margin –...WW…

The head of the has urged everyone over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas including trains, buses and even supermarkets to prevent catching .Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged people in this age group to skip routine appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals.The WHO director general told his 500,000 Twitter followers: “If you are 60+, or have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe #COVID19. Try to avoid crowded areas, or places where you might interact with people who are sick.”He...…The head of the has urged everyone over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas including trains, buses and even supermarkets to prevent catching .Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also urged people in this age group to skip routine appointments at GP surgeries and in hospitals.The WHO director general told his 500,000 Twitter followers: “If you are 60+, or have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe #COVID19. Try to avoid crowded areas, or places where you might interact with people who are sick.”He...WW…

An should consider introducing a four-day week following a wider review of working practices, according to a motion passed by members.During a debate on the subject at the party’s conference, it was claimed that such a policy could persuade more Scots to back independence at any future referendum.The motion called on the to begin a review of working practices, including “the possibility of a four-day week”, with a view to future reform. It passed overwhelmingly by 1,136 votes to 70.However, as powers over employment law are currently reserved to Westminster, such a policy could only be...…An should consider introducing a four-day week following a wider review of working practices, according to a motion passed by members.During a debate on the subject at the party’s conference, it was claimed that such a policy could persuade more Scots to back independence at any future referendum.The motion called on the to begin a review of working practices, including “the possibility of a four-day week”, with a view to future reform. It passed overwhelmingly by 1,136 votes to 70.However, as powers over employment law are currently reserved to Westminster, such a policy could only be...WW…

have built their, following river restoration work by.The dam appeared at the Holnicote Estate near Minehead and rangers, who described the beavers as ““, and said it has created an “instant wetland”.The semi-aquatic rodents were the first to be released into the wild by the trust in its 125-year history to slow the flow of water through the landscape and improve river quality. But why do beavers build dams? And are they imporant for the ecosystem? Here’s what you need to know.Beavers are excellent engineers. They are known for their skills in building dams and...…have built their, following river restoration work by.The dam appeared at the Holnicote Estate near Minehead and rangers, who described the beavers as ““, and said it has created an “instant wetland”.The semi-aquatic rodents were the first to be released into the wild by the trust in its 125-year history to slow the flow of water through the landscape and improve river quality. But why do beavers build dams? And are they imporant for the ecosystem? Here’s what you need to know.Beavers are excellent engineers. They are known for their skills in building dams and...WW…