ow-caste males in India’s western Gujarat state have been attacked for wearing moustaches, prompting the Dalit to launch a social media campaign in support of growing whiskers.The crusade was initiated in the state capital, Gandhinagar, after one young Dalit man was stabbed and others beaten up by Rajputs.Police said the assailants objected to their moustaches, which they believe are the sole preserve of their upper-caste martial clan.“One of the attackers told me that I cannot become a Rajput by just growing a moustache” Krunal Maheria, one of the teenage victims, told NDTV news...…ow-caste males in India’s western Gujarat state have been attacked for wearing moustaches, prompting the Dalit to launch a social media campaign in support of growing whiskers.The crusade was initiated in the state capital, Gandhinagar, after one young Dalit man was stabbed and others beaten up by Rajputs.Police said the assailants objected to their moustaches, which they believe are the sole preserve of their upper-caste martial clan.“One of the attackers told me that I cannot become a Rajput by just growing a moustache” Krunal Maheria, one of the teenage victims, told NDTV news...WW…

The Taliban said it carried out a deadly attack Thursday on an Afghan army base after the government ordered forces to resume strikes against the militants.Afghan officials said a truck bomb targeted an army base in the eastern city of Gardez, killing five civilians and wounding 19 - including five army personnel. It comes after a which saw President Ashraf Ghani rescind the government's recent "defensive" stance aimed at promoting peace talks with the Taliban, and order troops back onto the offensive.Provincial health director Welayat Khan Ahmadzai confirmed the death toll, but the Taliban...…The Taliban said it carried out a deadly attack Thursday on an Afghan army base after the government ordered forces to resume strikes against the militants.Afghan officials said a truck bomb targeted an army base in the eastern city of Gardez, killing five civilians and wounding 19 - including five army personnel. It comes after a which saw President Ashraf Ghani rescind the government's recent "defensive" stance aimed at promoting peace talks with the Taliban, and order troops back onto the offensive.Provincial health director Welayat Khan Ahmadzai confirmed the death toll, but the Taliban...WW…

Children suffering with gender dysphoria will now need a court order before they are legally allowed to take puberty blockers, the NHS has confirmed. The new guidelines were announced following a landmark High Court ruling on Tuesday in which judges said trans children should not receive the controversial drugs unless they understand the "long-term risks and consequences" of them, amid warnings it is "highly unlikely" that most teenagers could consent to this process.On Tuesday night, the NHS updated its guidance to reflect the judgment, meaning "no-one under the age of 16 can now be...…Children suffering with gender dysphoria will now need a court order before they are legally allowed to take puberty blockers, the NHS has confirmed. The new guidelines were announced following a landmark High Court ruling on Tuesday in which judges said trans children should not receive the controversial drugs unless they understand the "long-term risks and consequences" of them, amid warnings it is "highly unlikely" that most teenagers could consent to this process.On Tuesday night, the NHS updated its guidance to reflect the judgment, meaning "no-one under the age of 16 can now be...WW…

With many young people now returning to school, the education sector is in panic mode as it considers how to address the horrifying death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement's subsequent explosion on to the political scene. As a school leader, I have been contacted by a number of head teachers who are increasingly under pressure from both teachers and parents to be seen to be doing something. Unfortunately, many have resorted to implementing rushed measures.While it is crucial for schools to address current events, it’s certainly not helpful to be shoehorning a topic as...…With many young people now returning to school, the education sector is in panic mode as it considers how to address the horrifying death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement's subsequent explosion on to the political scene. As a school leader, I have been contacted by a number of head teachers who are increasingly under pressure from both teachers and parents to be seen to be doing something. Unfortunately, many have resorted to implementing rushed measures.While it is crucial for schools to address current events, it’s certainly not helpful to be shoehorning a topic as...WW…

Renewable energy overtook fossil fuels for the first six months of 2020 across the European Union for the first time, as lockdown slowed demand. Wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy generated 40 per cent of member states’ electricity, compared to 34 per cent from fossil fuels, according to data from environmental think tank Ember.The UK passed the same milestone in April, and in June went a record-breaking two months without coal power. The steep decline in fossil fuel use across Europe was helped by a 7 per cent drop in electricity demand because of the lockdown, as business and leisure...…Renewable energy overtook fossil fuels for the first six months of 2020 across the European Union for the first time, as lockdown slowed demand. Wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy generated 40 per cent of member states’ electricity, compared to 34 per cent from fossil fuels, according to data from environmental think tank Ember.The UK passed the same milestone in April, and in June went a record-breaking two months without coal power. The steep decline in fossil fuel use across Europe was helped by a 7 per cent drop in electricity demand because of the lockdown, as business and leisure...WW…

Jacinda Ardern is considering delaying New Zealand’s general election as investigators probe whether a cluster of new cases in Auckland was imported via freight.Health authorities rushed to implement a rapid lockdown in the country's largest city Auckland, where four more probable infections have been uncovered, which would bring the outbreak's total to eight.With 1.5 million people under three-day stay-at-home orders, and millions more at risk of a wider outbreak, Ms Ardern said she was seeking advice on delaying the September 19 election.Parliament was due to be dissolved on Wednesday to...…Jacinda Ardern is considering delaying New Zealand’s general election as investigators probe whether a cluster of new cases in Auckland was imported via freight.Health authorities rushed to implement a rapid lockdown in the country's largest city Auckland, where four more probable infections have been uncovered, which would bring the outbreak's total to eight.With 1.5 million people under three-day stay-at-home orders, and millions more at risk of a wider outbreak, Ms Ardern said she was seeking advice on delaying the September 19 election.Parliament was due to be dissolved on Wednesday to...WW…

“We are at a transitional moment,” says James Lewis, a former US diplomat who is now director of the Technology Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.He’s talking about big tech companies. About how they are beginning to conceive of themselves anew in the . Before the pandemic they already had great power and wealth. But now, he says, they are overtly taking on, or being asked to help with, the functions and duties of nation states, from healthcare to surveillance.Last week, the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg even his company was...…“We are at a transitional moment,” says James Lewis, a former US diplomat who is now director of the Technology Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.He’s talking about big tech companies. About how they are beginning to conceive of themselves anew in the . Before the pandemic they already had great power and wealth. But now, he says, they are overtly taking on, or being asked to help with, the functions and duties of nation states, from healthcare to surveillance.Last week, the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg even his company was...WW…

Why do so many people think the suppression of the economy is no big deal?  On October 29, two days before the Prime Minister announced our second national lockdown, one opinion poll found two thirds of people in favour of the idea and only a quarter against.    There are, I think, two answers to the above the question. Firstly, large numbers of people, who do not have a thorough scientific education, are susceptible to any doom-laden modelling  that is put before them, however dodgy it may be. They are frightened, and allow Covid 19 to over-rule all other concerns.    Secondly, we haven’t...…Why do so many people think the suppression of the economy is no big deal?  On October 29, two days before the Prime Minister announced our second national lockdown, one opinion poll found two thirds of people in favour of the idea and only a quarter against.    There are, I think, two answers to the above the question. Firstly, large numbers of people, who do not have a thorough scientific education, are susceptible to any doom-laden modelling  that is put before them, however dodgy it may be. They are frightened, and allow Covid 19 to over-rule all other concerns.    Secondly, we haven’t...WW…

Here is , wife of outgoing president Donald, arguably not the most loved First Lady in history. But you know, we’re (probably) not going to be seeing as much of her now and inevitably there will be things about her that we’ll miss. If you’re not convinced, then here are a few reminders:Even in an emergency flood zone, Melania was welded to her very high, very narrow . In a world where the unwalkable heel has become an endangered species, we can’t help but admire her stalking pluck. And she does wear them like a pro.Razor sharp, ice cold, eerily uplit, always reminiscent of an early Doctor...…Here is , wife of outgoing president Donald, arguably not the most loved First Lady in history. But you know, we’re (probably) not going to be seeing as much of her now and inevitably there will be things about her that we’ll miss. If you’re not convinced, then here are a few reminders:Even in an emergency flood zone, Melania was welded to her very high, very narrow . In a world where the unwalkable heel has become an endangered species, we can’t help but admire her stalking pluck. And she does wear them like a pro.Razor sharp, ice cold, eerily uplit, always reminiscent of an early Doctor...WW…

Airlines, rail and bus companies could be temporarily nationalised to protect them from the economic fallout from coronavirus, the Transport Secretary has suggested,Grant Shapps on Tuesday told MPs good companies "shouldn't be going bust" because of the unfolding health crisis.Possible responses included "on occasions organisations being run by the public sector", Mr Shapps said.Airlines have been severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak which has forced airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, causing airports to also be hit.The bosses of Virgin Atlantic have told Boris...…Airlines, rail and bus companies could be temporarily nationalised to protect them from the economic fallout from coronavirus, the Transport Secretary has suggested,Grant Shapps on Tuesday told MPs good companies "shouldn't be going bust" because of the unfolding health crisis.Possible responses included "on occasions organisations being run by the public sector", Mr Shapps said.Airlines have been severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak which has forced airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, causing airports to also be hit.The bosses of Virgin Atlantic have told Boris...WW…