Family campaigners have criticised as ‘grossly discriminatory’ plans to give trans men and lesbians access to NHS-funded IVF two years ahead of heterosexual couples. Under the controversial proposals, trans men – those born as women who now identify as men – will be automatically assumed to be unable to conceive, as will lesbians and single women. This means they will be immediately eligible for IVF on the NHS – costing an estimated £5,000 a cycle – if they meet the other criteria, such as a body mass index between 19 and 30, not smoking, being under 43 and not having a partner with a child from a previous relationship.

Big companies, obsessed with squeezing out every ounce of efficiency, are deploying ‘perk police’ to catch minor infractions that could lead to termination. Huge corporations like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta have recently terminated employees for spending their $25 meal allowances on other items. Target has fired employees who appeared to jump the line, ahead of the general public, to buy the on-trend Stanley water bottles.

Both Palestine and climate change activists have clashed with pro-Israeli protestors on the streets of London. Protesters have said the conflict in Gaza and the climate crisis are ‘inextricably linked’ as around 1,000 demonstrators marched through central London. The protest, involving more than 60 groups including Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, Amnesty International and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, rallied outside the British Museum on Saturday before marching to Downing Street.

President Joe Biden sat down with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the last of many meetings with the leader of the economic powerhouse, with Biden accidentally referencing an ‘alliance’ with the country’s top competitor. ‘We are the most important alliance – or the most important relationship in the entire world, and how we’re getting along together can impact the rest of the world,’ Biden said, quickly correcting himself after applying the friendly term to a key supporter of Russia who has been harassing U.S. allies in the South China sea and flooding the U.S. with exports. But he restated his long-held view of using diplomacy to avoid problems.

Kamala Harris’ campaign spent an eye-watering $2.6million in the month of October on private jets to help fuel her failed $1billion race for the presidency. The Vice President’s campaign, Harris for President, spent nearly $3million on private flights between October 3 and October 15, according to recent FEC filings. This brings her total to $12million for private jet usage, records show, but the number could shoot even higher as final receipts are submitted to the FEC.

An Ohio ‘school principal of the year’ was suspended after sending staff members a controversial message following Donald Trump’s election victory last week. Monica Asher, 43, the principal of Olentangy Orange High School, is the subject of controversy over a newsletter she sent to staffers of the school where she discussed the results of the presidential election. ‘I can’t write a message that pretends like the election didn’t happen; especially when so many of you are struggling with how to move forward,’ she wrote on Monday.