Today is Darwin Day, the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, and events are occurring across the UK to celebrate his life and work.

Working at home again today but only a half day so just finished and intend to go out into the snow but here's a wee update... Photos: of the parish in the snow have been uploaded to the website - this one of the Charley's lake in Ruscombe is from Maggie Booth (no relation!) - see more under pictures at: www.wrpc.org.uk The weather is clearly having a huge impact on all aspects of life -

Defence - UK regular forces outflow from trained strength to civil life - Dec

The Association for Learning Technology (ALT) announces the 2008 Call for Nominations for Honorary Life Membership of ALT, the UK-based professional and scholarly association which brings together all those with an interest in the use of learning technology.

It is now clear that Gordon Brown has indeed backed down over the issue of MPs expenses and the Statutory Instrument has been withdrawn. Why? I'd venture to suggest that this is possibly the first real victory for an online political campaign in this country. Tom Steinberg of MySociety has coordinated it, and over the last few days it has really sprung into life, without much traction in the ...

There’s little to say that hasn’t been said on that speech, the one that ended Obama’s life as Junior Senator for Illinois and began his career as US President and leader of the free world. All the commentators are using the word “sober” as if they were expecting a slurred speech piss-up. Anyway, job done and

Victims of Equitable Life are to be paid off by the taxpayer, says the FT. Equitable Life ran a with-profits fund, a form of collective investment that only goes up (as long as you maintain it to the end of the agreed term). Once awarded, bonuses on with-profits funds cannot be taken away. EL's undoing was that, like some other companies, they dragged in extra pension business a long time ago...

An advertisement on a bus in Madrid reads "God does exist, enjoy your life in Christ". The slogan was conceived as a response to an atheist advertising campaign launched in Barcelona, and follows attempts by the British and American Humanist Associations to raise awareness of atheism in the UK and US. Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images.

Mr UK Economy doesn't like his treatment Doc, thank God you've come - Nurse Peston says you've now pushed my interest rates lower than they have ever been in my entire life*. That can't be right! Surely you've already administered a huge cut in rates, and it hasn't worked. Should you really be cutting my rates even more? I thought the problem was that my banks just wo...

Marine reserves not only protect the ocean life within them - they help to sustain surrounding ecosystems and animals that pass through them - like whales Ok, this might take some believing, but apparently outgoing US President George W Bush just made a major contribution to protecting the oceans. Yesterday the man better known for threatening our entire planet's future by dragging his feet o...