EDITION 941
17 OCTOBER 2022

There is no escaping it: too much news is bad for you. It should come with a government health warning: “This intellectual diet is fine taken in small doses, and preferably in weekly instalments, via a well-balanced newsletter, such as 10 things from William Montgomery."

So, as another week slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How to boost workday productivity. On a busy workday, it can be tempting to just power through your ever-growing to-do-list. But this can actually make us less productive. Building in mental breaks are key for maintaining optimal brain function. READ MORE >>

2. Tories plot against Truss. Cabinet ministers are warning that Liz Truss’s time is up and backbenchers are plotting to oust her. One cabinet minister said: “If we don’t change horses soon we will be facing electoral annihilation.” Conservatives seem to want Ben Wallace to replace Truss as PM, while around 100 MPs are backing a plan to install a “unity candidate” such as Michael Gove. A joint ticket partnership of Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt has been muted by conservative grandees. Meanwhile, one minister suggested Truss is replaced by Larry the Cat. Editor

3. Wildlife down by 69% in 50 years. Earth’s wildlife populations have plunged by an average of 69% in just under 50 years, according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London. Many scientists believe we are living through the sixth mass extinction, the largest loss of life on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs as humans “continue to clear forests, consume beyond the limits of the planet and pollute on an industrial scale”. The study used 2018 data on the status of 32,000 wildlife populations covering more than 5,000 species. The Guardian

4. Royal Mail to cut up to 10,000 jobs. Royal Mail has said it plans to cut up to 6,000 full-time frontline roles in delivery and processing by next March and will reduce its headcount by a total of around 10,000 by next August. The postal service, which employs 140,000 people, said it expected to have £350m in losses by the end of the year, blaming industrial action and the ongoing decline of parcel volumes. The announcement came a day after Royal Mail workers staged a 24-hour strike over pay and conditions, the latest in an ongoing dispute. Daily Mail

5. Should you put your phone away? You're making a presentation, delivering a core message about your team's strategy for the next quarter. Suddenly, a tinkling comes from your pocket – your phone alarm is going off. This is what happened to health secretary Therese Coffey – while in an interview on Radio 4's Today programme, her phone alarm started playing while she was mid-answer. It was the second time it happened to the minister in recent weeks. What do you think? Should phones be left out of meeting rooms? VOTE HERE >>

6. Cycle group mocked for Shell deal. British Cycling is facing a backlash from members [of which I am one] and environmental campaigners after it claimed a major new partnership with the oil giant Shell would “help our organisation and sport take important steps towards net zero”. Greenpeace said “the idea of Shell helping British Cycling reach net zero is as absurd as beef farmers advising lettuce farmers on how to go vegan”. Friends of the Earth meanwhile said “it’s deeply disappointing that UK Cycling could think it is appropriate to partner with a fossil fuel giant”. Cyclists have described the tie-up as “absurd”, said Cycling Weekly. Editor

7. More muddy, no problem. Parents might despair at the seemingly always-full laundry basket, but new research shows that it's in a child's best interest to splash through muddy puddles. Soil and mud are thought to contain surprisingly powerful, friendly, non-infectious organisms, whose positive impact on children's health we are just now beginning to fully understand. These friendly microorganisms can help boost the immune system and build resilience to a range of illnesses, including allergies, asthma and even anxiety and depression, the study found. BBC

8. Summer heatwave broke records. The summer “smashed dozens of UK records” after Met Office data showed that more than half of the UK’s oldest active weather stations recorded their hottest day ever in 2022. New all-time highs were set at 56 of the 109 longest-standing stations during the July heatwave. One village in west Yorkshire broke its previous record by 6.3C. The Met Office described this summer's extreme temperatures as a “real indication of how our climate is changing”. Evening Standard

9. Coronation ‘to look towards future’. The coronation of King Charles III will take place Saturday 6 May 2023, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The ceremony, which will be held at London's Westminster Abbey, will see the monarch crowned alongside his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort.  The King will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, then be crowned with the majestic St Edward’s crown and blessed during the ceremony. Buckingham Palace said “the coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry”. The Times

10. The bottom line. Only around two-fifths of households are on track to have at least a moderate income in retirement – defined as £20,800 per annum for a single person and £30,600 for a couple. The Independent