Chinese ride-hailing giant denies plans to go private
Getty Images Since making its US market debut a month ago the company has been targeted by authorities in Beijing Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi has denied a report that it was considering going private to appease Chinese authorities. Its shares had soared by almost 50% in Thursday’s pre-market trade after the Wall Street Journal report. […]
Meeting the fourth Mrs Zuma
Ironically these are the same traits that have alienated him from the aspirational middle class. South Africa has a broad constitution where civil, religious and cultural rights sit tenuously side-by-side. Although polygamy is legal, a 2010 survey found that 75% of South Africans disapprove of the practice. And most of those who frown upon it […]
How the handmaid became an international protest symbol
Getty Images Pro-choice activists in Buenos Aires dressed as handmaids on Wednesday Dozens of women march in silence through a rainy cityscape. Heads bowed, dressed in red cloaks and white bonnets, it looks like a scene from Gilead, the theocratic patriarchy Margaret Atwood created in dystopian 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale. But this is Buenos […]
Ipswich artists nominated in same Mobo 2025 award category
Cameron Dickson Native James recently signed with Saviour Music Records Two Ipswich music artists have been nominated in the same category in the 2025 Mobo Awards. Bob Vylan and Native James have been shortlisted in the best alternative music act category. It is Native James’ first nomination at the awards, and he said when he […]
Thousands flee Syrian city Homs as rebels advance further
Getty Images Syrian rebels declared victory in Hama on Thursday as the country’s military withdrew from a second major city Tens of thousands of people are fleeing Syria’s third-largest city Homs in fear that Islamist-led rebels will continue to advance towards the capital, Damascus. The rebels seized Hama to the north on Thursday, a second […]
Will Gujarat’s ‘cap and trade’ programme work?
AFP Much of the air pollution is caused by factory emissions Air pollution contributed to the deaths of at least 1.2 million Indians in 2017 – but a unique pilot scheme to combat air pollution in the western state of Gujarat could prove to be a model for the rest of the country. The BBC […]
Why Modi’s BJP is not fighting elections in the Himalayan region
Getty Images Experts say the BJP is fearful of losing elections in Indian-administered Kashmir More than four years after the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir, the party has decided not to contest this year’s general election there. Political analysts and opposition leaders say the decision hints at anger […]
Algorithms that lead boys to Andrew Tate content targeted
Tech firms that push children towards content such as that made by influencer Andrew Tate could be targeted after a government defeat in the Lords over changes to the Online Safety Bill. Baroness Kidron, who backed the amendments, said firms had to be held to account for algorithms that led people to harmful content online. […]
An unexpected history of the Royal Albert Hall
Getty Images The Royal Albert Hall remains imposing and popular Perhaps best known for classical music and the Last Night of the Proms, the Royal Albert Hall has a far from stuffy past. Rule Britannia has had its place – but so have Bovril, balls, Blackshirts and a bombastic celebration of the Bard. On the […]
Grieving a daughter’s Covid death in Wuhan
Getty Images A woman – not Yang Min – looks at tombs in Wuhan, China “The pain lasts for a lifetime. Even healing a little is difficult.” It’s been three years since Yang Min’s only child, Yuxi, died. The 24-year-old had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was admitted to hospital in mid-January 2020 in […]