Top talking points of 2019 and how they evaded the censors
Getty Images China has one of the most tightly controlled internet environments in the world, but despite this its 854 million internet users yet again in 2019 found ways to challenge the government or talk about the issues they want to discuss. This year, China has seen a reignited #MeToo movement, young people have challenged […]
How Ichi the Killer brought ultra-violence to the mainstream
Alamy Tadanobu Asano in Ichi the Killer (Credit: Alamy) Takashi Miike’s notorious 2001 film was banned in several countries for its graphic, ultra-violent scenes, while some consider it a cult classic, writes James Balmont. In November 2001, one of the most violent and notorious films to emerge from Japan premiered in the UK, at the […]
Wolverhampton MP calls for prevention in ‘knife crime capital’
UK Parliament Warinder Juss cited two fatalities in his call for more action to prevent knife crime A newly elected MP has called on ministers to step up efforts to tackle knife crime. Wolverhampton West MP Warinder Juss told the Commons that policies were needed to “tackle not only youth violence but the causes of […]
Net zero targets ‘unrealistic’ says Oxfam report
Getty Images Three millions trees are being planted in the Italian city of Milan by 2030, in order to fight climate change Oxfam says governments and companies are “hiding behind unreliable, unproven and unrealistic carbon removal schemes” in order to hit targets. Global attempts are being made to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. […]
Obesity ’causes more cases of some cancers than smoking’
Getty Images Obesity now causes more cases of four common cancers in the UK than smoking, according to a charity. Cancer Research UK says bowel, kidney, ovarian and liver cancers are more likely to have been caused by being overweight than by smoking tobacco. It says millions are at risk of cancer because of their […]
The controversial music that is the sound of global youth
Nasecworld / Believe In the last decade, drill music has become ever more popular while inspiring debates over its links to violence. Now the rap sound is flourishing in many continents, writes Sam Davies. In 1965 Martin Luther King arrived in Chicago, looking to expand his civil rights campaign beyond the American South. He found […]
Poor connectivity hitting donations to rural churches
BBC Rural churches in Gloucestershire hope for better internet connection Rural churches in Gloucestershire face a funding crisis due to a lack of internet connectivity, according to new research. Ecclesiastical Insurance found a third of rural churches are not using digital donations and blamed a lack of internet connectivity in their area. The company said […]
97 coronavirus cases linked to Wrexham factory
BBC Rowan Foods in Wrexham says it has introduced screens and visors to keep staff safe A union has accused a Wrexham food factory linked to nearly 100 cases of coronavirus of putting staff safety at risk. The health minister says 97 people have now tested positive after staff became ill at Rowan Foods. Unite […]
UKIP’s Mike Hookem quits role over Anne Marie Waters leadership bid
PA Mike Hookem said he ‘strongly disagrees’ with the views of Anne Marie Waters A senior UKIP MEP has resigned as deputy whip in the European Parliament over support within the party for an anti-Islam campaigner. Anne Marie Waters, who founded the Sharia Watch pressure group and has called Islam “evil”, has been allowed to […]
Reddit troll ban helped cut hateful speech
Reddit Reddit said it was more about “honest discussion” than free speech US scientists studied what happened on Reddit after it took action in 2015 to close down offensive chat forums. The ban led many people to close their Reddit accounts and those that stayed toned down their language, they found. However, the study suggests […]