Mali’s coup is cheered at home but upsets neighbours
EPA Crowds rejoiced after a group of colonels seized power in Mali, a vast country stretching into the Sahara, where troops – including French soldiers and UN peacekeepers – are fighting jihadist groups, but not everyone is happy, writes West Africa analyst Paul Melly. Negotiations are rumoured to be under way for the exile of […]
Women’s Six Nations: England’s Marlie Packer discusses her softer side
Watching Marlie Packer on a rugby pitch, it is easy to make a quick character assessment: confrontational, aggressive and all too happy to rile up her opposition. Jumping to such speedy conclusions means missing out on the many nuances that form the true picture. The 32-year-old flanker is a vocal and energetic presence in England’s […]
Who is the new leader of Germany’s CDU?
Reuters AKK, as she is known, is from Germany’s smallest state Saarland Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has been elected leader of Germany’s ruling Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party, bringing Angela Merkel’s 18 years at the helm to an end. As the party’s general secretary, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer was favourite to take over when Mrs Merkel announced her retirement […]
Apple boss Tim Cook to have pay cut by over 40% this year
Getty Images Apple chief executive Tim Cook will see his annual pay package slashed by more than 40% this year. The technology giant says Mr Cook requested the cut after criticism from shareholders. Apple’s compensation committee awarded him a total “target compensation” of $49m (£45.1m) for 2023. Last year the iPhone maker’s shares fell sharply […]
UK’s first drone mail service in Orkney extended to at least 2026
Skyports/Royal Mail The drone service was launched last year The UK’s first commercial drone mail service, in Orkney, is to be extended to 2026, it has been announced. The Orkney I-Port operation was launched by Royal Mail and drone firm Skyports in August last year. The electric drones take letters and parcels between islands, where […]
‘Extraordinary’ NME magazine collection sells for £2,590
An “extraordinary collection” of NME magazines has sold for more than £2,500 at auction. Tony Howard, 70, from Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, decided to sell his 3,000-strong haul to free up space in his loft and turn it into cash for concert tickets in a bid to travel the world and see his favourite bands. He started […]
HGV driver says 40% pay rise shows industry’s desperate situation
Tom Reddy Tom Reddy said a Twitter post about his salary had generated hundreds of comments An HGV driver says his 40% pay rise sums up the precarious position the industry is in. A survey by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) estimates there is a shortage of about 100,000 drivers. Tom Reddy, a driver for […]
Principality appoints Julie-Ann Haines as first woman boss
Principality Julie-Ann Haines joined the Principality in 2007 Wales’ largest building society is to be led by a woman for the first time in its 160-year history. Principality, based in Cardiff, has announced Julie-Ann Haines would take over as chief executive, moving up from her role as chief customer officer. Ms Haines joined the company […]
Why we all need monsters and myths
Apple TV Tom Hiddleston: “Monsters reflect our need to find meaning in our lives” Tom Hiddleston says it “felt very wild” playing the pastor of a village terrified by a mythical sea creature, in Apple TV’s The Essex Serpent. Set in Victorian coastal Essex and London, the series is based on Sarah Perry’s award-winning book, […]
Can CrossFit be a professional sport?
The CrossFit Games have been running annually since 2007 and this year East Kilbride mum-of-two Ali Crawford earned an impressive second-place finish. The 45-year-old switched from regular gym life to CrossFit in 2013 and started competing seriously around five years ago. Only the top 20 athletes from each age group gain entry to the Games. […]