Why ‘quirky’ people are attractive
Michal Bialozej Having an unusual appearance that stands out from those around you could be an advantage when it comes to attracting a partner (Credit: Michal Bialozej) There are some universal standards of beauty, so why has evolution not made us all beautiful? When it comes to attraction, originality can pay off. Recumbent on her […]
Con artists and disruptors – TV’s latest obsessions
Caryn James Features correspondent Beth Dubber/ Hulu (Credit: Beth Dubber/ Hulu) Why are we so fascinated by the stories of scammers and corporate rule-breakers? Because they are so charismatic, brazen and compelling to watch, writes Caryn James. “There’s only one thing you need to know about Elizabeth Holmes,” Stanford professor Phyllis Gardner (played by Laurie […]
Scots Covid heroes named in New Year Honours list
PA Media Airline pilot Emma Henderson is one of many Scots recognised after exceptional public service during the Covid outbreak Scots who went the extra mile during the coronavirus pandemic have been recognised in the New Year Honours list. The list, that rewards public service during 2020, names volunteers, scientists and politicians. Long-serving former Labour […]
The most comforting children’s books ever
Kamala Thiagarajan Features correspondent Alamy Although her books evoke a particular time in Britain, Enid Blyton has found an unexpected following in India. On the 125th anniversary of the author’s birth, Kamala Thiagarajan discovers what draws people to her work. On a rainy, windswept morning in August 2021, in the Western Indian city of Pune, […]
UK retailers ‘need EU workers after Brexit’
PA Prices may rise and home deliveries could be slower unless the retail sector retains access to all EU workers after Brexit, a trade body has warned. EU citizens account for just 6% of the industry’s 170,000 workforce, the British Retail Consortium said. However, they are concentrated in warehouse and distribution jobs, its annual workforce […]
11 of the best films to watch this July
Nicholas Barber Features correspondent Universal Studios Taika Waititi’s Thor is back, Jordan Peele is directing a new film with Daniel Kaluuya and Where the Crawdads Sing is adapted for the big screen – here are this July’s unmissable releases. Universal Studios A politically-charged sci-fi horror mystery with a very short title? Yes, Nope is the […]
McDonalds drive-thru menus ‘should be bilingual’
BBC Digital signs, which offer different items according to time of day, are being installed around the UK McDonald’s is re-submitting plans for English-language digital signs at a Gwynedd restaurant, despite being told they must also be in Welsh. The fast food giant applied last May to replace the existing drive-thru signs at its Caernarfon […]
The United States’ first interracial love song
Diane Bernard Features correspondent Atlantic Records (Credit: Atlantic Records) Today we take them for granted, but in the 1960s interracial duets were almost unheard of. Diane Bernard explores the forgotten story of Storybook Children, the taboo-busting song that became a hit. In May of 1968, just a few weeks after Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, […]
RHI ‘fill our boots’ claim misleading, says ex-DUP adviser
Jayne McCormack BBC News NI Political Reporter BBC Ex-DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford faced days of questioning at the RHI inquiry A former DUP special adviser has described an allegation that he said “we could fill our boots” with money from NI’s flawed green energy scheme as “misleading and inaccurate”. The inquiry is due to […]
The Woman in White and the meanings hidden in a masterpiece
Beverley D’Silva Features correspondent National Gallery of Art, Washington (Credit: National Gallery of Art, Washington) In art, spirituality and protest, a woman wearing white is a powerful symbol. Is she a goddess, a ghost, a “fallen woman” – or something else entirely, asks Beverley D’Silva. She was a vision in a white dress, as she […]