Savannah Marshall eyes Claressa Shields after first world-title success
Marshall has been buoyed by the fact she became the first fighter to stop Rankin, while Shields landed a points win over the game Scot in 2018. The American – who won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 – has tweeted screenshots of text message conversations with her mother, who states Marshall “deserves” to be […]
Obituary: Sir Bernard Ingham
Getty Images Sir Bernard Ingham was once a Tory-baiting, trade union-loving scourge of the capitalist classes. His newspaper columns in the 1960s sniffed at Sir Ted Heath’s “stagnant mind” and dismissed Sir Alec Douglas-Home as a “bomb-happy fossil”. One even began with the words, “Dear fellow serfs…” Yet, a decade later, he was the devoted […]
Rape claim sparks fury over China’s work drinking
Getty Images Drinks with colleagues are often a drawn-out affair involving formal toasting etiquette A high-profile rape allegation at Chinese tech giant Alibaba has sparked a social media storm in recent weeks about the “toxic” work culture of pressuring employees to drink at work gatherings. As public scrutiny of corporate misbehaviour grows in China, can […]
Olympics basketball: Great Britain women lose to Canada
Britain lost their second straight match of London 2012, 73-65 to Canada, despite pushing their opponents close. GB trailed Canada for much of the game but always stayed in touch, going in 36-32 behind at half-time. The hosts then took a deserved lead in the fourth quarter but a series of errors allowed Canada to […]
Five things we learned in Manchester
PA Media The Conservative tribe has been in Manchester this week for its first full conference since the pandemic began. Here are some key takeaways. Levelling up is still a thing New Tory MPs talk ‘levelling up’ It fell to Michael Gove, as the new secretary of state for levelling up, to try to bring […]
Tokyo 2020: Mixed-gender events added to Olympic Games
Mixed-gender events in athletics, swimming, table tennis and triathlon have been approved for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the IOC has announced. The Games will include a 4x400m mixed relay in athletics and a 4x100m medley mixed relay in swimming. IOC president Thomas Bach said the Games will be “more youthful, more urban and include […]
What next for Trump – and Trumpism?
BBC Donald Trump boarded Air Force One for the last time on Wednesday with a wave. As Frank Sinatra’s My Way blared over the loudspeakers at Joint Base Andrews, the soon-to-be-ex-president took off for his new home in Florida. Although he had just finished promising a small gathering of supporters that he would be back […]
Remain groups ‘rush’ to buy Twitter ads before ban
BBC Pro-EU groups have rushed to buy adverts on Twitter before a global ban on political advertising kicks in on Friday. Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey announced the ban in October, saying that the reach of political messages “should be earned, not bought”. The move seemed to have had a chilling effect on political parties, […]
Rio Olympics 2016: Spectacular closing ceremony as Olympic flag goes to Tokyo
The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo. The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana. Among the highlights were Tokyo’s impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade. “These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous […]
Mana Iwabuchi: Arsenal sign Japan forward after Aston Villa exit
Arsenal have signed Japan forward Mana Iwabuchi after her exit from Women’s Super League rivals Aston Villa. The 28-year-old scored twice in 13 games for Villa after joining the club from INAC Kobe Leonessa in December. Iwabuchi was part of the Japan side that won the 2011 Women’s World Cup – the first of three […]