Space race: The ambitions, plans and delays of launching superpowers August 26, 2021 Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, following its landmark human flight last month, has launched an uncrewed mission of NASAs future moon landing technology today. The flight, known as NS-17 or New Shepard 17, set off from a Blue Origin site in West Texas. The NASA payload on board is to test technologies including a Doppler Lidar [...]
KPMG encourages whistleblowing to avoid media leaks after CEO’s exit August 26, 2021 KPMG are reportedly urging staff to use its whistleblowing system to report concerns instead of the media, after a leaked meeting recording led to its former head Bill Michael stepping down, first reported by Financial News. The ex KPMG boss, who left the firm in February, made comments around “unconscious bias” during an online town [...]
Souad review – a sobering Egyptian coming-of-age tale August 25, 2021 There are a lot of dramas that make you question the number of times you look at your phone in a day. For her debut narrative feature Souad, Egyptian director Ayten Amin takes the familiar posts and emojis of social media and put them in the contexts of her homeland. Set in a strictly religious [...]
Japan’s top medical advisor slams Olympics chief Bach over return to Tokyo August 25, 2021 Japan’s top Covid-19 advisor has blasted International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach for returning to Tokyo to attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. Bach’s visit comes as the country continues expanding emergency curbs to contain the pandemic. Shigeru Omi, chairman of a government subcommittee on the coronavirus response, criticised the decision at a [...]
Ruby Tuesday: The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passed away aged 80 August 24, 2021 The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts has died at the age of 80, his publicist has said. The musician, who marked his 80th birthday in June, had been a member of the rock group since 1963. A statement from his London publicist Bernard Doherty to the PA news agency said: “It is with immense sadness [...]
Harlot: The inside story of England’s most controversial new wine August 24, 2021 Harlot. Whatever that word brings to mind, it’s probably not an English sparkling wine recently launched by MDCV, which is causing consternation among wine circles. Harlot’s “playful branding” involves sticking “two fingers up at the status quo” and “refus[ing] to conform”. So is this the Pussy Riot of the wine world? Not according to those [...]
Exclusive: The City’s IPO women on ‘the male-dominated, testosterone-driven culture’ August 24, 2021 When an investor attending a presentation at the RAF club asked Cath O’Neill if she could take his coat, she was bemused. A short while later the same investor apologised profusely, having realized he had mistaken the only female CEO for a member of the waiting staff. O’Neil, who was by then accustomed to being [...]
Tiananmen vigil organiser in Hong Kong awaits final vote to disband August 24, 2021 A group called The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organised an annual Tiananmen vigil in the city, has reportedly decided to disband. The group’s standing committee held a special meeting yesterday and decided to disband the embattled organisation amid political pressure, reported South China Morning Post. The disbandment [...]
Abu Dhabi fund set to take stake in broadband challenger Cityfibre August 24, 2021 A group of investors including Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund is said to be close to taking a stake in Cityfibre in a deal valuing the Goldman Sachs-backed broadband firm at around £2bn. Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company and Interogo Holding — the investment arm of the group behind Ikea — are leading the swoop [...]
As dating apps soar, doxing and revenge porn go through the roof August 23, 2021 During three strict lockdowns, doxing, revenge porn and slut shaming have shut up as more and more people shared intimidate images online or signed up to an online dating platform. In fact, one in four UK internet users have shared nude or explicit material with people they have never even met. Moreover, a third of [...]