Podcasts

A couple of years ago, Samira Ahmed was interviewed for the BBC’s archives about the roots of her “incredible affection” for the corporation. The interview, to introduce the “People, Nation, Empire” strand of the online history, sits alongside footage of the arrival of the Windrush boat at Tilbury docks and clips from The Black and White Minstrel Show. In it, Ahmed describes a trip she made to the Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham, aged nine, to watch her mother, Lalita Ahmed, present a Hindustani chatshow in which British-Asian women discussed everything from yoga to domestic violence. Ahmed, a long way from her home in south-west London, sat wide-eyed up in the gallery. “Everyone there, except for [my mother] and her guests was white,” she recalled. “And everyone was so incredibly polite and professional. I remember the director; I think he was called Jeremy.” Looking back on that visit, she believed “it was quite a … [Read more...] about Samira Ahmed: ‘Run for director general of the BBC? Maybe next time’

The Sussexes announced they would be spending Christmas with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, rather than at Sandringham with the Queen. While the decision was said to have the monarch's support, one source told Us Weekly that the 'rift' between William and Harry was 'one of the main reasons behind their decision'. … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle was ‘very sensitive’ about being ‘number two’ to Kate Middleton and clashed with palace staff over not getting the ‘attention she deserved’, royal author claims

Hong Kong police have been given sweeping new powers, including raids without a warrant and surveillance, as part of Beijing bringing down a guillotine on the territory’s freedoms. The city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, suggested that even questioning new national security laws imposed by the Communist party central government could be deemed an offence. She warned “radicals … not to challenge the law or the consequences would be serious”. Tik Tok has said it will pull out of Hong Kong app stores, signalling it is distancing itself from its Chinese parent company after the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said the US was “certainly looking at” banning Chinese social media apps. WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram have said they are pausing cooperation with data requests from Hong Kong authorities. … [Read more...] about Tuesday briefing: Arrest if you challenge Hong Kong laws, says Carrie Lam

More from Business Coronavirus: Mirror and Express publisher Reach to cut 550 jobs China: TikTok will no longer operate in Hong Kong due to national security law Coronavirus: Homeowners to get £5,000 vouchers to help them save energy Coronavirus recovery: Johnson has to square the circle between traditional Tory values and demands to tax and spend Coronavirus: Stocks surge globally after biggest daily rise since 2015 in China Coronavirus: Businessman loses legal fight over 'draconian' lockdown … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Deliveroo adds tipping feature amid restaurant sector crisis

"I was getting up in the middle of the night, having to go and sit in the kitchen and breathe because we just didn’t know what was going to happen, if we had it, if we didn’t have it. It was just awful." … [Read more...] about Kelly Brook ‘downed apple cider vinegar to stop coronavirus amid crippling anxiety’