Afghan activist: Either we let them kill us or keep working

The passing of sweeping changes to Hong Kong’s electoral rules will mean prospective MPs will have to go through a degrading and humiliating process, the former Democratic Party chairperson and legislator Emily Lau has said. Hong Kong does not have democracy but they had a system which allowed people to be free, safe and have…

Mel Brooks, an all-round Hollywood legend, responsible for films like The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, has produced his first autobiography, at the age of 95. His son Max encouraged him to write the 450-page All About Me! during the first lockdown. The BBC’s Alan Yentob, who has made several documentaries with the entertainer,…

The country could become an ideal place for international terrorism and violent extremism should the state fracture, the UK Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Sir Nick Carter has said. It was important to see what happened in the longer term, Gen Carter told BBC World News. “I think that we need to be really…

Humanoid robot Pepper has been turned into what is thought to be the world’s first robotic squash coach, by researchers at National Robotarium and Heriot-Watt University. The aim is to see how robotics could improve a player’s performance and motivation between sessions with their human coach. BBC Click’s Paul Carter reports.

A former British diplomat and long-standing friend of Myanmar’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, says he has heard nothing from her since she was put under house arrest. Sir Robert Cooper told BBC World News: “I don’t know how she is. She’s kind of use to this. She doesn’t give in easily, but what…

A small study found hugs lasting five to 10 seconds are associated with being the most pleasant.