The 2021 Oscar nominations are the most diverse Oscars ever, with nine of the 20 acting nominees from non-white backgrounds. And two women were nominated for best director – the first time more than one woman has been shortlisted for that prize in the awards’ 93-year history. Anna Smith, a film critic and host of…

A recent poll in the UK revealed there was a high level of support among managers for making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for staff returning to work. The survey of more than 1,000 managers, conducted by the Chartered Management Institute, showed that about half think office access should be restricted for those who refused to get…

The sentencing of seven of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy campaigners for unlawful assembly will send a message not just to Hong Kong, but to Beijing and the rest of the world about whether there is still an independent judiciary, the former Democratic Party chairperson and legislator Emily Lau has said. “We would like to…

A sharp rise in Covid Delta variant cases in Israel shows the need for caution when ending restrictions, says Dr Asher Salmon, deputy director general of the country’s Ministry of Health. Israel had led the way with its vaccine programme, and was able to lift many restrictions, but there is now a surge in new…

Around the world different coronavirus variants are dominating and scientists are updating their jabs to tackle them more effectively. Vaccine research scientist Dr Paul McKay explained to BBC World News why the Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is now the dominant strain in the UK, how vaccines are updated and how long…