56 h. ago Celebrated wingsuit pilot killed in BASE jump stunt at South Africa’s Table Mountain

Brendan Weinstein was killed during a prohibited jump at the famous landmark, reportedly plunging 1,000ft feet but failing to pull up in time

Events

4 d. ago Deep in the vaults: the Bank of England’s £1.4bn Venezuelan gold conundrum

Nicolás Maduro’s seizure by US reopens question of who controls country’s reserves held in the UKTrump suggests US taxpayers could reimburse oil firmsBusiness live – latest updatesVenezuela live – latest updatesDeep under London’s streets, thousands of miles from Caracas, Nicolás Maduro’s seizure by the US has reopened a multibillion-dollar question: who controls Venezuela’s gold reserves at the Bank of England?After the ousting of Maduro, global attention has largely focused on the South American country’s vast oil wealth – believed to be the largest reserves of any nation in the world. However, Venezuela also has significant gold holdings – including bullion worth at least $1.95bn (£1.4bn) frozen in Britain. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Mamdani pledges ‘new era’ for New York and vows to govern ‘audaciously’

New mayor gives speech at inauguration and rescinds all orders signed by Eric Adams after corruption indictmentZohran Mamdani vowed to “reinvent” New York City in a speech on his first day as mayor, promising “a new era” for America’s largest city and an ambitious start to his term of office.The 34-year-old political star and democratic socialist, who a year ago was a virtually unknown state assemblyman, is the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of south Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. He is also the first to be sworn in using the Qur’an. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Zohran Mamdani promises ‘new era’ for New York City in first speech as mayor

Mayor says ‘I will govern as a democratic socialist’ at inauguration ceremony featuring AOC and Bernie SandersZohran Mamdani on Thursday vowed to “reinvent” New York City in a speech on his first day as mayor, promising “a new era” for America’s largest city and an ambitious start to his term of office.The 34-year-old political star and democratic socialist, who a year ago was a virtually unknown state assemblyman, is the city’s first Muslim mayor, first of south Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. He is also the first to be sworn in using the Qur’an. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago I’ve been a New Yorker for 23 years. Today Zohran Mamdani’s swearing

The new mayor embraces social justice, and rejects hate and nationalism. That’s why we’re so excited to see what he’ll do in officeOn a cold Saturday morning, a little over a week before the New York City mayoral election in November, I was at a park in Queens to speak at a fundraiser for Asiyah Women’s Centre, the oldest and largest shelter providing support for American Muslim female victims of domestic violence. Vendors selling everything from chai to embroidered Palestinian handicrafts turned out to support the fundraiser; a DJ blasted music and artists painted children’s faces with the colours of Halloween.I chose the vendor with the most protein on offer because I lift and squat more than my bodyweight and must meet a daily goal. “Our kebab is one of Zohran’s favourites,” the man at the King of Kebab stand told me, proudly and unprompted, as he piled my plate with meat.Mona Eltahawy writes the FEMINIST GIANT newsletter. She is the author of The Seven Necessary Sins for Women a...

Politics

1 week ago DC pipe bomb suspect confesses to planting explosives after watching YouTube but says he 'did not want to kill people'

Brian Cole Jr, 30, has reportedly confessed to placing pipe bombs outside of America's two largest political parties on the eve of the January 6, 2021 riots.

Events

3 w. ago America’s largest chains accused of failing to pull botulism

A Target store in Arkansas promoted packs with a ‘Sale!’ sign

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s approach to Venezuela repeats the mistakes of the past | Austin Sarat

Congress must work to stop the president from leading us further into a South American quagmireDonald Trump seems determined to have a military confrontation with Venezuela. He has deployed a massive military arsenal in and around the Caribbean Sea and taken a series of provocative actions off the Venezuelan coast, justifying it as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.The Council on Foreign Relations says that deployment includes an “aircraft carrier, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious assault ships, and a special forces support ship. A variety of aircraft have also been active in the region, including bombers, fighters, drones, patrol planes, and support aircraft.” This is the largest display of American military might in the western hemisphere since we invaded Panama in 1989.Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell professor of jurisprudence and political science at Amherst College, is the author or editor of more than 100 books, including Gruesome Spectacles: Bot...

Politics

4 w. ago Dorothy Parker ‘fwowed up’ in a 1928 review of which children’s classic? The Saturday quiz

From demon, equal and encyclopedia to The Tour of Life and Before the Dawn, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz 1 Inflation adjusted, what is the highest-grossing film of all time?2 What was revamped in 1279, 1560, 1696, 1816 and 1971?3 Dorothy Parker “fwowed up” in a 1928 review of which children’s classic?4 Native to South America, what is the world’s largest bird of prey?5 Which fabric is protected by the orb certification mark?6 The Almanach de Gotha is a directory of what?7 Which amusement park was opened in Vienna in 1766?8 What British term for rare US R&B 45s was coined by Dave Godin?What links: 9 Năstase; Connors twice; Tanner; McEnroe twice?10 Menevia, c600; County Down, c460; Lydda, c303; Patras, c60?11 Choral by Beethoven; The Great by Schubert; From the New World by Dvořák?12 Reverend Joy Carroll Wallis; hotelier Donald Sinclair; US military surgeon Richard Hornberger?13 Demon; equal; encyclopedia; eon; fairy; medieval; primeval?14 The Tour of Life in 1979 an...

Politics