4 d. ago Face With Tears of Joy: A natural History of Emoji by Keith Houston review

An deep dive into the surprising uses and linguistic shortfalls of the ubiquitous symbolsIn 2016, Apple announced that its gun emoji, previously a realistic grey-and-black revolver, would henceforth be a green water pistol. Gradually the other big tech companies followed suit, and now what is technically defined as the “pistol” emoji, supposed to represent a “handgun or revolver”, does not show either: instead you’ll get a water pistol or sci-fi raygun and be happy with it. No doubt this change contributed significantly to a suppression of gun crime around the world, and it remains only to ban the bomb, knife and sword emoji to wipe out violence altogether.As Keith Houston’s fascinatingly geeky and witty history shows, emoji have always been political. Over the years, people have successfully lobbied the Unicode Consortium – the cabal of corporations that controls the character set, including Google, Microsoft, Meta and Apple – to include different skin colours and same-se...

Politics

2 w. ago Reduce the impact of Spain’s mass tourism. Stay in a university – not controversial holiday lets

In what could prove to become the template for increasing protests in Edinburgh, demonstrators in Spain are becoming increasingly vocal about the impact of tourism in some areas and, in particular, short-term holiday lets that are forcing locals out of affordable housing. A leading travel expert says university rooms that would otherwise stand empty for the summer provide the solution.

Politics

2 w. ago A popular comic’s ‘catastrophe warning’ sparks mass trip cancellations and tourism slump in Japan

Japan bookings have dropped 50 per cent after a manga artist ‘predicted’ a natural disaster, says Hong Kong travel agency

Events

3 w. ago Europe’s most visited museum shuts its doors due to overcrowding fears

The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, has withstood war, terror, and pandemic - but on Monday, it was brought to a halt by its own striking staff, who say the institution is crumbling under the weight of mass tourism

Politics

3 w. ago Airbnb responds to tourists' 'go home' chants at huge protest in Majorca

Airbnb has responded after thousands of protesters across the Balearic Islands took to the streets to demand an end to the disastrous effects of mass tourism

Society

3 w. ago Holidaymakers sprayed by water pistols in Barcelona as part of organised anti

Thousands of protesters have gathered in major cities across southern Europe to demonstrate against overtourism.

Events

3 w. ago Spaniards packing water pistols blame impact of mass tourism for housing crunch

A growing number of Spaniards are souring on the country's highly successful tourism industry which is being blamed for a stubborn housing crisis

Events

4 w. ago Why there's plenty to like in Rachel Reeves' Spending Review for Edinburgh

The Chancellor’s Spending Review announcements should be welcomed, writes Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Megaher.

Politics