
Nigeria’s Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo festival celebrates the power of a Yoruba goddess
The Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo festival is the most important annual event in Òṣogbo, south-west Nigeria. It draws thousands of devotees and tourists from across Nigeria and worldwide. The festival is a devotional event...

Mali’s military junta has made homosexuality a crime – what the new law says
A bloodless coup in 2020 saw the military take control of Mali. Since then there have been growing reports of a declining human rights record in the west African country. The new leaders the National Transitional Council ...
As EV sales surge, the UK car industry could be about to reach a turning point
Boument Japet/Shutterstock Last year, electric car registrations in the UK topped those of Germany. The number of UK sales (382,000 vehicles) came from growth of 21.4% on 2023, making the UK the largest market for electric...

Red squirrels fed on peanuts have weaker jaws – here’s why that matters for conservation
Red squirrels have been replaced over a large part of Great Britain by the non-native grey squirrel, introduced from North America in the late 19th century. Today, the British population of red squirrels (approximately...

Forget BMI – there’s a 2,000 year-old technique for measuring body fat that’s more useful
Its the start of another year and the body mass index (BMI) is being criticised again. This time a Lancet-commissioned group of experts is denouncing it as a diagnostic tool for obesity. They say that doctors should look...

How the world’s tallest bridge saves thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions
Measured from ground level to the top of its highest tower, the Millau Viaduct in France is the tallest bridge in the world. At 343 metres, its taller than the Eiffel Tower or indeed any skyscraper in western Europe. The...