X users will need protection after the ‘block’ feature is removed – here’s why businesses are better than people at moderating negative comments: Evolf / Shutterstock In a recent post, the owner of X, (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, announced his plans for the social media platform to remove its blocking feature, except for in direct …
After months of negotiations Ukraine will be getting the F-16 warplanes it has been begging for – here’s why that’s important: After months of diplomatic pressure to supply Ukrainian forces with advanced fighter jets, European governments have agreed to supply F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian air force. The deal, under which Denmark and the Netherlands …
After Lucy Letby: what are new parents entitled to expect when their newborn needs specialist care?: The facts of the Lucy Letby case are harrowing. A nurse has been convicted of murdering seven of her newborn patients and attempting to murder six others. And there are suggestions that managers in the healthcare system failed to …
Afghanistan: two years after Taliban takeover the west is letting down the democratic opposition: The consequences of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan two years ago are bad enough for the people who live there, especially women and girls, but also for the region and the world, in the flow of migrants and threat of terrorism. …
US-Israel relations the coolest for decades after ‘terror’ attack by settlers kills 19 year-old Palestinian: For most of Israel’s 75-year history, its closest ally has been the United States, prepared to use its UN security council veto and invariably willing to encourage military collaboration as well as providing plenty of direct aid. But that relationship …
Two years after Taliban takeover: why Afghanistan still poses a threat to the region and beyond: The dramatic and rapid Taliban offensive in the spring of 2021 culminated in its takeover of Kabul on August 15. The chaos of the western withdrawal that surrounded the return of the Taliban represented a sad endpoint of two …
Curious Kids: what comes after space?: Stock-Asso/Shutterstock What is after space? – Pip, aged four, North Yorkshire, UK When we look up at a clear night sky, we see space: a vast, seemingly infinite expanse that contains everything we know to exist. To find out what is beyond space, a good place to start would …
Ukraine war: after two months of slow progress the long-awaited counteroffensive is picking up speed. Why has it taken so long?: Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive was the subject of speculation for months before it officially began at the beginning of June. So far, only modest progress has been made and there have been concerns from Kyiv’s …
Mali crisis: UN peacekeepers are leaving after 10 years – what’s needed for a smooth transition: Malians march against the UN peacekeeping force in Bamako in September 2022. Ousmane Makaveli/AFP via Getty Images The UN Security Council voted on 30 June 2023 to end its peacekeeping mission in Mali, Minusma, after Mali officially requested its …
Long COVID: brain function still affected for some up to two years after infection – new research: LightField Studios/Shutterstock Difficulties with cognitive functions or skills, such as the ability to recall memories, concentrate on tasks, or find the right words in conversation, are commonly reported following a COVID infection. These symptoms are often referred to …
What Germany’s quest to define dignity – both before and after 1945 – tells us about society: We all know what dignity looks like when it is taken from us. From job losses and income deprivation, to discrimination, systemic racism or oppression, throughout history there have been constant and countless instances of people being deprived, …
Kenya’s politicians continue to use ethnicity to divide and rule – 60 years after independence: Protesters in Kisumu confront police officers after Kenya's disputed 2017 elections. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images Since independence in 1963, Kenya’s politicians have fed and manipulated ethnicity to win elections. With some 40-odd ethnic groups, Kenya is a country of …
Racism and the Labour party: investigation after investigation feeds an endless factional loop: Before becoming leader of the Labour party in September 2015, Jeremy Corbyn will have anticipated a fractious experience ahead. Labour leaders have almost always presided over party divisions, many of which have spilled over into crisis. For Corbyn, who swept to victory …
Fifty years after the Uruguay coup, why so few people have been brought to justice for dictatorship crimes: Uruguay marks 50 years from the beginning of its coup on June 27. On this day in 1973, President Juan Maria Bordaberry and the armed forces shut down parliament and inaugurated 12 years of state terror (1973-1985). …
Sierra Leone has been at peace for 20 years after a brutal civil war – what went right: Henry, a teenaged rebel solider, before he is disarmed in 2001. Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images Sierra Leone’s June 2023 parliamentary elections are the fifth since the end of the civil war in 2002. They also mark …
Boris Johnson Q&A: why report into misleading parliament still matters, even after he resigned as an MP: A photo of Johnson and staff submitted as evidence to the committee. House of Commons Committee of Privileges The House of Commons Committee of Privileges has released a damning report on former prime minister Boris Johnson, ruling that …
North Korea: fears of a new famine after three years of COVID isolation and harsh repression: Three years after COVID-19 hit, people around the world have regained their freedom to move between countries. All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In January 2020, Kim Jong-un decided to …
Tanzania has moved its capital from Dar after a 50-year wait – but is Dodoma ready?: Tanzania designated Dodoma as it’s new capital following a public referendum 50 years ago. GettyImages Tanzania designated Dodoma as its new capital in place of the seaside city of Dar es Salaam following a public referendum 50 years ago. …