Bradley Wiggins alleges he was sexually groomed by a coach when he was about 13: expert explains safeguarding in sport and what more needs to be done: Former professional cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, a Tour de France winner and multiple Olympic gold medallist, has told Men’s Health magazine that he was sexually groomed by a …
Do mushrooms really use language to talk to each other? A fungi expert investigates: Alexander_Volkov/Shutterstock Nearly all of Earth’s organisms communicate with each other in one way or another, from the nods and dances and squeaks and bellows of animals, through to the invisible chemical signals emitted by plant leaves and roots. But what about …
Ukraine: the battle for Donbas will be protracted and bloody – military expert: There will be no peace deals, no ceasefires and no surrenders in Ukraine. The next two months will bring what US defence officials have called “a knife fight” in the area the Ukrainian army call “The Joint Forces Operation” (JFO). We know …
What is a non-dom? An expert answers our questions about the tax status claimed by Rishi Sunak’s wife and other wealthy people: It has emerged that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, claims non-domicile (or “non-dom”) tax status, meaning that she does not have to pay UK taxes on income earned elsewhere. This revelation has …
England’s planned school reform is just more of the same – innovation expert proposes radical alternative: SpeedKingz/Shutterstock The educational landscape needs overhauling in England. The school system is based on a 20th century framework that is no longer relevant in an increasingly digital world. Now, after school closures and the disruption caused by the pandemic, …
Five exciting additions to Marvel’s cinematic universes – according to a comics expert: Ms Marvel is making her debut this year as the first female muslim superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel/Disney Two new Marvel heroes have been brought to the big and small screens that may be quite new to many people. The …
Goblin mode: a gothic expert explains the trend’s mythical origins, and why we should all go ‘vampire mode’ instead: Arthur Rackham's illustration of the Victorian poem Goblin Market. British Library “Goblin mode” is taking the current pandemic-ridden world by storm. This state of being is defined by behaviours that feel reminiscent of deep lockdown days …
National insurance rise: what do upcoming tax changes mean for me? An expert explains: MemoriesStocker / Shutterstock April 6 marks the start of the new 2022-23 tax year and the day most workers start to pay a new tax: the health and social care levy. For one year only, the levy will take the form …
Plastic waste treaty: expert Q&A on the promise of a global agreement to reduce pollution: Yudhistirama/Shutterstock The flow of plastic entering the ocean is expected to double by 2040. To prevent this tsunami of difficult-to-decompose waste, experts have proposed a global treaty which could oblige all nations to reduce how much plastic they produce and …
Sustainable fashion expert: why I’m cutting my wardrobe down to ten items this month: Amber Martin-Woodhead, Author provided The rise of fast fashion has led to huge increases in the amount of clothes made, bought and thrown away. Between 80 and 100 billion items of clothing are made globally each year. Greenhouse gas emissions from …
Ukraine: ‘I’m surprised the oil price hasn’t hit US0 a barrel yet’ – energy trading expert Q&A: Energy prices shot up after Russian President Vladimir Putin shocked the world by ordering a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Oil is trading over US$ 100 (£75) a barrel for the first time since 2014 and natural gas prices jumped …
Ukraine invasion: what the west needs to do now – expert view: With the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has overstepped an important line. The west sat by and did little when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea in 2014. But the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that is currently underway is impossible …
COVID: lifting the remaining measures is a dangerous and senseless move – expert view: There cannot be many people who wouldn’t want to return to the carefree ways of 2019. To be free from the concern that you might unknowingly spread a deadly disease to a loved one, a friend or the person next to …
Prince Andrew: a legal expert explains the settlement with Virginia Giuffre: Prince Andrew has reached a settlement in the civil sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre. The American woman, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, had accused Andrew of sexual assault on three occasions when she was a teenager. Andrew …
Beijing 2022: environmental cost of world’s first Winter Olympics without natural snow – expert Q+A: The 24th Winter Olympic Games are underway in the Chinese capital, but winter itself seems far away. To counter the lack of cold weather, the organisers are using vast quantities of water and energy to supply the events with fake …
‘Without full Treasury backing on levelling up, Michael Gove may not have the clout to succeed’ – expert Q&A: More than two years after its landslide election victory, the UK government has finally unveiled its white paper for narrowing the gap between the richest and poorest parts of the country. The levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, …
Ukraine: Russians I met recently in St Petersburg believe there will be no invasion – foreign policy expert: All is calm: Christmas in St Petersburg Alexander Titov, Author provided While preparing for a trip to Russia in late December 2021, I was half-joking to friends that my return to the UK could well be delayed …
‘We’re entering unprecedented territory’: sports expert Q&A on what Djokovic row means for unvaccinated elite athletes: Tennis star Novak Djokovic looks to be out of the Australian Open after the country’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, cancelled his visa “on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”. This follows an earlier …