2024 US Presidential Election

Trump v DeSantis: How the two Republican presidential heavy-hitters compare

— Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is likely to be Donald Trump’s main opponent for the Republican presidential nomination. But does he have what it takes to challenge the former president who remains popular among the party’s base?

King Charles III

King Charles III coronation: What the controversy over an ancient stone tells us about historical symbols in the modern age

— The return of the Stone of Scone to Westminster has proven controversial.

Illegal Migration Bill

Illegal migration bill: Can the government ignore the European Court of Human Rights?

— The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that interim measures are legally binding under international law.

2024 US Presidential Election

Why a Biden-Harris reelection ticket makes sense for the Democrats in 2024

— If elected, Biden would be the oldest person to occupy the White House. But he’s by far the most popular candidate the Democrats have.

OPINION

Why strike action is climate action

— Striking pushes against the core capitalist dynamics also responsible for global warming.

Sudan

Sudan: Violence between army and militia is a symptom of an old disease that is destroying Africa

— Sudan is in a power struggle between its military and paramilitary forces causing fears of civil war. Authoritarian rulers setting up armed groups, loose command and control, ethnic ties and external mercenaries have exacerbated the issue.

UK Politics

Dominic Raab is right that the government has set a ‘dangerous precedent’ – but not for the reasons he thinks

— A report found the deputy PM to have been abrasive and intimidating to civil servants who have waited months for action to be taken. Dominic Raab’s case leaves current and future victims of ministerial bullying unsure if their grievances will be taken seriously.

Tech

Emergency alert system launches in the UK: Should you be worried about privacy?

— The UK launched an emergency alert system that sends notifications to smartphones regarding incidents like terrorist attacks and natural disasters. The system uses location data but has privacy safeguards in place. However, concerns still linger about the potential misuse of personal data.

Education

Teachers are quitting – Here’s what could be done to get them to stay

— Teachers are quitting due to workload, lack of support, and low pay. To retain them, solutions such as a lighter workload, better pay, more support and flexible working arrangements are suggested as well as creating a culture of respect and recognition.

COVID-19

Sanofi vaccine: What to know about this protein-based COVID booster being offered in the UK

— A vaccine produced by Sanofi is being given as part of the 2023 spring booster campaign. An immunology expert explains how it works. I n the UK a spring booster campaign has recently begun, offering an additional vaccine to people at highest risk from COVID. Between April and June 2023

Voter ID

Voter ID: Conservative MPs gave weak justification for law that could stop people voting

— The UK government has changed the law, requiring people in England to show ID when voting. The opposition claims the move is an attempt by the Tories to sway future elections by preventing certain demographics from voting, particularly those unlikely to vote Conservatives.

UK Politics

Labour’s attack ads on Rishi Sunak: Gutter politics or smart election campaigning?

— Beyond the ethical questions raised by an ad suggesting the prime minister doesn’t believe in sending sex offenders to prison is the matter of whether such negative campaigning even works.

Geopolitics

Why democratic countries around the world are not prepared to support Ukraine – and some are shifting closer to Russia

— Global efforts to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine have stalled, with many countries opting for neutrality instead of condemning Russia. African and Latin American countries remain mostly neutral whilst China and India maintain a balancing act through their strategic partnership with Russia.

Long COVID

Three in five long COVID patients have organ damage a year after infection

— A recent study found 59% of people with long COVID had damage to at least one organ a year after their initial symptoms.

Finland

Finland’s election: What happened to Sanna Marin and what to expect next

— The former prime minister of Finland actually increased her party’s vote share, but the collapse of her coalition partners has cost her the top job.

Public Health

Air pollution can increase the risk of COVID infection and severe disease

— Air pollution can increase COVID risk by weakening our immune defences and exacerbating underlying health conditions.