Right to Protest

Scotland Yard shows contempt for peaceful protest, arresting republicans hours before coronation

— Scotland Yard is accused of violating the right to protest after arresting the head of a republican movement and other organisers of a peaceful demonstration before the coronation.

COVID-19

WHO declares COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency, after 3 years

— COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, according to the WHO. However, it still poses a threat and countries are urged to remain vigilant and not let their guard down against the virus.

Education

Labour’s “Nick Clegg moment”? Keir Starmer ditches tuition fee pledge

— Labour is ready to abandon its long-held pledge to scrap university tuition fees in England.

NHS Strike

NHS Staff Council accepts Government’s revised pay offer, while other unions reject it

— The NHS Staff Council, representing over a million NHS staff in England, has accepted the government’s revised pay offer for 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Voting Rights

The Good Law Project takes on the Government’s ID requirements

— The Good Law Project has expressed concern over the new voting rules, which they fear may lead to the disenfranchisement of certain groups, especially young people.

Geopolitics

Nuclear weapons gap and global conflicts: How the world is on edge in 2023

— The index on nuclear weapons shows that Russia and the US have the most nuclear weapons in the world, while China and other countries have much fewer. Worrying at a time when the world is currently facing multiple geopolitical tensions.

COVID-19

COVID Inquiry accused of ignoring families who paid the ultimate price

— A campaign group of bereaved families who lost relatives to COVID-19 and want the government to account for its errors during the pandemic are dissatisfied with the COVID Inquiry and feel they are being sidelined.

COVID-19

Experts urge Britons to wear face masks on public transport as new COVID variant spreads

— Experts are warning Britons to wear masks on public transport as the COVID variant Arcturus spreads. Despite milder symptoms and eased restrictions, COVID-19 remains a threat.

Demography

Move over China: India takes over as the world’s most populous country

— According to recent UN population estimates, India has overtaken China as the world’s most populous country.

UK Strikes

All aboard the strike train! Aslef announces three 24-hour strikes

— The train drivers’ union, Aslef, has declared three 24-hour strikes on 12 May, 31 May, and 3 June.

King Charles III

Royally awkward: King Charles III’s ancestors were involved in the slave trade

— Recent research has uncovered evidence that direct ancestors of King Charles III and the royal family were involved in the buying and exploitation of enslaved people on tobacco plantations in Virginia.

Stats

Five most prepared countries for the green tech transition

— The US, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are the top five prepared countries to use frontier technologies, while Guinea, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the least prepared.

X (Formerly Known As Twitter)

Twitter’s verification system now eligible for far-right organizations

— Under Elon Musk, Twitter has verified far-right group Britain First giving it a gold tick while its leader got a blue tick. Is Twitter promoting extreme content?

Environment

British public demands prison sentences for water company CEOs who pollute our waters

— A recent poll shows that 60% of British respondents believe that chief executives of water companies should receive prison sentences if they are found responsible for serious incidents of water pollution.

COVID-19

Unpredictable COVID variants: Concerns and hopes for the future

— The ongoing emergence of COVID-19 variants every two months is concerning due to the virus’ ability to evolve unpredictably. The potential impact of the new Arcturus strain on vulnerable populations, students, and the economy is a cause for concern.

UK Politics

Behind the mess: A tragicomedy of power struggles in Downing Street

— A new book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos and downfall of Boris Johnson’s premiership, including how the former PM’s indecisiveness and knack for pointing fingers led to his downfall, and how Dominic Cummings and Carrie Johnson influenced decision-making in Downing Street.