COMMENT

Shouldn’t the French get with the script?

— The state in France can’t afford to pay for the French to play boules and drink pastis for a quarter-century.

COMMENT

Elon Musk obeys ‘strict’ social media rules of Modi’s India. But not for America’s NPR

— When asked about Twitter’s functioning in India, Elon Musk claims ignorance regarding the Indian government’s requests to remove content related to Narendra Modi’s leadership and 2002 Gujarat riots. Despite being a “free speech absolutist,” Musk seems to surrender easily to government complaints.

COMMENT

Racism and the ugliness of Britain’s increasingly diverse politics

— Baroness Warsi condemned Home Secretary Suella Braverman for using extreme and divisive language about British Pakistani men, cautioning that this could fan the flames of racism and invite attacks. Warsi recommends that one should be more cautious with words, especially if highly trained in law.

COMMENT

Ukraine war re-positions ‘the heart of Europe’ more eastwards... in Poland

— Poland’s importance in Europe is evolving due to its strong stance against Russian aggression in Ukraine, having hosted Ukrainian refugees, provided aid and supplies, and pushed for Ukraine’s NATO and EU integration.

COMMENT

20 years on, the false narrative of the Firdos Square Saddam statue toppling

— 20 years after the iconic toppling of Saddam Hussein’s bronze statue in Iraq, some people now lament the lack of rule of law in the country. Though the toppling was a defining moment in Iraq’s freedom, the state of corruption suggests a different reality.

COMMENT

Rishi Sunak’s Goldilocks migration strategy: ‘Stop the boats’ and ‘start the legal’ passage

— Rishi Sunak is trying to please both moderate and hard-lined rebels within his party regarding UK migration policies. The UK needs ‘safe and legal’ routes for both economic migrants and persecuted people so they don’t have to risk taking boats. It’s time for humane migration policies in the UK.

COMMENT

Nitrous oxide ban: What the Dutch do in January, the Brits do in March

— The Netherlands and Britain plan to ban laughing gas to stop drug use in parks and address antisocial behaviour caused by the drug.

COMMENT

This is not a photo, but AI can pretend it is

— AI is now able to generate photo-realistic images of human hands. It can now take images like photos and make them realistically detailed. With this new technique, the possibilities of what AI can do are endless.

COMMENT

‘Dear Rishi’ – The code words of British politics

— Britain’s political landscape is full of coded language, where words and phrases mean something entirely different to the public than to those in power. They carefully craft their language with purpose, speaking in a way that will be understood, not necessarily heard.

COMMENT

Brexit Britain: Grow-your-own-salad country vs start-up nation

— What’s a sustainable ambition for Brexit Britain? Not to become a start-up nation but to grow your own salad.

OPINION

The first Leopard tank arrived in Kyiv

— Ukraine is struggling to confront two pressing threats: a Russian invasion and corruption within its own military. It’s essential they take action against both of these challenges.

COMMENT

Ukraine’s defence ministry corruption reshuffle marks a painful moment in an agonising war

— Ukraine faces a tough challenge with its top official’s shuffle and military food purchases reportedly going at highly inflated prices while the nation is at war.

COMMENT

Are you ready for Boiled Raisin Cake as the Ukraine war drags on?

— With no sign of Russia ending its hideous war in Ukraine, are we facing a return to rationing times?

COMMENT

So Boris Johnson’s comeback trail, like that of Liz Truss, runs through Washington, DC?

— There is a section of the Tories that doesn’t view bipartisanship as important in the relationship with America. There lies a perilous path.

COMMENT

Truss, who lost longevity battle to a lettuce, is on a comeback trail through Washington, DC

— During her trip to America, Liz Truss was happy to be cheered by some Republicans who want Trussonomics-style uber-neo-liberalism.

Women in Politics

Is Jacinda Ardern’s short sharp goodbye a template or a telling sign of the times?

— Did the hatefulness drive Jacinda Ardern from office and out of politics? Why would the mother of a 5-year-old want to be the focus of a storm of crazed commentary and calls to action? Is walking away an act of bravery or the acknowledgement you can’t hack it?