COVID-19
— Matt Hancock said the UK’s pandemic planning was wrong and focused on the consequences rather than the prevention of COVID-19, and failed to recognise the similarities between COVID-19 and SARS.
Analysis
Our analyses thoroughly examine current events and complex issues, providing nuanced insights into politics, health, economics, and social trends. Supported by evidence-based perspectives from experts, these articles go beyond the headlines to explore underlying causes and impacts, fostering informed discussions on the forces shaping our world.
UK Politics
— The Government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has been ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal, which found that Rwanda’s asylum system is not fair and effective. Relief for refugees who faced being deported to a country where they could face persecution.
France Riots
— The death of a 17-year-old boy by a police officer has sparked riots and protests in France. The incident reflects the long-standing problems of marginalisation, discrimination and police brutality that affect the suburbs of large French cities.
Cost of Living
— A reduction in your energy bills may not provide immediate relief from your financial difficulties, as inflation and interest rates remain high and exert pressure.
Russia
— Yevgeny Prigozhin’s coup attempt exposed the weakness and fragility of Vladimir Putin’s regime and the war in Ukraine. The crisis also raised doubts about Russia’s reliability as a partner for its allies. The failed rebellion may have lasting repercussions for Russia and the region.
Climate Change
— Using computer models to simulate how different stresses and events can trigger tipping points in forests, lakes, lagoons and islands, scientists warn that more than 20% of the world’s ecosystems are at risk of collapsing due to human pressures and climate extremes.
Analysis
— Those who seek power for the sake of power are less attracted to high office when more people get a say.
Long-Read
— Professor Chris Grey on the UK’s ambition to lead global AI regulation after Brexit, and the challenges and opportunities it faces, with the competition from other countries and regions, especially the EU.
Analysis
— The privileges process is a vital part of the British constitution, so what the committee investigating Boris Johnson decides matters for future precedent, even if he is gone.
Russia
— Vladimir Putin’s anti-queer campaign is just part of his continued manipulation of information.
Analysis
— The House of Commons Committee on Privileges has called for former PM Boris Johnson to be barred from having a former member’s pass, and with good reason.
UK Politics
— Boris Johnson and two of his supporters have left parliament, triggering three by-elections which could be crucial for the future of British politics. What can the history and patterns of by-elections tell us about the chances of a change in power?
Donald Trump
— Donald Trump’s defenders have alleged that his indictment is a politically motivated “witch hunt” by the Biden administration when his fate lies in the hands of a 12-member jury, not the federal government. The Sixth Amendment ensures a jury trial, protecting him from potential government overreach.
UK Politics
— As the only Green parliamentarian, Caroline Lucas has served as a constituency MP but also as a representative of the hundreds of thousands of other people who vote for her party.
War in Ukraine
— The breaching of the Nova Kakhovka dam presents massive challenges for Ukraine as it launches its long-awaited offensive. The event is being discussed as a possible war crime and an act of terror, and is certainly going to influence events on the battlefield.
Psychology
— A psychologist looks at if there is anything Donald Trump could do that might stop his supporters in their tracks.
