COMMENT

Britain’s cosplay with warships and suchlike in the eastern Mediterranean

— What is the purpose of Rishi Sunak’s Government deploying a notably smaller naval task group in the Middle East compared to the United States, if not to project a larger presence on the international stage?

Poland Elections

Poland votes for change after nearly a decade spent sliding towards autocracy – but tricky coalition talks lie ahead for Donald Tusk

— Law and Justice emerges as the biggest party but without a majority, leaving the door open for a large coalition led by the former president of the European Council.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Hamas and Hezbollah: How they are different and why they might cooperate against Israel

— Hezbollah’s full involvement in the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict would likely open up a regional war.

Front Pages

Front pages 📰 17 October 2023

— We take a look at the front pages of the main newspapers and magazines today in the UK and beyond.

COVID-19

Who tracked UK COVID infections the best at the height of the pandemic?

— ONS, ZOE app, Google Trends… there were many ways to keep an eye on COVID cases during the pandemic. Here’s how they fared.

Front Pages

Front pages 📰 16 October 2023

— We take a look at the front pages of the main newspapers and magazines today in the UK and beyond.

China-Russia Relationship

Xi-Putin meeting: Here’s what it says about their current, and future, relationship

— Vladimir Putin’s first trip outside Russia in 20 months is to attend Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) anniversary summit. Both leaders aim to challenge the Western-dominated order but their partnership leans towards China.

Long-Read

Brexit has driven the Tory Party mad

— The influence of Brexit on the Conservative Party has bolstered populism and pushed the party further from moderate conservatism towards the influence of Nigel Farage, which is characterised by detachment from reality and ideological purity.

UK Politics

The government quietly ditched its plans to help refugees learn English

— Suella Braverman’s attack on immigrants followed the government’s failure to deliver the promised strategy to teach English.

Front Pages

Front pages 📰 15 October 2023

— We take a look at the front pages of the main newspapers and magazines today in the UK and beyond.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Palestinian conflict: How despair can drive people to violence, even if it puts their lives in danger

— Research explains why Palestinians experiencing despair may gamble with their own lives despite little real hope of improving things.

Front Pages

Front pages 📰 14 October 2023

— We take a look at the front pages of the main newspapers and magazines today in the UK and beyond.

Brexit

Why Labour’s plan to ‘rewrite Brexit’ might not be as politically risky as it sounds

— Once upon a time, questioning the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU was effectively taboo. But times have changed, and the public might be more on board now than before.

COMMENT

An Israeli novelist on being a good mother and empathetic in hard times

— Aylet Gundar-Goshen has previously said the trait she finds most irritating in others is, “indifference to others’ suffering.”

Public Health

ZOE Health Study halts its daily COVID estimates

— The ZOE Health Study team has faced challenges maintaining accurate COVID-19 data due to declining app contributors. In response, they’ve made the decision to suspend live COVID-19 reporting.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Hamas: What you need to know about the group that attacked Israel

— Hamas was founded in 1987 and, since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, has clashed with the Israeli government frequently. But never like this before.