War in Ukraine

How Russia emerged as the clear winner from the Alaska summit

— Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin bolstered Russia, weakened the West and sidelined Ukraine. Lavish theatre masked poor US preparation, leaving Moscow emboldened and Trump chasing show over substance.

Right-Wing Populism

Two charts that lay bare the threat posed by radical right parties to western democracies

— Radical right-wing populist parties are surging globally, winning power in nations from Britain to the US, with experts warning that their embrace of executive dominance risks undermining democratic institutions and freedoms.

Refugees

Channel crossings: What is a safe and legal route?

— Since 2018, over 170,000 people have crossed the Channel to claim asylum in the UK, yet limited safe and legal routes force many into perilous journeys, campaigners warn.

Fake News

Misinformation lends itself to social contagion – here’s how to recognize and combat it

— False beliefs spread like viruses, but training people to spot and resist misinformation early, via “pre-bunking”, can build psychological immunity and protect social networks from harmful behaviours and contagion.

Social Media & Democracy

Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed

— Social media platform design steers behaviour, fuels profit, and can undermine democracy. Yet, new tech platforms prove that digital spaces can foster civic dialogue, defend democracy, and counter the rise of techno-autocracy.

UK Politics

Nearly two-thirds of voters think Starmer doesn’t respect them – new poll

— Keir Starmer’s government faces eroding public trust as perceptions of respect for ordinary people fall sharply, with Labour support dwindling and voters questioning whose interests the government serves.

Geopolitics

How NATO summit shows Europe and US no longer have a common enemy

— NATO’s Hague summit exposed deepening rifts between the US and Europe over security threats, with differing views on Russia, China, and military spending clouding the alliance’s unity and future direction.

Israel-Iran War

US joins Israel in attack on Iran and ushers in a new era of impunity

— US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites threaten to upend the liberal international order, raising fears of regional conflict, global instability and the erosion of long-standing diplomatic norms and treaties.

European Union

Europe is perfectly placed to lead a world abandoned by the US – but will it meet the moment?

— Europe faces a crisis of confidence as its global influence wanes. With slow decision-making and digital decline, only empowered youth and institutional reform can revive its fading promise.

Donald Trump

Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents

— Trump has sent troops into California without the Governor’s request, fuelling unrest over ICE raids and sparking legal threats. This sets a dangerous precedent under the controversial Insurrection Act.

Musk-Trump Relationship

Why the Musk and Trump relationship is breaking down – a psychologist explains

— Trump and Musk’s alliance has imploded. Egos clashed, policies collided, and mutual contempt exploded after political betrayal, financial backlash, and a fierce battle for dominance played out in full public view.

UK Politics

Mel Stride promises the Tories won’t repeat the mistakes of Liz Truss – except they already have

— The Tories’ economic credibility has collapsed with Liz Truss’s mini-budget. In scapegoating her, they overlook deeper failures. A shallow apology from the shadow chancellor does not win back disillusioned British voters.

War in Ukraine

Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack

— Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb saw 117 drones strike deep inside Russia, destroying over 40 aircraft. The stealth attack exposed critical airspace defence gaps, redefining modern warfare and low-level aerial threat management.

Social Cohesion

Britain is already becoming an ‘island of strangers’ – but immigration isn’t the driver

— Keir Starmer blames migration for Britain’s disunity, yet research shows that isolation stems from austerity, inequality, and the loss of community spaces, not diversity. Youth loneliness and class divides fuel disconnection.

Long-Read

Not dealing with Brexitism

— Trump's flimsy UK ‘trade deal’ masks retreat from tariff chaos, while India pact offers rare Brexit trade gain. Yet neither offsets Brexit’s economic harm nor ends Britain’s Brexitist politics.

UK Politics

To fend off Reform, mainstream parties must address the tangible decline of British towns

— Reform UK’s rise reflects deep-rooted discontent fuelled by economic upheaval, demographic shifts and institutional decay. To counter it, mainstream parties must address structural neglect with inclusive, future-focused policies.