COMMENT

Sunak wants six. Starmer two. But do live TV debates even matter any more?

— Rishi Sunak’s call for six weekly debates with Keir Starmer, dismissed by the leader of the Labour Party, highlights the diminished value of televised political debates in an era of social media and scripted interactions.

COMMENT

Blowback from Gaza and chill regional winds of change

— Turkey halts all trade with Israel, imposing economic sanctions in response to the ongoing military operations in Gaza. This significant move highlights the escalating regional tensions and global impact.

COMMENT

Donald Trump’s trial needs a Dickens to tell the story

— Charles Dickens would have depicted Donald Trump’s New York trial as a stark contrast to modern reporting, showcasing Trump’s loss of control in a dramatic courtroom setting.

COMMENT

India will soon start to vote… but blink and you’ll miss it

— Despite extensive media coverage of India’s upcoming general election, reports lack depth, focusing mainly on Prime Minister Modi and mirroring global populist trends.

COMMENT

Erasing Easter? Cancelling Christmas? Britain’s culture wars go on

— A controversy over Easter egg labelling in Lincolnshire highlights tensions over cultural identity, with critics fearing the erosion of Christian traditions amidst broader societal shifts.

COMMENT

In Portugal and California, two men move from sports to right-wing politics

— In Portugal and the US, sports figures have transitioned to right-wing politics, with right-wing and far-right parties aiming to capitalise on their fame to attract new voters.

COMMENT

Rochdale: How a special election in the UK became really special

— The by-election in Rochdale became noteworthy due to candidates’ controversies and its proxy for the Israel-Gaza debate, revealing societal divisions and neglect in the deprived area.

COMMENT

New week, new British row over some form of exclusivism

— The Conservative Party faces accusations of Islamophobia, with former deputy chairman Lee Anderson implicating London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, triggering debates over terminology and the party’s stance on religious discrimination.

COMMENT

… nevertheless, she persisted. Is that the Nikki Haley agenda?

— Nikki Haley, trailing behind Trump in polls, pledges to persist in the presidential race. Speculation suggests her candidacy aims to challenge Republicans and offer an alternative.

COMMENT

A Northern Ireland photo powerfully represents a hazy concept: Peace

— Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, political rivals in Northern Ireland, exemplify unity for a shared political goal despite ideological differences. Their collaboration marks a positive step towards peace and cooperation.

COMMENT

The Palestinians won’t cease to exist just cause they don’t have a refugee agency

— Several Western donor countries have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees based on Israeli accusations of staff involvement in Hamas attacks, impacting millions of Palestinians in Gaza, despite ongoing investigations.

COMMENT

NATO’s biggest exercise since Cold War could poke Russian bear

— The start of 2024 witnesses escalating global threats: the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran-Pakistan exchanges, China’s tensions with Taiwan, North Korea’s strategic shift, and a concerning prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons to deter NATO.

COMMENT

‘Deploy diplomats to deal with Houthis, war is no recipe for peace’

— The Houthis hold freedom of navigation hostage to press for a ceasefire in Gaza. The West responds with bombs on Houthi facilities in Yemen. How is this conducive to peace in our time?

COMMENT

Mendacious narcissistic sociopaths

— While Rishi Sunak hints at delaying the next general election, countering earlier expectations, criticism grows over the PM’s narrative, including handling PPE contracts, his views on the Rwanda scheme, and underscoring accountability concerns.

COMMENT

Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni’s Rome tryst on migration

— The UK media sensationalised a political meeting between Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni, labelling it a “love-burst”. Instead, the event in Rome focused on migration controls and blurred lines between the Conservative and far-right politicians.

COMMENT

Through its immigration policies, the UK government decides whose families are ‘legitimate’

— UK proposes changes to visa rules amid migration panic. Health and care visa holders can’t bring family; British citizens need £38,700 income for non-British families. Policies suggest hierarchy in family legitimacy, impacting migrants and mixed-nationality families.