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The Conversation UK
Venezuela election: Maduro’s regime is crumbling, but he will not give up without a fight
Venezuela is poised for a historic vote on Sunday, July 28 that could bring the 11-year reign of the country’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, to an end – and with it, the widespread sense of hopelessness that has sparked a mass exodus from the country. Of all...
Natalie Portman’s small screen debut and a sexy medieval romp – what you should see and read this week
This article was first published in our email newsletter Something Good, which every fortnight brings you a summary of the best things to watch, visit and read, as recommended and analysed by academic experts. Click here to receive the newsletter direct to your inbox. So often, in crime dramas, the...
Violence against women isn’t the only national emergency – we must also tackle the misogyny that’s causing it
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has declared violence against women a national emergency in England and Wales. The first national police analysis of the scale of the problem estimated 2 million women to be victims of offences including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic abuse. But statistics can’t fully...
Political podcasts exploded during the UK election – is it time to regulate them?
Political podcasts have exploded in popularity in the UK. Publishers like Acast and Spotify have reported downloads of political titles rising 50% or more over the 2024 general election. As a researcher of broadcast journalism and a podcast producer, I find this exciting but not surprising. Before these figures were...
Ukraine war: religious leaders are playing an important (and unusual) role
The Russian Orthodox Church has approved a statement describing Russia’s “special military operation” as a holy war, arguing that all of Ukraine should be Russia’s exclusive zone of influence. Said Ismagilov, one of Ukraine’s top muslim leaders, joined the armed forces to fight against Russia’s mass invasion, claiming a Quranic justification for his decision. Moscow’s chief rabbi, Pinchas Goldschmidt, fled Russia after refusing the invitation of state officials to make a public statement in support of the war.
Keir Starmer needs to answer these pressing questions about how he will govern
Keir Starmer’s government has hit the ground running. But over the next few weeks and months some serious choices will have to be made about exactly how to govern. These are 13 pressing questions that will demand answers soon, partly drawing from my experience working in city government, several national governments (including the UK, where I ran the strategy unit and was head of policy in No.10 under Tony Blair) and the European Commission.
Why school suspensions and exclusions have risen dramatically in England – and what could be done
The government looks set to implement a shift in how behaviour is managed in English schools. This would focus on keeping pupils in attendance. It comes after figures show that in the last academic year, school exclusions and suspensions in England reached the highest level ever recorded. There were 9,400 permanent exclusions in the 2022-23 academic year, nearly 3,000 more than the previous year. The number of suspensions, at 786,961, was an increase of over 200,000 from the 578,300 given out in 2021-22.
Gaza update: ‘vintage’ Netanyahu in Washington, Harris stays away
As the violence continued to rage in Gaza and on the West Bank – and Israeli protesters made their anger at their government felt on the streets of Tel Aviv – Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for what was always going to be a fraught visit. “Netanyahu, at least do no harm in Washington,” ran the headline of an editorial in Haaretz newspaper as he flew out, noting that the “person who sabotaged – with his own hands, deliberately and directly – the longstanding, bipartisan American support is Netanyahu himself”.
Craft cider is surprisingly good for the environment
Apple cider vinegar seems to be having a moment. People on social media report drinking it to lose weight and improve their health – although not everyone agrees about its purported benefits. But what about the less acidic, tastier, alcoholic version of apple juice? Cider too has become fashionable...
The human virome: why viruses could be as important for good health as gut bacteria
We often hear about the importance of the human microbiome – the vast collection of bacteria and fungi that live on and inside us – when it comes to our health. But there’s another, equally important part of this microbial community that remains far less known: the virome.
How roads are reshaping and scarring our planet, and even changing animals’ DNA
A web of roads encircles the Earth and stretches 40 million miles. In Crossings, a new book by environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb, tarmac is exposed for the planet-shaping force it is – one that has polluted rivers and the air, emptied soils and woodlands, and struck fear into wild animals.
What the Democrats can learn from 1968’s chaotic – and ultimately unsuccessful – presidential campaign
The assassination attempt of a divisive figure, a foreign war threatening to take centre stage, the incumbent president withdrawing his candidacy and endorsing the vice-president: the 2024 US presidential race is starting to take on an eerie resemblance to that of 1968. In that year, Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson...
Nasal spray clears proteins linked to Alzheimer’s – new study
Scientists in America have developed a nasal spray that can remove proteins in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease – at least, in mice. There are two proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s: amyloid and tau. Most of the drugs – included those recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – focus on removing amyloid. To date, though, there has been little focus on removing tau “tangles”. However, the new nasal spray, developed by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, focuses on this protein.
Elon Musk says he’s a ‘cultural Christian’ – why some leading thinkers are embracing Christianity
The world’s richest person, Elon Musk, just announced that he’s a “big believer in the principles of Christianity” and “a cultural Christian”. Musk’s reasons are moral and political – he believes Christianity can boost both happiness and birthrates. Musk joins many western...
Why so many people drown at the water’s edge
Just being near blue spaces (the sea, rivers and lakes) can make us feel more relaxed because water triggers our parasympathetic nervous system, helping our body rest and digest. This calming effect, which slows our heart rate and lowers blood pressure, explains why so many people find joy and solace in water-related activities.
Could Kamala Harris shift the swing states to the Democrats?
The full consequences of Joe Biden’s seismic decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race will take some time to be felt. One immediately apparent outcome is the change of election dynamic that comes with a presumptive nominee who ticks a range of different identity boxes including gender, age and ethnicity.
Why a French MP played rock, paper, scissors in parliament – and what it teaches us about resisting the far right
We are often told that we must listen to reactionaries – take their grievances seriously and address them as part of a democratic system. We are now even told that giving them a shot at power may be the only way to defeat them. We’re not often told to...
Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the US Congress and receives a very mixed reception: expert Q&A
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, travelled to Washington this week for a series of high-level meetings. At the invitation of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, he addressed a joint session of the US Congress. More than 90 Democratic Party politicians did not attend, including the vice-president...
There is Light Somewhere at the Hayward Gallery: an emotional exploration of history and belonging
There is Light Somewhere, the title of the latest show by conceptual artist Tavares Strachan at the Hayward Gallery in London, is borrowed from a James Baldwin quote. In his final book of essays, Nothing Personal (1964), the American novelist and social critic wrote:. One discovers the light in darkness,...
What lunar caves tell us about the shared origins of the Earth and the Moon
Using radar, a Nasa spacecraft, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), has confirmed the existence of caves beneath the lunar surface. Here’s why such geological features will be key for establishing a base on the Moon, and what they can tell us about Earth and our Moon’s shared cosmological origins.
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A nonprofit news source unlocking knowledge from British experts for the public. The Conversation U.K. finds people who have been studying a subject for years or decades and helps them explain important information. All stories are based on these experts' research.
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