Macron plays ‘Trump whisperer’ as the US president signs Iran ceasefire deal after a successful G7 summit
For the French president, Emmanuel Macron, this year’s meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) in the spa town of Évian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17 had several pressing issues to address. As well as reaching a coordinated approach towards artificial intelligence, trade and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Macron needed to get […]
Iran ceasefire deal confirms what we’ve been saying for years: military might doesn’t work
What a disaster the war against Iran has been for Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran signed on June 17 has formally brought a halt to the devastating war. Yet, as the ink dries on the 14-point preliminary framework, the reality of the document stands […]
Donald Trump’s popularity is at an all-time low. History says that matters
In his first term of office Donald Trump achieved the lowest average job approval ratings (41%) among Americans since the end of the second world war. In his second term he has fallen well below that with an approval rating of only 35% in a recent Economist/YouGov poll. Much of this can be explained by […]
Claims of Dartmoor pony cull reignite row over how to save Britain’s moorlands
Steven F Granville/Shutterstock The UK government has issued a denial after mounting speculation that 90% of Dartmoor hill ponies were to be culled. Speculation started over confusion around current grazing policy. So why have these animals been dragged into a political storm? Britain’s semi-wild pony herds should otherwise be a conservation success story. As concern […]
Why more births now end in caesarean section
LittleDogKorat/Shutterstock Official NHS maternity statistics show that caesareans accounted for 45% of deliveries in English NHS hospitals in 2024-25. More recent monthly NHS maternity data reported that 27% of deliveries under NHS maternity services in January 2026 were emergency caesareans. But a recent BBC analysis noted that this increase has not been accompanied by similarly […]
Why one sports injury can sometimes lead to another
After an injury, the body shifts the workload elsewhere. pics five/ Shutterstock A sports injury can feel like a single setback: a twisted ankle, a strained calf or a sore knee. But for many people, the real problem starts when they try to come back too soon – only to end up with a second […]
‘My heritage is my power’: how young Black women like Naomi Osaka are using fashion in sport
Naomi Osaka’s appearance at this May’s Met Gala in New York – which she wittily dubbed “the grand slam of fashion” – was a whirlwind business engagement jammed between two of tennis’s major tournaments. With stacked schedules, tennis superstars are usually found taking ice baths between events. Not Osaka, who donned a 9kg Robert Wun […]
How a Swedish king went on strike in 1768
Adolf Fredrik by Antoine Pesne Nationalmuseum/Wikimedia In 1768, towards the end of the period of Swedish history known as Frihetstiden, the Age of Liberty, King Adolf Frederick threatened to abdicate unless an extraordinary session of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament, was immediately convened. The immediate issue concerned a new financial plan, but the king hoped […]
Is ten too young to be criminally responsible? Here’s what the evidence says
Gergitek/Shutterstock At ten years old, some children may still struggle to tie their shoelaces or use a knife and fork properly. Yet under the law of England and Wales, a child of this age is old enough to be held criminally responsible for their actions. This is the age at which, in the eyes of […]
Why US presidents end up cursing Benjamin Netanyahu
When the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut on June 14, Donald Trump was not amused. Fearing that the attack threatened an agreement with Iran on ending the war between the two countries, the US president lashed out. Netanyahu, he said, has “no fucking judgment”. He was […]