How Donald Trump has changed the way diplomacy is done
The negotiations to end the US-Iran war, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 17, have been something of an acid test of Donald Trump’s approach to diplomacy. What does it tell us? And has this US president changed the way diplomacy is done? When Trump was inaugurated for his second […]
World Cup technology: from ref cams to AI analysts, cutting-edge research is changing the game
The men’s football World Cup presents a unique global opportunity to showcase new football technology – from boots and balls to digital systems designed to enhance both officiating accuracy and fan engagement. The process of bringing these technologies to the game often begins in universities and other research institutions. The academic journal Sports Engineering, of […]
The Caspian Sea has lost an area nearly the size of Sicily: human activities are a major reason why
The Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water on Earth, is shrinking. Not fluctuating, not entering another natural cycle, but shrinking. For decades, scientists and policymakers treated changes in the Caspian as part of the basin’s natural variability. Water levels in the sea have always risen and fallen. But our new study shows something […]
Ten years after the referendum, how Brexit could have been done differently
Matt Gibson/Shutterstock A ten-year anniversary is a good opportunity to look back on an important decision. Whether that was a marriage, a career move or a decision to leave the EU, a decade feels like an important moment for reflection. When the UK voted (narrowly) for Brexit on June 23 2016, nobody really knew what […]
Secrets of Stonehenge and other ancient sites unlocked for the summer solstice
The story of Stonehenge starts around 5,000 years ago. But its famous old stones, some of which were transported all the way from south-west Wales to Wiltshire, are just part of the story. Close to the beginning of its use, the site was a cemetery, with dozens of people laid to rest. That so many […]
Andy Burnham needed a big win. The Makerfield result means Labour might have reason to hope
The possible nominative determinism of the Makerfield constituency may prove as significant to political historians as it has been a blessing to newspaper sub-editors crafting puns on “Makerfield or Breakerfield”. The immediate futures of Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer were decided in the historic happening of the first UK byelection to effectively elect a prime […]
How America came to love football – what you should listen, read and see this week
This curation of The Conversation UK’s arts and culture coverage was first published in our fortnightly newsletter, Something Good. The first round of the World Cup is over and despite this usually being the most sedate bit of the tournament, there have been some surprisingly gripping matches. I have been told that New Zealand and […]
Labour will get no second chances to change: Andy Burnham’s warning to his struggling party
Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield byelection for Labour, gaining 55% of the vote on an exceptionally high turnout of 58.7%. He won 9,000 more votes than Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, in what turned out to be an unusual byelection swing to the party of government. The scale of a result like this sends a […]
BBC to cut 550 jobs across news and radio – here’s what it means for audiences
Epov Dmitry/Shutterstock The BBC has announced 550 job cuts as part of a plan to save £500 million. Coming in the middle of the process of renewing its royal charter, this adds to uncertainly over the BBC’s future in terms of its purpose, funding and place in an increasingly divided UK. Audiences will, inevitably, see […]
Why are we so obsessed with charismatic leaders?
Sir Keir Starmer’s reign as UK prime minister has seen him widely characterised as a charisma-free zone. Prime Minister’s Office via Wikimedia Commons Whatever your politics or profession, leaders who dominate our collective memory are rarely the quiet, methodical ones. They are the ones who stepped on stage or screen and made people believe in […]