Why the questions about Reform UK and its wealthy donors won’t go away
There have been more claims about Reform UK and its finances. In fact, it has become so complicated that it’s easy to forget party leader Nigel Farage has a byelection battle on his hands. A £5 million undeclared gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne was the catalyst for Farage’s resignation as MP for Clacton – which […]
Why bad health information can seem so convincing – and five ways to resist it
Shyntartanya/Shutterstock Recent reports have highlighted AI-generated “doctors” spreading dubious health advice to millions of social media users. Fabricated wellness trends can travel just as quickly. A supposed “pink jelly” weight-loss treatment, for example, reportedly fooled at least one celebrity. These examples gain credibility in different ways. Influencers can appear familiar and sincere, while AI-generated doctors […]
Diplomacy after death at Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu sat on the same row in Washington National Cathedral this week to bid farewell to Republican US senator Lindsey Graham. But, for the two leaders, Graham’s funeral was also an opportunity for private talks at the White House with Donald Trump. Graham was a passionate […]
Wildfires, wombats and wake-up calls – what to read, rethink and act on this week
This roundup of The Conversation’s environment coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. The world is burning. As ferocious wildfires spread across Europe, some people continue to fly off to the continent on their holidays, seemingly unaware of the extreme dangers facing thousands of people. Better climate reporting could help […]
Why Andy Burnham is right to want for-profit firms out of social care
For-profit organisations actually worsen many of the core problems with England’s social care systems. Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock Prime minister Andy Burnham announced on Wednesday his commitment to improving England’s social care system. If the new prime minister has his way, England will legislate a new national care service within the next two years. Burnham […]
As Larry the cat welcomes yet another prime minister, an expert explains how pets adapt to change
Larry, the Downing Street cat, has had to adapt to seven different prime ministers moving into No 10 over the past decade. Yet while the nation’s attention is fixed on the departing and incoming political leaders, who is thinking about the effect these upheavals might have on one of the property’s most enduring residents? Cats […]
The other side of the Taj Mahal: artisan workers struggle to survive while the world enjoys their craft
saiko3p/Shutterstock Agra is known as the home of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world and a bucket-list destination. Visitors marvel at its beauty, but few realise that another Agra exists in its shadow: the Agra of its artisans. These communities hold the essence of the city’s cultural legacy yet remain […]
The changing face of diversity in the UK cabinet
Andy Burnham’s first cabinet includes four ministers from visible ethnic minority backgrounds: home secretary Shabana Mahmood, energy security secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, AI minister Kanishka Narayan, and Lisa Nandy as culture secretary. A decade ago, this team alone would probably have generated headlines. Now, it has barely registered. This silence on the makeup of the cabinet […]
How Shakespeare and his contemporaries used music to rouse emotions
Music is one of the most powerful tools through which films and TV programmes affect us. We might hear a sad melody that brings us to tears, a creepy tune that gives us goosebumps, or a funny song that compels us to laugh. This effect is not limited to the silver and small screen. In […]
UK drought: crop harvests at severe risk of collapse
Extreme droughts affect farmland and therefore the UK’s food system. Ann Dr/Shutterstock Much of England is now officially in drought. Reservoir levels are being closely monitored by water companies, while farmers are reporting dry soils and poor crop conditions. Further restrictions such as grazing rules could soon come into effect. Water is recognised as critical […]