Why Iran broke the ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz and what might happen next – expert Q&A
The 60-day ceasefire signed by the US and Iran three weeks ago fell apart on July 8. Iran targeted vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz without its say-so, prompting the US to respond with strikes against a range of military targets in the Islamic Republic. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire “over”, saying further talks […]
The US can’t win with force in the Strait of Hormuz – Iran must be offered a realistic incentive to settle
Iranian attacks on Gulf vessels trying to transit via Omani sovereign waters have once again pulled the region into a tit-for-tat spiral of escalation. The US responded by cancelling the waiver permitting Iranian oil exports. Two nights of punitive airstrikes by the US air force against targets across southern Iran followed. Iran answered with ballistic […]
UK politicians don’t want to talk about sportswashing
There are plenty of British politicians who love talking about sport. It makes them appear normal, grounded and relatable to voters. But it seems that not many enjoy talking about the political side of it – especially the concept of “sportswashing”, when sport is allegedly used by a country to deflect attention away from concerns […]
David Blunkett: police leadership needs radical reform to give people the protection they deserve
Kevin George/Shutterstock Two contradictory things can be true at the same time. It is true that the findings of the independent Police Leadership Commission, which I co-chaired, are devastating in relation to the recruitment, training and development, promotion, monitoring and appraisal of the police service. Yet there is excellent policing taking place on our streets […]
Long COVID patients are told symptoms are in their head – here’s how to change the narrative
Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock Between us, we bring two perspectives to persistent illness: personal experience of long COVID, and clinical and research experience in chronic illness rehabilitation. Both have taught us the same thing: when symptoms are real, disabling and difficult to explain, patients need more than reassurance that tests are normal. They need to be believed, […]
Tropical forests can switch from carbon sinks to carbon sources during El Niño
South American tropical forests risk turning from carbon sinks to carbon sources during extreme climate events like El Niño. Teo Tarras / Shutterstock Tropical forests draw down and store large quantities of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The Amazon rainforest in South America, for example, stores approximately 123 billion tonnes of carbon – more than is […]
Ten fathers took extended leave to care for their babies – how their family life changed
Lopolo/Shutterstock The UK government launched a major review of parental leave in July 2025, with recommendations expected in early 2027. One question sits at the heart of the review: what difference does parental leave make to family life? Our new research suggests the effects can last for years. Fathers who spend time as their child’s […]
Why you are seeing bees struggling to survive this summer
Bumblebees die in extreme heat, but there are other reasons too. Jay-Dee/Shutterstock You may be spotting bodies of dead bumblebees lying across pavements near you in the summer months. There are several reasons for this, some to do with the weather and some very much due to humans. Bumblebees are social, living in colonies that […]
Does it matter what children read, as long as they are reading?
This summer, the National Year of Reading is teaming up with sporting figures including Joe Wicks, Clare Balding and Georgia Stanway to encourage people to read. The initiative, part of the campaign’s Summer of Sport programme, links reading activity to major sporting events including Wimbledon, the Fifa Men’s World Cup, cricket and Formula 1. Team […]
Weight-loss jabs may create a new kind of yo-yo dieting
karen roach/Shutterstock For many people living with obesity, newer weight-loss medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have been transformative. These drugs are often grouped under the label GLP-1 medicines because they mimic hormones released after eating, helping people feel fuller and less hungry. Mounjaro, whose active ingredient is tirzepatide, also acts on another hormone involved […]