Why have so few atrocities ever been recognised as genocide?
By James Sweeney
An intense argument is raging over whether what has been happening in Gaza since October 2023 is an act of genocide. It is the subject of a case being heard in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in which South Africa...
Nato faces a make-or-break decision about how to protect Europe and its future in next few weeks
By Amelia Hadfield
Nato is facing a pivotal moment in its history. Ahead of its June 24-25 summit in The Hague, Nato is weighing up whether it can truly continue to count on US support (and membership), whether it will become a European-only...
Mohamed Lakhdar-Hamina put African cinema on the map with his bold, political films about Algeria
By Nabil Boudraa
Legendary Algerian film-maker Mohamed Lakhdar-Hamina has passed away at the age of 91. He is most commonly remembered as the first (and only) African to win the coveted Palme dOr prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his...
Why are the US and Israel not on the same page over how to deal with Iran? Expert Q&A
By Scott Lucas
The US president, Donald Trump, claimed on May 28 to have personally stopped Israel from attacking Irans nuclear facilities. When asked if hed intervened during a phone call with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin...
Rise of the Zombie Bugs takes readers on a jaw-dropping tour of the parasite world
By Alex Dittrich
Rise of the Zombie Bugs, by Mindy Weisberger, is a non-fiction book that borrows from popular culture to make one of the most complex and grisly interactions in the animal kingdom accessible to the reader. From fungi and...
Pulp are back and more wistfully Britpop than before
By Mark RJ Higgins
Ah, the 90s. A decade when the future seemed bright, technological modernity was pregnant with promise, and Britannia was revelling in a rediscovered sense of cool. The pop-culture emblem of this was Britpop. After the...
Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI
By Rodney Coates
Few issues in the U.S. today are as controversial as diversity, equity and inclusion commonly referred to as DEI. Although the term didnt come into common usage until the 21st century, DEI is best understood as the latest...
The rise and fall – and rise again – of white-tailed deer
By Elic Weitzel
Given their abundance in American backyards, gardens and highway corridors these days, it may be surprising to learn that white-tailed deer were nearly extinct about a century ago. While they currently number somewhere in...
There’s no evidence work requirements for Medicaid recipients will boost employment, but they are a key piece of Republican spending bill
By Colin Gordon
Republicans in the U.S. Senate are sparring over their version of the multitrillion-dollar budget and immigration bill the House of Representatives passed on May 22, 2025. Some GOP senators are insisting on shrinking the...
More Colorado workplaces are becoming safe places for employees in recovery
By Liliana Tenney Et Al
At Odie Bs, a sandwich shop in Denver, recovery from drug and alcohol use is part of daily operations. Seventy percent of our staff is active in recovery, Cliff Blauvelt, co-owner of Odie Bs, said in a video testimonial....
The anatomy of a smile: how to spot a fake from the real thing
By Michelle Spear
Youve probably heard the claim that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Its usually framed as a feel-good reason to turn your frown upside down less effort, more joy. But anatomically, the numbers dont quite add...
Grattan on Friday: Trump, tariffs and the Middle East are looming challenges for Albanese
By Michelle Grattan
Australia these days receives invitations to big-league international conferences. And so Anthony Albanese will be off soon to the G7 meeting in Alberta, Canada, on June 15-17. For the prime minister, whats most important...
Why we need testosterone products designed for women
By David Haddleton
Menopause is something nearly every woman will go through. As fertility ends, levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop significantly changes that can deeply affect physical health, emotional wellbeing and everyday life....
Influencer Andrew Tate is charged with a raft of sex crimes. His followers will see him as the victim
By Steven Roberts Et Al
British prosecutors have this week charged social media influencer Andrew Tate with a string of serious sexual offences, including rape and human trafficking, alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom between...
RFK Jr. says annual COVID-19 shots no longer advised for healthy children and pregnant women – a public health expert explains the new guidance
By Libby Richards
On May 27, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer include the COVID-19 vaccine on the list of immunizations it...
From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport
By Joshua McLeod Et Al
Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years. From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business. With surging television...
3 things to watch as South Koreans head toward the polls following turbulent political period
By Jong Eun Lee
On June 3, 2025, South Koreans will head to the polls to vote for a new president. The election caps a particularly turbulent several months in the countrys politics that began with right-wing President Yoon Suk Yeol...
Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help
By Paola A. Magni Et Al
The following article contains material that some readers might find distressing. Around the world, knives are a popular weapon of choice among criminals. In Australia, for example, they are the most common weapon used in...
Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely
By Julia Henning
Ever wonder if your cat could pick you out of a line up? New research suggests they could … but maybe not in the way you would expect. Previous research has found that only 54% of cats could recognise humans by...
Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers
By Rawan Nimri Et Al
Wellness tourism is booming. Think yoga retreats in Bali, digital detox weekends in a rainforest, or a break on a luxury island to find yourself. Its no longer just about taking selfies at the beach or in front of...
Anxious over AI? One way to cope is by building your uniquely human skills
By Nitin Deckha
We live in a time of growing anxiety and fear, where the disruptive forces of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, Big Data, virtual reality and augmented reality loom ominously over peoples lives. In a recent...
What is AI slop? Why you are seeing more fake photos and videos in your social media feeds
By Jon Roozenbeek Et Al
In May 2025, a post asking [Am I the asshole] for telling my husbands affair partners fiancé about their relationship? quickly received 6,200 upvotes and more than 900 comments on Reddit. This popularity earned the...
Why Islamic State is expanding its operations in north-eastern Nigeria
By Folahanmi Aina
Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), one of the most powerful global affiliates of the Islamic State jihadist organisation, is in the middle of its largest offensive against the Nigerian military in years. The group...
How ongoing deforestation is rooted in colonialism and its management practices
By Justine Loizeau Et Al
Half of the worlds forests were destroyed during the 20th century, with three regions mainly affected: South America, West Africa and Southeast Asia. The situation has worsened to the point that, in 2023, the European...
Canada has a chance to lead on AI policy and data governance at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit
By E. Richard Gold Et Al
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming sectors from health care to climate science. But amid the global scramble to lead this technological revolution, one truth is becoming clearer: data, its platforms and...
Borders and orders: How settler-government occupations violate Kashmiri sovereignty
By Binish Ahmed
The recent attack in Pahalgam and military exchanges between India and Pakistan have renewed international focus on a nearly 80-years-long conflict over Kashmir. But a preliminary review of both North American and Indian...
Regulating AI seems like an impossible task, but ethically and economically, it’s a vital one
By Jun Du Et Al
AI has already transformed industries and the way the world works. And its development has been so rapid that it can be hard to keep up. This means that those responsible for dealing with AIs impact on issues such as...
Maduro consolidates hold on power as Venezuela’s opposition boycotts elections
By Begum Zorlu
Venezuelas ruling party romped to victory in regional and legislative elections on May 25, winning over 82% of votes cast for the national assembly. The government-controlled national electoral council said candidates for...
How to create a thriving forest, not box-checking ‘tree cover’
By Thomas Murphy
A Chinese proverb says that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is today. But its not easy to ensure the trees of today actually become the healthy, functioning forests of tomorrow....
Cashless card payments for public transport: Lagos commuters don’t trust the technology
By Emmanuel Mogaji
Public transport is the lifeblood of cities in many countries, moving millions daily to work, school and essential services. But paying for it in cash is not efficient. Long queues, fare disputes, revenue leakage, and...
Trump v Harvard: why this battle will damage the US’s reputation globally
By Thomas Gift
Harvard University is suing the Trump administration over its unprecedented attempt to bar international students from its campus. The latest salvo is that the administration has said it is cancelling all federal funds,...
Why some towns lose local news − and others don’t
By Abby Youran Qin
Why did your hometown newspaper vanish while the next town over kept theirs? This isnt bad luck its a systemic pattern. Since 2005, the United States has lost over one-third of its local newspapers, creating news deserts...
Europeans are concerned that the US will withdraw support from NATO. They are right to worry − Americans should, too
By John Deni
The United States has long played a leadership role in NATO, the most successful military alliance in history. The U.S. and 11 other countries in North America and Europe founded NATO in 1949, following World War II. NATO...
How vitamin B12 deficiency may disrupt pregnant women’s bodies
By Adaikala Antonysunil
Despite living in an age of dietary abundance, vitamin B12 deficiency is on the rise. One major culprit? Our growing reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) those convenient, calorie-dense and nutrient-poor products that...
Is the cure to loneliness live music? Here’s what a review of 59 studies tells us
By Nikki Rickard
Among the rising tide of loneliness and disconnection, live music is proving to be more than just a good time; its a powerful antidote. Whether its a pub gig or a stadium show, live music brings people together in ways...
Disaster or digital spectacle? The dangers of using floods to create social media content
By Samuel Cornell Et Al
Almost 700 rescues had been carried out in New South Wales by Friday morning as record-breaking rainfall pounds the state. Tragically, four people have died in floodwaters. Amid the chaos, videos posted on social media...
How should central banks respond to US tariffs? The RBA provides some clues
By Stella Huangfu
With the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the United States has signalled a return to aggressive tariff policies, upending economic forecasts around the world. This leaves central banks with a tricky dilemma: how...
Why Donald Trump has put Asia on the precipice of a nuclear arms race
By Ian Langford
For the past 75 years, Americas nuclear umbrella has been the keystone that has kept East Asias great‑power rivalries from turning atomic. President Donald Trumps second‑term strategic reset now threatens to crack that...
Ukraine: it’s clear right now there are no serious plans for peace
By Jonathan Este
When it comes to the sincerity, or otherwise, of Vladimir Putins apparent willingness to talk peace with Ukraine, the Russian leader has given us plenty of hints. He may insist he wants to see a deal done and an end to the...
Why a ‘rip-off’ degree might be worth the money after all – research study
By Sean Brophy
Certain university degrees especially in the arts and humanities are often maligned as rip-offs or Mickey Mouse degrees. The argument is that while some degrees lead to high-paying jobs, others offer little financial...
Canada’s skills crisis is growing — here’s how we can fix it
By Stephen Murgatroyd
Canada is facing a significant skills shortage. According to recent data, 77 per cent of Canadian businesses surveyed say they are unable to find suitably skilled candidates for the jobs they have available. Even among...
The top Democrats leading the fight against Trump’s agenda
By Fernando Pizarro
The first five months of Donald Trumps second presidency have been brutal for the Democratic party, which has been almost completely unable to stop his aggressive agenda. In March, CNN polling showed the favourability...
The Beauty Beneath the Expressway: A Journey from Self to Service
By Kenny Au
Forgotten Corners, Unforgettable Lessons It started with a simple visit to a daycare center tucked beneath the Bang Na Expressway in Bangkok. I expected to observe. Instead, I was transformed. There, in the shadows of...
Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage
By Matthew Powers
Republicans in Washington have their sights once again on defunding public media. On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the termination of taxpayer support for the Corporation for...
Being honest about using AI at work makes people trust you less, research finds
By Oliver Schilke Et Al
Whether youre using AI to write cover letters, grade papers or draft ad campaigns, you might want to think twice about telling others. That simple act of disclosure can make people trust you less, our new peer-reviewed...
Predictive policing AI is on the rise − making it accountable to the public could curb its harmful effects
By Maria Lungu
The 2002 sci-fi thriller Minority Report depicted a dystopian future where a specialized police unit was tasked with arresting people for crimes they had not yet committed. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a short...
Running with a stroller: 2 biomechanics researchers on how it affects your form − and risk of injury
By Allison Altman Singles Et Al
Faster, mommy, faster! Allisons toddler squealed as she ran down the hill by her house with her jogging stroller. As a longtime runner and running biomechanics researcher, she found herself in the same situation as many...
Ancient Mars may have had a carbon cycle − a new study suggests the red planet may have once been warmer, wetter and more favorable for life
By Elisabeth M. Hausrath
Mars, one of our closest planetary neighbors, has fascinated people for hundreds of years, partly because it is so similar to Earth. It is about the same size, contains similar rocks and minerals, and is not too much...
No more illusions: what civil society must do now to defend Indonesia’s future
By Prodita Sabarini
In 2034, the unified Republic of Indonesia splintered into independent states led by monarchs as the government collapsed under ecological, financial and political crises. Civil society was crushed, eliminating peoples...
As Warren Buffett prepares to retire, does his investing philosophy have a future?
By Angel Zhong
Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old investing legend and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, has announced plans to step down at the end of this year. His departure will mark the end of an era for value investing, an...