The war won’t end Iran’s nuclear program – it will drive it underground, following North Korea’s model

By Anthony Burke

The United States and Israels strikes on Iran are concerning, and not just for the questionable legal justifications provided by both governments. Even if their attacks cause severe damage to Irans nuclear facilities, this...

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...

The American mass exodus to Canada amid Trump 2.0 has yet to materialize

By Lori Wilkinson

In February 2025, the New Republic, reported there were a growing number of Americans who wanted to leave the country following the election of Donald Trump. Canadian reports backed up the assertion, particularly the news...

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...

Champions League final 2025: a battle for glory against a backdrop of money and fashion

By Simon Chadwick Et Al

The 2025 mens Champions League final will end in triumph for either Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan. And whichever side wins, Uefa will no doubt claim that the tournaments new format, involving more teams, more games...

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...

Trump’s white genocide claims about South Africa have deep roots in American history

By Alex Hinton

President Donald Trump shows printed news articles during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on May 21, 2025. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images President Donald...

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...

Weaponized storytelling: How AI is helping researchers sniff out disinformation campaigns

By Mark Finlayson Et Al

It is not often that cold, hard facts determine what people care most about and what they believe. Instead, it is the power and familiarity of a well-told story that reigns supreme. Whether its a heartfelt anecdote, a...

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...

Is Sudan’s war the reason for South Sudan’s economic crisis? What’s really going on with oil revenue

By Jan Pospisil

The civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has had an impact on its neighbours. One of the most keenly affected countries is South Sudan, which became...

Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

By Stefan Wolff

Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media channel to proclaim that if it wasnt for him, lots of really bad things...

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...

Trump’s global trade plans are in disarray, after a US court ruling on ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs

By Susan Stone

A US court has blocked the so-called Liberation Day tariffs that US President Donald Trump imposed on imported goods from around 90 nations. This puts implementation of Trumps current trade policy in disarray. The Court of...

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...