Ukraine and Russia claim to be prepared for extremes of winter warfare – here's what they face
Nov 05, 2023 20:34 pm UTC| Politics
As the bitter cold of winter settles in and temperatures drop to between -4,8 and 2C, both Ukrainian and Russian troops are preparing for a new phase of the war. Freezing temperatures can hamper the performance of...

Why the assumption that British voters switch to the Conservatives as they grow older is wrong
Nov 05, 2023 20:33 pm UTC| Politics
If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain. At first glance, this quote, attributed to Winston Churchill, appears to fit the...
Israel-Hamas war: Lebanese peace plan reflects country's lack of appetite for more conflict
Nov 05, 2023 19:41 pm UTC| Politics
As the Lebanese prime minister, Najib Mikati, outlined a three-step peace plan for the conflict in Gaza on October 31, he made a statement which may seem ordinary to a western audience: We will consider the right of Israel...
Gaza bombing adds to the generations of Palestinians displaced from their homes
Nov 02, 2023 13:32 pm UTC| Politics
An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes since the Israeli military began bombing the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023, in retaliation for a surprise attack by Hamas militants. Many of these...
South Africa's medium-term budget reflects difficult and contested decisions
Nov 02, 2023 13:31 pm UTC| Politics
The medium-term budget policy statement presented by South Africas finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, to parliament on 1 November 2023 is intended to provide a preview of governments public finance plans over the next...
Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership is questioned even as Israelis rally round the flag
Nov 02, 2023 08:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Over the past year, Israel has witnessed an extraordinary wave of non-violent protests, involving hundreds of thousands of activists from across society. The extensive demonstrations were triggered by a judicial overhaul...
Kenya’s courts were under political pressure: how a constitutional reform empowered judges
Nov 01, 2023 07:13 am UTC| Politics
Changes to Kenyas constitution in 2010 on the independence of the judiciary created room for judges to act as guardians of the electoral process. Before this, the law gave Kenyas presidents considerable influence over...