COMMENT
— The by-election in Rochdale became noteworthy due to candidates’ controversies and its proxy for the Israel-Gaza debate, revealing societal divisions and neglect in the deprived area.
COMMENT
COMMENT
— The Conservative Party faces accusations of Islamophobia, with former deputy chairman Lee Anderson implicating London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, triggering debates over terminology and the party’s stance on religious discrimination.
COMMENT
— Nikki Haley, trailing behind Trump in polls, pledges to persist in the presidential race. Speculation suggests her candidacy aims to challenge Republicans and offer an alternative.
COMMENT
— Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, political rivals in Northern Ireland, exemplify unity for a shared political goal despite ideological differences. Their collaboration marks a positive step towards peace and cooperation.
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— Several Western donor countries have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees based on Israeli accusations of staff involvement in Hamas attacks, impacting millions of Palestinians in Gaza, despite ongoing investigations.
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— The start of 2024 witnesses escalating global threats: the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran-Pakistan exchanges, China’s tensions with Taiwan, North Korea’s strategic shift, and a concerning prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons to deter NATO.
COMMENT
— The Houthis hold freedom of navigation hostage to press for a ceasefire in Gaza. The West responds with bombs on Houthi facilities in Yemen. How is this conducive to peace in our time?
COMMENT
— While Rishi Sunak hints at delaying the next general election, countering earlier expectations, criticism grows over the PM’s narrative, including handling PPE contracts, his views on the Rwanda scheme, and underscoring accountability concerns.
COMMENT
— The UK media sensationalised a political meeting between Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni, labelling it a “love-burst”. Instead, the event in Rome focused on migration controls and blurred lines between the Conservative and far-right politicians.
COMMENT
— UK proposes changes to visa rules amid migration panic. Health and care visa holders can’t bring family; British citizens need £38,700 income for non-British families. Policies suggest hierarchy in family legitimacy, impacting migrants and mixed-nationality families.
COMMENT
— For many school children, Benjamin Zephaniah’s work will have been the first time they encountered published literature that talked about the things that mattered to them.
COMMENT
— Javier Milei, Argentina’s president-elect, resembles Britain’s short-serving PM Liz Truss in their shared goals of low taxes and a reduced state. Both faced economic challenges, raising concerns about the potential consequences of their radical policies.
COMMENT
— Joe Biden and Xi Jinping participated in a crucial summit during the APEC forum in San Francisco. Acknowledging competition, the leaders underscored the importance of averting conflict and committed to resuming military contact.
COMMENT
— Global tensions are escalating, marked by ongoing regional disputes in Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. The international community’s intermittent focus on these crises raises concerns about the efficacy of global peacemaking efforts.
COMMENT
— Some Republicans express disapproval of the Biden administration’s approach to aiding Ukraine against Russia, which frames aid as a means to boost American employment in the weapons manufacturing industry.
COMMENT
— What is the purpose of Rishi Sunak’s Government deploying a notably smaller naval task group in the Middle East compared to the United States, if not to project a larger presence on the international stage?
