By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image US President Donald Trump (right) meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC, March 3, 2026. © 2026 Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo In times of conflict, such as in the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, governments committed to international law need to be prepared to defend it and in particular protect humanitarian and human rights norms. However, instead of rising to this challenge some European leaders have chosen to belittle the role of international law.For example, referencing the United States and…
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By Matt Barr, Senior Lecture in International Relations, Nottingham Trent University
The so-called “special relationship” between the UK and the US appears to be at its lowest ebb for decades. As he sat alongside the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at a White House press call on March 3, Donald Trump bitterly criticised Keir Starmer for his refusal to let the US use British bases to launch initial strikes on Iran.
Declaring he was “not happy with the UK”, he added: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” Churchill was, of course, the first person to talk of a special relationship…
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By Jason Ralph, Professor of International Relations, University of Leeds
So long as the UK remains committed to progressive realism, the Trumpian realist pursuit of regime change will put even more pressure on the special relationship.
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By Christopher Hurst, Senior Research Associate, Newcastle University
Muscle loss increases fall risk and frailty with age. The good news? Just one weekly strength session can help maintain independence.
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By Gokcay Balci, Lecturer in Sustainable Freight Transport and Logistics, University of Leeds
Ebru Surucu-Balci, Assistant Professor in Circular Supply Chains, University of Bradford
Gulf states depend on food imported via the strait – and shipping surcharges could raise the cost of consumer goods around the world.
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By Athalie Redwood-Brown, Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis of Sport, Nottingham Trent University
Jen Wilson, Senior Exercise and Health Practitioner, Nottingham Trent University
Once a niche challenge for hardcore athletes, Hyrox has become one of the fastest-growing fitness trends worldwide. It blends elements of endurance running with functional strength work in a way that appeals to both strength and cardio enthusiasts.
Hyrox is a fitness race designed around eight 1km runs – each paired with a strength or conditioning station. After every run, competitors complete a set number of reps or a set distance of exercises before their next 1km run. Typical exercises include sled pushes,…
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By Andrew Gawthorpe, Lecturer in History and International Studies, Leiden University
If Israel and the US hoped their attack on Iran would force the country to capitulate quickly, they were wrong. Despite the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many other senior figures, Iran has managed to continue firing drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East.
This poses a challenge for the US and its allies, including Israel and the Gulf states. The challenge is that they might run out of air defences before Iran…
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By Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Science, University of Southampton
Look up on a clear night and you’ll see the streaks of our new space age. What you don’t see is the growing fallout for the atmosphere that keeps us alive.
A wave of satellite launches and reentries is changing the chemistry and physics of the middle and upper atmosphere.
Studies…
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By Matthew Barnfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London
Polling by YouGov suggests a surge in support for the Green party across the country following the Gorton and Denton byelection. According to the poll, Zack Polanski’s party now has a national vote share of 21%, leapfrogging the Labour party. The Greens now sit within the margin of error behind Reform’s 23%.
In light of this result, some have claimed that the Green party’s byelection…
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By Arun Dawson, PhD Candidate, Department of War Studies, King's College London
Struck by the success of large-scale, low-cost drone attacks, the US made covert efforts to capture Iranian Shahed-136s for technical analysis.
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