By Chantal Gautier, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Sex and Relationship Therapist, University of Westminster
If you’re looking for a film that’s daring and emotionally layered, then Harry Lighton’s debut feature Pillion absolutely hits the mark. The film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a shy suburban guy stuck in routine and Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a magnetic unreadable biker whose presence exudes both aloofness and intrigue.
What starts as a rough transactional alleyway hook-up, quickly shifts into a 24/7 BDSM (best understood when read…
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By Andrew Burlinson, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sheffield
Alper Kara, Head of Department of Economics, Finance & Accounting, Brunel University of London
Ruth Patrick, Professor in Social Policy, University of Glasgow
UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has made some significant reforms in her latest budget. Notably, she has committed to easing living cost pressures with widespread energy bill support, higher taxes for the most expensive homes, and axing the two-child cap on certain benefits.
In a speech to Labour MPs a couple of days before the announcement, she made clear that her tax and spend decisions were a package and not a “pick-and-mix” from which backbenchers could choose the measures they liked. While Reeves will no doubt face further opposition, it may be that many of the things…
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By Jennifer Mathers, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University
In 1994 Russia and Kyivs western allies signed the Budapest Memorandum guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty. It wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.
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By Jordi Roca Jusmet, Catedrático de Economía, Universitat de Barcelona
Saudi Arabia and Russia often veto COP agreements, but Colombia and The Netherlands are taking matters into their own hands.
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By José Miguel Soriano del Castillo, Catedrático de Nutrición y Bromatología del Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universitat de València
On November 12 2025, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) published a joint report that raises alarm bells about the state of global food security. Both agencies warn of a “shrinking window to…
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By Salsabel Almanssori, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Windsor
Ontario’s Bill 33 seems an attempt to centralize control of the education system while avoiding real issues like chronic underfunding and understaffed classrooms.
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By Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems, Nottingham Trent University
A new pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles will make travel more expensive for those drivers, and could cause some to rethink buying an electric car.
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By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics, University of Birmingham
Phil Tomlinson, Professor of Industrial Strategy & Regional Development, Co-Director Centre for Governance, Regulation and Industrial Strategy (CGR&IS), University of Bath
Steve Schifferes, Honorary Research Fellow, City Political Economy Research Centre, City St George's, University of London
Since the election last year, the UK government has said economic growth is its top priority, as a way to improve living standards, cut NHS waiting lists and ease pressure on household finances. But with the Office for Budget Responsibility predicting growth this year to be a below-average 1.5%, it seems things haven’t gone entirely to plan.
So would Rachel Reeves’ second budget provide any glimmers of hope? Here’s how our panel of experts reacted.
Tax-raising budget that may encourage growth – but doesn’t guarantee it
Maha Rafi Atal,…
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By Amnesty International
Responding to the extradition of Montagnard and Ede Indigenous human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap from Thailand to Viet Nam, Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said: “This extradition is a grave failure of Thailand’s human rights obligations. Sending an Indigenous activist back to a country with a well-documented pattern of torture and discrimination against […] The post Thailand: Extradition of Montagnard activist to Viet Nam places him at grave risk of torture appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image Police outside the building of Toplum TV, independent online media outlet, where law enforcement searched the offices and detained journalists, in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 6, 2024. © 2024 Aziz Karimov/Getty Images Azerbaijani authorities are escalating their campaign against independent and critical voices abroad, issuing arrest warrants and summonses for exiled journalists, activists, and analysts on what appear to be politically motivated charges. The moves fit a long-running pattern of efforts to crush dissent and restrict freedom of expression both inside…
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