By Alex Prior, Lecturer in Politics with International Relations, London South Bank University
Hannah Spencer’s parliamentary story – as the new Green MP for Gorton and Denton – has just begun.
Nevertheless, the life story that she presented in her victory speech was that of a plumber, not a politician. She identified herself – in present tense – by that trade; she had not grown up wanting to be a politician. She also celebrated qualifying as a plasterer during the “chaos” and “pressure” of the election campaign. She described campaigning jovially…
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By Yuen Chan, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Journalism, City St George's, University of London
The sentencing of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on February 8 on charges of sedition and collusion with foreign forces prompted international outrage.
Lai founded the now shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper – and supporters of press freedom around the world pointed to the chilling effect the sentence would have on the media, in a city once vaunted as a beacon for press freedom in Asia.
The reaction was more
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By Maxwell Modell, Research associate, Cardiff University
Matt Walsh, Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University
Stephen Cushion, Professor, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University
The victory of the Greens in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary byelection is a landmark for the party. But our new research reveals the Greens have received limited airtime over the last year despite almost doubling their support in the polls and in party membership.
While Reform UK has seen a spike in media coverage since it took a commanding lead in the polls,…
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By William M. LeoGrande, Professor of Government, American University School of Public Affairs
From the 1960s onward, dissident Cubans in exile have sought to undermine the government in Havana − often with US assistance.
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Friday, February 27, 2026
Reports on Friday that major cities in Afghanistan have been bombed by the Pakistan military in a new escalation between the two countries have raised fears for civilians already struggling under the harsh rule of the de facto Taliban authorities.
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image Japanese lawmakers and Uyghur activists attend a Japan Uyghur Association event in Tokyo to address Chinese government’s atrocity crimes in Xinjiang, February 25, 2026. © 2026 Teppei Kasai/Human Rights Watch Japanese lawmakers and Uyghur activists gathered on February 25 at an event hosted by the Japan Uyghur Association in Tokyo to address the Chinese government’s atrocity crimes in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.“It’s important to send a big message to the world” about the Chinese government’s rights abuses against Uyghurs, said Keiji Furuya, a senior lawmaker…
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By Toby Walsh, Professor of AI, Research Group Leader, UNSW Sydney
If you’re one of CommBank’s 17 million customers, don’t panic. But given how well AI can now fake documents, all banks will need to rethink their security.
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By Jerry Gurwitz, Professor of Geriatrics, UMass Chan Medical School
More than 70 million baby boomers – those born between 1946 and 1964 – are alive today. In 2026, the oldest of them are turning 80.
With longer lives often comes more complicated health needs: multiple chronic conditions, long lists of medications, balance problems that can increase the risk of falls, and changes in memory. Many older adults also begin relying more on spouses, children or other family members to help manage medical decisions.
Ideally, health care in later life should…
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By Yana van der Meulen Rodgers, Professor of Labor Studies, Rutgers University
Despite repeated calls for the university to revoke his tenure, the economist held onto his teaching and academic appointments until he chose to retire.
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By Brendan Frizzell, PhD Student in Sociology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Emerging from a swirl of sonic influences, reggaeton began as Panamanian protest music long before Puerto Rican artists turned the genre into a global phenomenon.
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