Why NATO’s 5% ‘defence budget’ aim seems farfetched
NATO’s new defence spending target has sparked debate across member states, prompting questions about its long-term viability and potential impact on domestic priorities. Last week, all 32 member states, representatives of the European Union, and even President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in The Hague for the NATO summit. This year saw...
Current in People
What does Zohran Mamdani’s victory mean for New York?
The once-fringe Democratic candidate is now the party’s mayoral nominee for New York City. His success speaks to an American political landscape in complete disarray. Amidst news of missile strikes in the Middle East, the rapid erosion of trans rights, and mounting economic strain over tariffs, climate change, and global...
Does Notting Hill Carnival have a future?
The beloved street party is at risk due to funding cuts and public safety concerns. But protecting it is in our best interests. Sunday 22nd June marked Windrush Day, an annual commemoration of the date thousands of Caribbean’s were shipped over the the UK in the 1950s. A large portion of...
Why both Hotspur Press Building and Manchester’s residents are gutted
Irresponsible and unprosecuted fires in historical buildings are putting people’s lives and wellbeing at risk so that development companies can continue to increase the wages going into their pockets. On Monday the disused Hotspur Press Building in Manchester city centre, left derelict for decades, went up in flames. The fire...
The rise of the billionaire ‘mega-wedding’
Lavish ceremonies and grotesque budgets are still on the rise, despite the social and environmental fallout. In case you missed the Parisian bachelorette, flanked by a star-studded girl group of Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry, plus Kris Jenner’s new face – or perhaps the firm backlash from Venetian residents, who...
What France’s syringe attacks say about fear, femininity, and freedom
Hundreds of guests at the annual Fête de la Musique were stabbed with syringes this weekend – the majority of them were women. Millions of people took the streets of France on Saturday to celebrate the annual Fête de la Musique, a day dedicated to music, dancing, and collective self-expression. But as...
Vaccine progress for children stalling worldwide say experts
A combination of vaccine scepticism, cuts to international aid budgets and the pandemic has lead to a stall and even reversal of vaccination programmes for children, experts warn. A new global study has revealed that progress in vaccinating children against various life-threatening diseases has stalled over the past two decades. It has even reversed in some countries. Experts are urging for a greater effort to provide more accessibility to vaccines across...
Dutch government returns historical artworks looted from Nigeria
With countries increasingly reflecting on their colonial history, museums face a serious question: is it moral to keep historical artefacts that were taken in bad faith? More than 130 years after they were stolen by British troops, 119 Benin Bronzes have been repatriated by the Dutch government to their country of origin: Nigeria. Around the world, those campaigning for museums to return artifacts stolen during war and colonial conquests have celebrated...
Was Primavera Sound more about commercial gain than political activism?
As part of a festival overtly expressing their support for Palestine and the LGBTQ+ community, did some of Primavera Sound’s acts fall short when it came to using their platforms this year? With the slogan ‘Nobody is Normal’, and a lign-up made up, deliberately, of 40% male, 40% female, and 20% mixed/non-binary artists, as well as all-female headline acts, Primavera Sound Festival’s progressive stance on identity politics and gender representation...
The Louvre’s closure is a warning sign for over-tourism
The iconic museum promptly shut its doors this week after crowds overwhelmed staff. The Louvre is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Paris, and one of the most iconic museums in the world. Every day, an average of 28,000 people walk through the halls of this historic landmark – many of them armed with phones and selfie sticks primed for a shot of the Mona Lisa (arguably the most...
