Showing 1 - 10 of 13
The UK's most working-class government
Oped, Aaron Reeves & Sam Friedman, Published on 09/07/2024
» The United Kingdom has a new Labour government whose class composition are radically different from previous ones. According to our analysis of Labour's shadow cabinet, some 46% of Keir Starmer's cabinet members were raised by parents with "working class" occupations. That figure is well above average in terms of the broader working population, and it stands in stark contrast to the 7% who were of working-class origin in the last Conservative cabinet.
Inoculation against climate deniers' lies needed
News, Lara Williams, Published on 03/02/2024
» Misinformation is as old as information itself, and those seeking to address the climate crisis have been tackling it for decades. Yet today, more false or misleading content is spreading faster and further than ever before.
There's a lot in a name
Postbag, Published on 28/01/2024
» Re: "A Stroll In Song Wat", (Life, Jan 24).
Premier League bets $5 billion on game theory
News, Matthew Brooker, Published on 08/11/2023
» Competitive tension is essential to the thrill of any sporting contest. The world's richest domestic soccer competition hasn't been over-endowed on that score in recent years, with Abu Dhabi-bankrolled Manchester City winning England's top division for three consecutive years and leading the table again almost a third into the current season. Those hankering for a bit more drama might do better to turn their attention to the unfolding financial contest for control of who screens the games.
Inequality rising and democracy under seige
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz, Published on 09/09/2023
» There has been much handwringing about the retreat of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism in recent years -- and for good reason. From Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and former US president Donald Trump, we have a growing list of authoritarians and would-be autocrats who channel a curious form of right-wing populism. Though they promise to protect ordinary citizens and preserve longstanding national values, they pursue policies that protect the powerful and trash longstanding norms -- and leave the rest of us trying to explain their appeal.
Climate change is killing our summer
News, Niall Ferguson, Published on 31/07/2023
» Most of us have an idea of summer in our heads. It generally involves beaches. Americans head to their coasts -- avoiding only fog-shrouded San Francisco -- and Europeans to the Mediterranean or Aegean. We all strip down to near nakedness and sit around in the sun, occasionally frolicking in the ocean waves. We aim to return home tanned and toned. If you come from another planet and don't know what I am talking about, watch the Barbie trailer.
Being ginger adds spice to life
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 04/06/2023
» I have been reprimanded by a reader of ginger persuasion for failing to mention two significant days in the calendar for those of us who have grown up saddled with nicknames like "Ginger Nut", "Ginger Bonce", "Tomato Head", "Carrot Top", not to mention "Freckle Face". I plead guilty to allowing the recent "Cuddle a Ginger Day" and "World Redhead Day" slip by without a single bleat in support of gingers.
Press fights back Big Tech disruption
Oped, Anya Schiffrin, Published on 26/05/2023
» Two years ago, the Australian parliament passed the News Media Bargaining Code, which forced Meta (Facebook) and Alphabet (Google) to compensate media outlets for news content shared on their platforms. The law has been a remarkable success, with Australian media outlets now receiving more than A$200 million (about 6.9 billion baht) annually from Big Tech firms.
The battle between Big Tech and the free press
Oped, Steven Hill, Published on 10/04/2021
» Worldwide, the free press is waging a battle for survival against Facebook and Google. Besides being gushing firehoses of Covid disinformation and QAnon conspiracies, Google and Facebook have been dangerously undermining the financial stability of media outlets all over the world.