Written by 
By Dan Weijers, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Co-editor International Journal of Wellbeing, University of Waikato Happiness has many social benefits. Happy people tend to be healthier and more successful. They are also more helpful and others often view them more positively, making it easier for them to find companions and influence others. Most research into … Continue reading “Showing happiness brings social rewards, but the opposite can happen if people feel pressured to appear happy”
By Fateme Ejaredar, PhD candidate in Sociology, University of Calgary, University of Calgary The recent war waged by Israel and the United States on Iran killed at least 935 people and wounded another 5,332. There’s currently a ceasefire, but the conflict shocked the world and has had unique impacts on Iranians in the diaspora. Many … Continue reading “Iranian Canadians watch the Israel-U.S. war in Iran from afar”
By Gracia Abad Quintanal, Profesora Agregada de Relaciones Internacionales, Universidad Nebrija Half a century after the establishment of relations between China and the EU, and against a backdrop of deteriorating transatlantic relations, the European Union and China held their 25th summit in Beijing. It is worth noting that the summit could not have been held … Continue reading “progress on rare earth exports and tensions over Ukraine mark 50 years of pragmatically cautious relations”
By Tom Long, Professor of International Relations, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick In 1867, the world’s most powerful statesmen, including Austria’s Emperor Franz Josef, France’s Napoleon III and US secretary of state, William H. Seward, petitioned the Mexican government to spare the life of a condemned man. Mexico’s ragtag army and … Continue reading “How 1860s Mexico offered an alternative vision for a liberal international order”
By Robert Dover, Professor of Intelligence and National Security & Dean of Faculty, University of Hull During his 2024 US presidential election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he would declassify and release the files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial. The so-called … Continue reading “Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base”
By Brian Brivati, Visiting Professor of Contemporary History and Human Rights, Kingston University One of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, Shas, has announced it will resign from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The party said its decision was made due to the government’s failure to pass a bill exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service. Its exit … Continue reading “Netanyahu considering early election but can he convince people he’s winning the war?”
By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox. You know when the Kremlin is worried about something – it starts talking about nuclear … Continue reading “Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)?”
By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox. Once again Donald Trump and his senior team are unhappy with their press coverage. Here’s … Continue reading “Why flattering Donald Trump could be dangerous”
By Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine It was a surrender widely foreseen. For months, rumors abounded that Paramount would eventually settle the seemingly frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump concerning editorial decisions in the production of a CBS interview with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in 2024. On … Continue reading “ABC’s and CBS’s settlements with Trump are a dangerous step toward the commander in chief becoming the editor-in-chief”
By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor The US government “remains upbeat” about the prospects for at least a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the latest reports from Washington, where the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been meeting the US president, Donald Trump. Netanyahu handed the US president a letter nominating him … Continue reading “As Netanyahu meets Trump in Washington, what hope for peace in Gaza? Expert Q&A”