Tom Felle, University of Galway
Media freedom has long been essential to healthy democracy. It is the oxygen that fuels informed debate, exposes corruption and holds power to account. But around the world, that freedom is under sustained attack.
At the ongoing BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, the leaders of BRICS member states are focusing on strengthening strategic partnerships and enhancing the grouping’s role in international affairs. Continue reading
June 4, 2024 /Economy/ — The BRICS bloc has been in the news recently due to a significant development: it doubled its membership in January 2024. Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were all invited to join Atlantic Council. This expansion has the potential to reshape the bloc’s influence, but it also comes with challenges. Continue reading
Toby James, University of East Anglia and Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College of Canada
This year has been widely proclaimed to be the year of elections, with national elections expected in at least 64 countries. This means that half of the world’s population will have the opportunity to change their government, choose their representatives and indirectly shape policy. It began as a year of hope – and the prospect of democratic empowerment.
Daniel Hoyer, University of Toronto
American humorist and writer Mark Twain is believed to have once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”
I’ve been working as a historian and complexity scientist for the better part of a decade, and I often think about this phrase as I follow different strands of the historical record and notice the same patterns over and over.
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Barrick’s transformation of its Lumwana mine into a world-class producer will provide strong impetus for the government’s thrust to revive the country’s copper industry, president and chief executive Mark Bristow said yesterday after a meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
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Mon, Sep 18 — It is important to note that not all social media moderators are motivated by these dark sides and hidden agendas. Many moderators are genuinely trying to create a safe and welcoming environment for users. However, the power that social media moderators wield means that it is important to be aware of the potential for abuse. Continue reading
Alpesh Bhudia, Royal Holloway University of London; Anna Cartwright, Oxford Brookes University; Darren Hurley-Smith, Royal Holloway University of London, and Edward Cartwright, De Montfort University
In May 2023, the Dallas City Government was hugely disrupted by a ransomware attack. Ransomware attacks are so-called because the hackers behind them encrypt vital data and demand a ransom in order to get the information decrypted.
Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham
Two months after challenging Vladimir Putin’s leadership in an apparent but abortive “mutiny”, Yevgeny Prigozhin – the former owner of the mercenary private military company Wagner Group – has joined a long list of prominent Russians to die in mysterious circumstances.
Aug. 23, 2023 /War and Conflict/ — The reason why the Wagner group command team was traveling at the same time on a plane is not yet known. It is possible that they were all traveling to the same meeting or event. It is also possible that they were simply taking advantage of the convenience of traveling together. Continue reading