Violence surges in South Sudan leaving civilians at risk and peacekeepers stretched thin

Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council on Tuesday, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said instability had risen sharply in recent weeks, driven by political deadlock among signatories to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and a dangerous escalation in armed confrontations. Fighting has intensified most dramatically in Jonglei state, where clashes between Government forces and opposition […]

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the complex ways bilingual brains balance reason with emotion

If you’re bilingual, moral choices can often feel more urgent and emotionally charged in one language yet distant and rational in another. This raises an intriguing question: does language merely shape how we express our thoughts, or can it also influence what we judge to be right or wrong? Our research team has explored this […]

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The UK condemns the escalating military offensives across South Sudan since last March: UK statement at the UN Security Council

We have heard clearly today how the situation in South Sudan is deteriorating and requires coordinated international attention and pressure. Today, I will address three key elements. Firstly, the worsening security situation, then the imperative for humanitarian access, and thirdly, the practical steps towards a political process to peace. First, the United Kingdom condemns the […]

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Tiny particles, big impact: towards less invasive brain stimulation

For decades, treating serious brain disorders has often meant making a difficult trade-off. Symptoms could be relieved, but usually at the cost of invasive surgery and implanted electrodes that stay in the body for life.  “Having wires in your body isn’t ideal,” said neuroscientist Mavi Sanchez-Vives, head of the Systems Neuroscience group at the IDIBAPS research […]

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Ethiopia: Türk fears new crisis in Tigray amid renewed fighting

“The situation remains highly volatile and we fear it will further deteriorate, worsening the region’s already precarious human rights and humanitarian situation,” Mr. Türk said, following clashes in recent days between the Ethiopian army and regional forces. The development comes against a backdrop of deadly conflict in Tigray from 2020 to 2022 between Government troops and […]

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53 migrants die in latest shipwreck tragedy off Libya coast

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the boat overturned in the perishingly cold waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the coastal town of Zuwara last Friday.  It is just the latest deadly incident involving vulnerable people on the move who are frequently mistreated and trafficked by smuggling gangs that have flourished […]

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Are pets good for kids’ mental health? Type of animal and duration of bond could make all the difference

Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets. Attachment is the name for the emotional bond between a developing child and the caregiver who provides them with security and comfort. This […]

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Intelligence agencies provide briefings on foreign interference

Britain is strengthening its defences against hostile state interference with new briefings and support to protect our universities, researchers and political system.  Senior leaders from over 70 universities attended a security briefing delivered by MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum and National Cyber Security Centre CEO Richard Horne, to increase understanding of how foreign interference can manifest, including attempts to shape and […]

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UN chief warns of ‘grave moment’ as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires

In a statement issued as the treaty expired at midnight GMT Thursday, he said the world was entering uncharted territory, with no remaining legally binding constraints on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russia – the two countries that together hold the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons. “For the first […]

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AI ‘moving at the speed of light’ warns Guterres, unveiling recommendations for UN expert panel

“AI is moving at the speed of light,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, underscoring the urgency of regulating the breakthrough technology. “We need shared understandings to build effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and foster cooperation. The Panel will help the world separate fact from fakes, and science from slop.” The roots of […]

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