Cervical cancer death rates in the United Kingdom have fallen by 80% since 1950 Reported deaths from cervical cancer per 100,000 women. In 1950, there were 8.6 deaths from cervical cancer per 100,000 women By 2021, this had fallen to 1.7

Your slow news story for the day: Death rates for cervical cancer in the United Kingdom have fallen by 80% since 1950 from 8.6 deaths per 100,000 women to 1.7
ourworldindata.org/data-insight... @ourworldindata.org

Applications open for Lords Social Mobility Work Experience Programme 9 April 2026

Great opportunity for year 12 students to do work experience at the House of Lords. Apply by 22 April
www.parliament.uk/business/new...

Sudan in ‘world’s largest humanitarian crisis’ after two years of civil war NGOs and UN say country is ‘worse off than ever before’ with wide-scale displacement, hunger, famine and attacks on refugee camps

Almost half the 50-million population of Sudan – 24.6 million people – do not have enough food
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Earth and Moon from DSCOVR NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured this unique view of the Moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth last month. This view shows the fully illuminated “dark side” of the moon that is never visible from Earth. Ian Regan processed this version of the image to account for the Moon's motion. NASA / NOAA / Ian Regan

I hadn't seen this before. This is pretty remarkable.

Earth and Moon in one NASA photo.

ht @astrokatie.com

Ah yes, it appears we shared a mother

The war in Iran is ripping up the Gulf’s plan for stability | Sanam Vakil As missiles fall from the sky and energy infrastructure is targeted, the limitations of relying on the US for protection are becoming all too obvious, says Sanam Vakil of Chatham House

The US-Israeli war on Iran is exposing the limits of the Gulf countries longstanding reliance on Washington as the Persian Gulf's ultimate security guarantor.

Read Sanam Vakil's (@chmenap.bsky.social) latest analysis in the @theguardian.com ⤵️

As a society, we all needed this lunch. Beautifully written – thank you

Quite often I feel compelled to explain why law matters even if it isn't functioning in a present scenario: this does a handy job of articulating why it's still always important to keep it as an aspirational moral framework.

Have just been briefly and immensely cheered by a crossing of paths with a small child on their scooter, Superman cape flying in the wind

I remember when @theworldtoday.org published this interview with Maria, while she was imprisoned.

And I'm so glad we are now able to have an open conversation with her. Next week as part of our #BelarusInitiative we will be hosting a webinar with Maria Kalesnikava and Ales Bialiatski.

Join us👇

We’ve all been stuck at a party with Claude 😬

Ah, Mr Blackbird Singing At Dusk. I’ve been expecting you. 🐦‍⬛

"This year will be the most consequential year for the Islamic Republic. There will either be transition from within or forced transition."

Sanam Vakil (@chmenap.bsky.social) on the major challenges facing the regime in Iran this year ⤵️

I am very much not a Sloane Square person, but those twinkly trees never fail to lift my heart

It’s possible that on occasion I’ve had to hastily add “ … oh, I’m so sorry I was actually talking to your dog” – immediately after saying “Hello lovely!” while crossing the park 😬

"This does mark the end of the Western alliance."

Bronwen Maddox on the impact of Donald Trump's economic approach and foreign policy on the transatlantic alliance.

Watch in full➡️ bit.ly/4pHKSpH

Editorial assistant job going with @freemovement.bsky.social ⤵️

Our first issue of the year is OUT NOW‼️

This issue features research articles on topics such as 'America First', Latin American migration governance, and Syria's future, policy papers on the UN's role in peace and conflict, and 25 book reviews.📚

👉 Read the issue: academic.oup.com/ia/issue/102/1

Brava for the alt-text!

The Embassy staff of Germany, France and the United Kingdom sing Schedryk in the Kyiv underground.
Wonderful!

Top 10 books: The International Affairs Christmas reading list 2025 How regularly do you think about Serbia, Angola or the Pacific Islands? For many, the answer will be ‘not that often’. Ahead of the…

Top 10 books: The International Affairs Christmas reading list 2025 📚🎄

Ahead of the holidays, Book Reviews Editor Mariana Vieira
has curated a list of books that reflects our commitments to covering the whole of the International Relations discipline.

Check them out 👇
medium.com/internationa...

Independent Thinking: Sudan – the internal and external forces tearing it apart Experts examine the human toll of the war in Sudan, and the dynamics of a war fuelled by regional powers and their proxies seeking to control Sudan’s territory, natural resources, and access to key wa...

🎙️In this episode of @chathamhouse.org’s podcast, Ahmed Soliman, Hubert Kinkoh, Kholood Khair and Bashair Ahmed join @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social to examine the human toll of the #Sudan war & dynamics fuelled by regional powers and proxies seeking control.

Listen: www.chathamhouse.org/2025/11/inde...

Best to accept, as you leave tiny potted babies outside neighbours’ houses under cover of darkness, that this is your life now 🪴

I was given a beautiful one in 2017, and it has brought me great joy (if not wealth), but the offspring-management is … a challenge

🚨Our November issue is out now!

🛡️ 14 research articles on security in the Gulf, decolonizing the British army and more

💴 1 policy paper on Chinese private capital in west Africa

🌏 1 review forum on world orders

📚 26 reviews of latest IR books

Read here > academic.oup.com/ia/issue/101/6

James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.

A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫

“I too was too successful to be faithful to”

I had a mid-career fellowship and it was exactly what I needed to finish my book. The BA application forms are far simpler than you might expect if you’ve only ever seen forms for other funders. So, if you’re eligible, do explore further. Best of luck if you apply.