The Double Agents Press Centre

 In May last year, while attending a conference in Boston, US, I found myself in a situation that was all too familiar to Black professionals. During one of the presentations, an organiser approached me, asking if I could stay behind […]

 Who would you believe if technology and human witnesses collided? This question haunted the justice system in Missouri for 23 years, as they grappled with the case of Marcellus Williams. Mr. Williams, a man whose fate hung in the balance, […]

 Barack Hussein Obama is undeniably one of the most influential political figures of our time. With his eloquence and powerful rhetoric, he inspired millions, overcoming obstacles like race and heritage to become the leader of the world’s most powerful nation. […]

 As the presidential campaigns draw to a close and Americans prepare to head to the polls next week, it’s clear that senior citizens have been largely overlooked in the candidates’ platforms. Kamala Harris has focused her campaign on reproductive rights […]

Taking a break from following the U.S. elections this week, I found myself scrolling through social media and came across an awards post from my old high school, Kawempe Muslim Secondary School in Uganda, celebrating life achievement awards for its […]

Their fascinating travelogue retraces the Italian explorer’s 4,000-mile journey from Venice to China along the Silk Road. Mr Johnson completed most of the Silk Road on a motorbike with late Oxford University friends Michael de Larrabeiti, the novelist and travel […]

Stanley Johnson, who has long distanced himself from his son’s approach to Europe, said EEA membership should be a priority at next month’s UK–EU summit, the first high-level meeting of its kind since Britain’s departure from the bloc. In a […]

I have been to countless international meetings on the environment over the last six decades, but the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands, held in Geneva in November 2022, stands out. On the first […]

Where the Argonauts sailed, a new battle begins on Greece’s coast The European Environment Agency’s latest report on Europe’s efforts to deal with climate change confidently cites Southern Europe as the continent’s ‘hotspot’. So Michael Mitsikos, Mayor of South Pelion, […]

No one is born with a helpful instruction manual on how to date. The expectation is that, as you grow up, everyone just kind of ‘figures’ it out through a painful (but also sometimes comical) mix of trial and error. […]

In the days leading up to a corporate away day or team-building event, I frequently hear concerns from neurodivergent senior leaders who are already trying to calculate the emotional and logistical toll. They are expected to attend back-to-back seminars, manage […]

Until recently, autism and ADHD were conditions most often associated with children. But in the past decade, thousands of adults in their forties, fifties and even retirement years have been diagnosed – or have come to identify – as neurodivergent. […]

Within the space of a decade, RR Haywood has risen to the status of one Britain’s bestselling self-published authors. With nearly four million sales worldwide to-date and more than 40 books to his name, of which 25 are Kindle and […]

British author RR Haywood’s ‘The Undead’ carries a label on its cover with the words ‘NO-AI’, an acronym for ‘Naturally Original – Authentically Invented’. The book’s sales listing also includes a written warranty that offers readers extra protection in the […]

First things first — I’m claiming credit for using “AI’d” as a verb. (ChatGPT tells me it’s the past participle of an informal verb derived from AI, as in Artificial Intelligence.) Not that I’d know. Despite somehow ending up as […]

Before becoming a full-time author, I was a police officer for more than 20 years In that time, I was part of my force’s riot squad. They’re not actually called ‘riot squads’, by the way; the 43 police services in […]

We’re all guilty of adopting the latest buzzwords and catchphrases. Running around, bumping into people and proclaiming, “I haven’t seen you in a minute!” Despite our best efforts, the annoying bits of corporate fluff sneak into our emails too, and […]

My new novel, Murder Crime on Gallymay, is, by my own admission, an “almost cosy” murder mystery. I thought it sat quite firmly in the genre of police procedurals, and I say that with a degree of confidence, because I was […]

I’m fascinated by AI. So when I became a novelist, it was natural to start writing stories in that genre. That journey led to Delio Phase One and now Phase Two, where I explore what happens when an AI first gains awareness, then […]

The rise of AI in creative fields has sparked some meaningful debates. And one question that keeps cropping up in writing circles is this: Is it cheating to use AI to help write a book, even if all the ideas are […]

Professor Tim Coulson: I wanted to explore what science can tell us about why we exist. The universe started as a pinprick of intense energy, and 13.8 billion years later, some of that energy is in you—a walking, talking, thinking […]

Professor Tim Coulson: Evolution is a process of gradual change in living organisms over time as they better adapt to their environments. The fuel for evolution is genetic mutation – changes in DNA. Most mutations are harmful, but a few […]

In the future, humans could evolve to become hyper-intelligent and have super-senses, incredible physical strength, armadillo-like armour or the ability to fly like a bat. That might sound far-fetched, but I very much doubt that anyone would have predicted that […]

Bigfoot, The Yeti, Nessie—three fabled creatures that capture our imagination and make us wonder, will we ever find them? Well, I’m sorry to be ‘that guy’ but, in short, they don’t exist, though there’s a good chance that aliens do. […]

My strong suspicion is that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe and that they will have evolved adaptations similar to some those we see in animals on earth. There is little doubt that they will be able to experience […]

Professor Tim Coulson, an Oxford University biologist, said humans could be “wiped out” by fat, slug-like ETs that look like the Star Wars villain. In his most recent column, the eminent scientist argued that it is “perfectly rational” to assume intelligent […]

Periodical cicadas lead unusual lives. Every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species, the adults emerge in huge numbers, mate, and then die about a month later. After mating, the females lay their eggs in thin twigs. The eggs […]

My paternal grandfather was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. He was sent to Asia to fight not long after the outbreak of World War II, and was taken prisoner of war in early 1941. He […]

If I had been born a month and a day later, you’d have frequently seen my photo in the sports pages of newspapers. In pubs and bars across the land, football fans would have been discussing whether Pele, Maradona, Messi […]

Insects have made the news this summer. Swarms of ladybirds caught the public’s attention in early July, there have been numerous reports of butterflies in abundance, and a bumper wasp season is just getting underway. I have heard people moaning […]

Just over a decade ago, on 2 July 2015, a U.S dentist shot a lion called Cecil. The lion had been part of a long-running study by the University of Oxford. Cecil was shot to be a trophy, to be displayed […]

It’s not often you come across a political thriller that combines a gripping high-concept, action-packed plot with a genuinely thought-provoking premise, but new novel Elixir by Phil Cleary is one such book.  This prescient page-turner takes the real-world field of life-extension research—which […]

A few decades ago, I remember watching Star Trek and marvelling at Captain Kirk’s wristwatch communicator.  Back then, it felt like a fantasy. Fast forward to today and not only do we wear phones on our wrists but we are also on […]

Britain has long prided itself on upholding free speech as a democratic pillar, so public disquiet over arrests for so-called ‘offensive tweets’ is hardly surprising. With the UK facing scrutiny for its high rate of speech-related prosecutions among democracies, the […]

For both amateur stargazers and seasoned astronomers, few events are as breathtaking as a total solar eclipse. I still remember my first experience with a partial solar eclipse as a student. It sparked my curiosity and led me to explore […]

Across the world – from Africa to the Americas, Asia to Indonesia – the ruins of ancient civilisations continue to amaze. Even with our state-of-the-art technology, we still cannot fully explain their sophisticated infrastructures or replicate their architectural feats. These […]

With spring here and warmer nights inviting us outdoors, it’s the ideal time to learn a few simple tricks to spot astronomical wonders and earn yourself a gold star from friends and family. While there are many helpful stargazing apps like Sky […]

Step outside on a clear night this spring and face the southern sky. Look overhead and you’ll see one of the most familiar shapes in the heavens: the Big Dipper. It’s not a constellation but an asterism — a recognisable […]

As summer approaches, the night sky becomes a dazzling stage for some of the year’s most striking celestial displays. Once again, we can use the Big Dipper as our starting point to explore the June skies and locate the distinctive […]

July brings long, warm nights and excellent conditions for stargazing. This month, we focus on the northeastern sky, where the Milky Way rises in a sweeping arc above the horizon. Using the Big Dipper as our guide, we’ll trace a […]

August is a spectacular month for stargazing, dominated by the dazzling Perseids, one of the most famous meteor showers of the year, and accompanied by six other showers that light up the summer sky. As darkness arrives earlier and the […]

As the equinox approaches on 22 September, the balance of the year begins to shift. Nights draw in earlier, the air carries the first crisp hint of autumn, and conditions for stargazing become some of the best of the year. […]

As the clocks go back this month, the longer evenings bring the perfect excuse to step outside, wrap up warm and enjoy the night sky. Look north and you’ll see the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) sinking low, while Cepheus and […]

During my time as BBC World Affairs producer, I visited some of the most dangerous and inhospitable places on earth. For a couple of decades, I produced televised news content on the frontlines of the world’s main war zones. I […]

When I said to people we were going to Trieste for our holidays, I saw puzzlement in their eyes. ‘Where is Trieste?’ was the most common response, or ‘I don’t know anybody who’s been there.’ If you don’t know where Trieste is […]

For a long time, the small mountain village of St Moritz in the Swiss Alps has had a reputation of being a playground for the mega-rich. In the last few years, the local tourist board has rebranded St Moritz with […]

When talking to audiences across the country about my books and my work as a former BBC World Affairs producer I have often been asked to describe what it’s like to work undercover in countries with hostile regimes, risking arrest […]

The year is 1963. A British European Airways plane descends into Yeşilköy Airport, its silver wings glinting under the Turkish sun. Below, Istanbul unfurls: minarets, domes, rooftops clustered by the Bosphorus. A city straddling two continents. Inside the terminal, a […]

It takes at least an hour by taxi from Tehran’s new Imam Khomeini Airport to reach the centre of the Iranian capital. As you approach the city limits, the golden dome of the Tomb of Imam Khomeini looms on the […]

What happens when a republic built on liberty becomes shackled by alliances it no longer understands? Could such an alliance, distinguished by a drift in foreign policy from serving national interests to advancing loyalties that are longer questioned, pose a […]

There was a time, not so long ago, when the notion of a president unilaterally initiating war without the explicit approval of Congress would have provoked alarm across the political spectrum. The mere suggestion would have sparked a fierce constitutional […]

In America today, the word “tariff” carries more weight than it should, and far more emotion than it used to. What once was a debate over revenue policy has become a fault line in both our economy and our friendships. […]

To many Europeans, the United States still carries the image of a nation where elections are free and fair, where the will of the people is the deciding force in politics. The reality is more complicated. In America, there is […]

When Americans commemorate the end of World War II, we recall victory abroad and the rebirth of democratic institutions. After 1945, the United States poured its strength into a transatlantic order rooted in liberal democracy. We stood shoulder to shoulder […]

In a typical slice of shameless self-promotion, Elon Musk has claimed that the legacy media is a dead duck, swept away by a new generation of X-style bloggers and citizen journalists surfing the Trump tidal wave right into the White […]

It was one of the defining stories of 2024. The death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, at the hands of Iran’s morality police, ignited global outrage, inspiring millions to take to the streets, post on social media, and shine […]

A politician resigning over a decade-old guilty plea for mobile phone fraud might not seem like the story of the year. But when Louise Haigh MP stepped down under a barrage of sensational headlines, I decided to file a complaint with the […]

Few topics have generated as much fake news as the subject of fake news itself. It is the easiest way to undermine any narrative that you don’t like: simply call it ‘fake news’. That is perhaps the real significance of […]

In 2022, the UK government proposed expanding the text and data mining (TDM) exception to copyright law, allowing artificial intelligence (AI) developers to harvest editorial content and other original works without permission or payment. The aim was to enhance large […]

Earlier this month, I received a short reply from the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, part of the UK’s press regulator IPSO. It was polite, two paragraphs long, and unequivocal in its conclusion that the Code itself would remain unchanged. […]

Cambodia is set to rename its most important highway after President Donald Trump following his role in peace negotiations with neighbouring Thailand. The U.S leader has become a hero figure in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation after stepping in to […]

When people without disabilities talk about work and disability, conversations are often wrapped up in the language of kindness. “Isn’t it good when employers give disabled people a chance?” they’ll say, as though offering someone a job were a generous […]

Independent living means having choice and control over your own life, with the dignity that comes from making decisions for yourself rather than having them made for you. For me, independence has always been about freedom: the freedom to decide who […]

The future looks bright – but is it really electric? For years, policymakers, automakers, and drivers have been pushing towards a world powered by EVs. But as we progress through 2025, that vision is looking increasingly uncertain. With major European […]

F1 75 Live: A spectacular 10-team season launch…with boos for Horner The season’s first big event, F1 75 Live, took over London’s O2 Arena on 18th February. In an event reminiscent of American baseball-style ceremonies, all ten teams revealed their […]

Formula 1 may be the sport that never sleeps, but let’s be honest—it often feels like a soap opera on wheels. Paddock politics, team orders, dramatic radio messages… and somewhere in between, there’s a race. For something a little less […]

For those in the know, motor racing at the Goodwood circuit in West Sussex is the finest you will experience anywhere in the world. Fashioned from an old Second World War Battle of Britain airfield, the circuit enjoyed a relatively […]

There are more efficient ways to arrive at a car show than flying in by Spitfire, but few that get the same reaction. On Sunday morning, 27 April, under unusually sharp spring skies, a two-seater version of Britain’s most famous […]

If you’ve never seen someone haggle over a 70-year-old spark plug, you’ve never been to Beaulieu. Twice a year, this otherwise peaceful corner of England’s New Forest is transformed into a pop-up city of spanners, nostalgia and unexpected treasure for […]

“Would you want to be a legacy car manufacturer in the current climate?” a respected PR manager asked me at an industry event last week. If it means trying to move forward with both hands tied behind your back and […]

Held in the prestigious grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company in EC1, the ninth edition of the London Concours took place from 3rd to 5th June and gathered a mouthwatering array of the world’s most exquisite cars. Ninety exceptionally rare automobiles, many […]

One of the world’s most famous motor races delivered one of its closest finishes in years on Sunday 15th June, as Ferrari took victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans by just 13 seconds after a full day and […]

This summer, travellers heading to the south of England will find one of the country’s most distinctive cultural attractions tucked away in the New Forest. Beaulieu, a historic estate surrounded by woodland and winding country roads, is home to the […]

The Goodwood Festival of Speed returned from 10–13 July with a programme that reinforced its status as one of the most important events in the international motoring calendar. Set within the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, the festival once again brought […]

Spontaneity can be risky. It can also deliver the richest rewards. This year, with my daughter growing up fast and the window for one-on-one summer adventures narrowing, I decided to ditch the detailed holiday planning. We would take my classic Mini, […]

A long weekend taking in Liverpool’s waterfront and the rugged beauty of North Wales called for a car with space, comfort and composure. Volvo’s refreshed 2025 XC90, the brand’s flagship SUV, seemed the perfect match. My test route would take […]

Set against the regal backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, the Concours of Elegance 2025 was a celebration of automotive artistry, heritage and style. In the manicured formal gardens, where the ghosts of monarchs linger and the scent of Fortnum & […]

Sir Jackie Stewart stood at the heart of the Goodwood Revival this weekend and called it what so many in the sport already know: “One of the truly great motoring events in the world.” The three-time Formula 1 World Champion, now the […]

Paros and Antiparos sit in the heart of the Cyclades, halfway between Mykonos and Santorini. These two islands share the same bright whitewashed villages, turquoise seas and relaxed tavernas that the region is famous for, but without the same overwhelming […]

Larry Fink stood at Davos and declared Bitcoin would reach $700,000. The CEO of the world’s largest asset manager, who once called himself a “proud sceptic” had completed a transformation that mirrors a seismic shift happening in corner offices across […]

By Julian Doyle It was sitting on the sand in Tunisia while watching the Monty Python team being crucified, during the filming of Life of Brian, when I realised something was seriously wrong with the process of crucifixion. Over the next […]

Last year, I received a lot of media attention after saying that the iconic comedy Monty Python’s Life of Brian, which I edited, offers a more accurate representation of Jesus’ life than you can find in the Bible. This is because the Bible […]

Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code caused a global stir with its claim that Leonardo da Vinci hid a secret in The Last Supper: the controversial idea that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. The 2003 bestseller proposed that the figure seated […]

There’s an area in the north of Spain that feels nothing like the rest of the country. Trapped between the rugged Picos de Europa mountain range and the Cantabrian Sea, it’s called Asturias. From mountains to sea is a mere 50 […]

I have spent my career trying to make the absurd believable. Editing Life of Brian, directing Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting, staging the madness of Iron Maiden’s Can I Play with Madness — my life has been defined by bringing the surreal […]

Thanks to the Dutch motivational speaker, Wim Hof, ice baths have long been the wellness trend for those seeking fat loss, balancing hormones, elevating mood, and bolstering the immune system. But if the very idea of plunging into freezing ice […]

As a woman of a certain age (think over 40, under 60), I am, so it would appear, the target market for every anti-ageing cream. Not a day goes by without being reminded that the multi-billion-pound skincare industry survives on pledges of […]

Rome is opening its Holy Doors to pilgrims and visitors as it celebrates its first Holy Year in a quarter of a century. A Holy Year, or Jubilee, is a special year of forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal in the […]

Taking a digital detox — enjoying a break from the computer or phone screen, emails and social media — is regularly touted to busy executives by wellbeing experts, who say it’s the perfect way for them to recharge their own […]

As terms like “futureproofing”, “decarbonisation”, “offsetting” and “insetting” become part of everyday travel conversation, the lines between sustainable and regenerative tourism are blurring. Can we honestly travel guilt-free, whether for business or pleasure, without compromising our promises to environmental, economic, […]

Try to imagine a zookeeper wandering down the pet food aisle at the local supermarket selecting cans, packets, and pouches of industrial, grain-based concoctions for his captive wild carnivores. Now imagine doctors recommending and selling highly processed packaged food to […]

Ultra-processed food (UPF) harms your health. Earlier this year, the world’s largest review of its kind found it was directly linked to 32 harmful effects including a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, adverse mental health and […]

Throughout history, markets have been shaped by cycles of boom and bust, driven by speculation, irrational exuberance, and, often, blind faith in the unsustainable. From the frenzy over tulip bulbs in 17th-century Holland to the meteoric rise and crash of […]

It has been 30 years since I published two studies into dog and cat diets. Specifically, I set out to test the theory that treating gum disease and swapping kibble and processed foods for raw, meaty bones, would successfully treat […]

James Herriot’s books offer a charming portrayal of the veterinary profession in the 1930s, filled with good deeds performed against the picturesque backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales. Blending fact, fantasy, and fiction, these stories became beloved classics and inspired the […]

As we enter 2025, you might be thinking about making healthier choices for the year ahead – not only for yourself but for your pets, too. You’ve heard about the dangers of ultra-processed food for humans: heart disease, obesity, diabetes, […]

As of 2024, there were 26 million pet cats and dogs in Britain. At the time of writing, up to one million of those animals will have died prematurely as an indirect result of their owners’ love and affection. As a vet and scientist, […]

In Britain, dog attacks are spiralling to record levels. Sixteen people died from dog— related injuries in 2023 alone — the highest number ever recorded. Thousands more were hospitalised, putting growing pressure on NHS emergency services. And the problem is […]

Few understand the mental demands of the game better than Chris Moorman, an English professional poker player who has earned over $34 million and won a World Poker Tour title and two coveted World Series of Poker bracelets. Chris has carved out […]

Dr. Stephen Simpson (Q): Compared to technical analysis and market knowledge, how vital are psychological factors in successful trading? Chris Beauchamp (A):When people start out, they need to grasp the importance of psychology. Their initial focus is reading many books, […]

5ive star Scott Robinson and DJ Chris Brooks have co-presented The Big Drive Home show on Radio Essex since 2020. In that time, hundreds of thousands of listeners have tuned in for a daily dose of the pair’s “fierce banter and laughs”. But the […]

On June 14th 2017, a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, resulting in 72 deaths and over 70 injuries. The blaze, which began in a faulty fridge-freezer, spread rapidly due to flammable cladding and insulation […]

Any form of continuous running requires mental strength and stamina to succeed, but Darby Maguire is not just another long-distance runner. At the age of 21, he’s already accomplished feats that push the limits of human endurance and has redefined […]

Gavin Inskip might not be a household name, but for more than two decades, he’s been the backbone of some of Britain’s biggest and best-loved television shows. Strictly Come Dancing, Big Brother, The X Factor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Great British […]

The internet has been good to forgers. High-quality printers are cheap, provenance can be faked with Photoshop, and platforms like eBay offer global reach with minimal oversight. For works by anonymous street artist Banksy — whose limited-edition prints now fetch […]

Paul McKenna has been famous for so long it’s easy to forget what made him so in the first place. Since the early 1990s, he has been a household name; the celebrity hypnotist who could make you thinner, richer, happier or more […]

Shazia Mirza has worn many hats: biochemist, schoolteacher, stand-up comic, reality TV survivor. Now, she can add another to the list — soap star. “I’ve just filmed EastEnders,” she says matter-of-factly, near the end of a wide-ranging interview that includes […]

Legal literacy is a fundamental skill that every young person should have. It is as essential as knowing how to navigate the world around them. The term refers to the ability to understand basic legal rights, laws, and the legal […]

Britain’s high streets are vanishing fast, and the independent retailer is nearing extinction. Visiting a physical shop to try out camera equipment or test new technology is becoming a rarity. In its place, the age of online shopping has ushered […]

There’s nothing explosive about the way Adolescence opens. No graphic violence. No heavy moralising. Just a boy, a family, a quiet community, and the slow reveal that something is deeply wrong. If you haven’t seen it, Netflix’s chilling new drama centres on 13-year-old […]

In 1868, the United States ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, a constitutional safeguard introduced to ensure that anyone born on American soil is a U.S. citizen, and that all citizens are guaranteed equal protection under the law. It was written to […]

From 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird through to My Cousin Vinny, courtroom dramas are a mainstay of movies and are a part of popular culture. Audiences are gripped by the evidence unfolding on both sides and try to second-guess and wait anxiously […]

Cancer, by its very nature, is unpredictable. It can shrink without treatment, lie dormant for years, or behave entirely differently in two people with the same diagnosis. This unpredictability creates fertile ground for myths to take root. A tumour that […]

When the shadow of illness falls, the time spent waiting for a diagnosis can cost more than the disease itself. Recent research, together with the work of global charities such as Killing Cancer Kindly (KCK), has sharpened the focus on […]

On 12th April this year, the cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko, Alexander Lynnik, and Denis Efremov leapt out of an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft 10,000m above the icy wastes of the North Pole. The stratospheric air at the Pole is too thin to support […]

The Northwest Passage – a sometimes-navigable sea route through the islands of northern Canada connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans – is known as the ‘Holy Grail’ of the Arctic for a reason. It is a treasure that explorers, conglomerates, […]

Situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard archipelago became strategically important during the Second World War, both for its proximity to the Arctic convoy routes and as a base for weather stations vital to Allied operations. The […]

Donald Trump repeated his vow to secure U.S. control of Greenland this week, telling Congress that America will acquire the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark “one way or the other.” One way or another, as he puts it, could be by […]

When Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939, we entered the conflict from a position of alarming weakness. Years of underfunding, diplomatic wishful thinking, and the widespread belief that peace would hold had left our armed forces hollowed […]

The regular British Army now has just 73,000 full-time trained personnel, the lowest number since the 18th century. And the recruitment issue isn’t looking like it’s going to improve any time soon, with only 11 per cent of Gen Z […]

For much of modern history, the Arctic has been a stage on which European ambition, science and strategy have played out, and in the 21st century, melting ice and a changing climate have only intensified its importance, shifting it from […]

This November marks 77 years since the verdicts of the Tokyo War Crimes Trial, formally known as the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE). Convened by the Allies in the aftermath of the Second World War, the tribunal […]

Wild swimming has seen a surge in popularity in recent years as more and more people take to the open seas, lochs, rivers, and lakes to harness the health benefits of an ice-cold dip. There are more than 8million wild […]

A snowball whizzed by my head as I watched in stunned disbelief. On the edge of the Arctic Circle, a free-for-all was breaking out. In a lifetime of polar exploration, I’d never seen this. Within sight of a glacier — […]

In 2018, British adventurer Ross Edgley became the first person ever to swim around the coast of Great Britain, a 1,780-mile journey that he described as going from “a swim as most people consider it, as a sport, to being […]

In November 2023, Joel Ineson, a 55-year-old swimmer, suffered a fatal cardiac episode while taking part in a swim in Sunderland Lake. According to the Coroner, no safety briefing had been given. No one was counting people in or out […]

Once dismissed as the eccentric pastime of pensioners in woolly swimsuits, wild swimming has become one of the UK’s most explosive outdoor trends. Over 11 million people took to open water in 2022 alone — a surge driven first by […]

You wouldn’t expect what I assume to be one of the world’s most expensive ferry crossings to be just three nautical miles long, but that’s exactly what I paid: £280 return from Lymington to Yarmouth for a 45-minute crossing. It […]

British summertime has well and truly arrived, and on the back of a rare heatwave the West of England – home to cream teas, rolling hills, and breathtaking scenery – is basking in brilliant sunshine. The region spans Somerset and […]

If open-water swimming for you means murky, silt-filled lakes, rivers strewn with litter, or endless laps in a chlorinated pool, then Haute-Savoie is here to blow you out of the water—literally. Here you’ll swap chlorine for glacier-fed clarity, lane ropes […]

Mindfulness Matters. To stay calm, focused, and able to adapt to shifting situations with an open mind gives business leaders a powerful and competitive advantage. It’s a skill which, went learnt, can decrease stress levels and prevent burn-out, improve decision-making, […]

For the uninitiated, mantra lounges are not your typical wellness spots. Unlike traditional yoga studios and meditation centres, which can feel intimidating to newcomers (and let’s face it, elitist and pretentious, too), mantra lounges are unique in the sense that […]

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important holidays in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It’s traditionally marked by celebrations, food, and decorations, with five solid days of celebrations starting on 28th October. But Diwali grows in popularity, […]

It’s dog-eat-dog world, and nowhere does it bite harder than when it comes to closing sales. Words such as ‘fast-paced’ and ‘competitive’ don’t begin to describe the realities of a situation where the pressure to land that account is often […]

Conflict in the workplace costs British businesses nearly £30billion a year in staff turnover and lost revenue. Yet most leaders handle it badly – and many make it worse. Some take a hardline approach by dominating conversations, issuing ultimatums, and […]

Business leaders have spent the past decade working to build more inclusive organisations. ESG reporting is now routine, diversity strategies are in place across most sectors, and stakeholder engagement is widely treated as a business priority. But despite all of […]

Change is inevitable in life and business. Whether you’re entering a new market, onboarding a new tenant, or starting a relationship, the more you understand about the situation in advance, the better equipped you are to handle it. In military […]

Game design degrees have exploded in popularity in recent years as young people are increasingly attracted to a career in an industry which is seen as fun, cool, and lucrative. Among British universities, there is a continued arms race to […]

For many young people, landing a job in the video game industry is the ultimate in cool. Who wouldn’t want to help create the next adventures for Mario, Sonic, Master Chief and a whole host of other iconic characters? But […]

Classic British video games such as Tomb Raider, Lemmings, Elite, GoldenEye 007, and Worms once set the gold standard for quality. They arrived polished, innovative, fully formed, and ready to play. Compare that to today, where gamers constantly complain about […]

Aleksey Savchenko, a contributor for The European, said cost-cutting, poor leadership, and a growing reluctance by studios to take risks are driving top-tier talent out of the sector — leaving underprepared graduates to “pick up the slack.” He said the exodus […]

For decades, the creative industries have followed the same pattern. You come up with a great idea — a book, a computer game, a film, a song — and to bring it to life, you give it away. The publisher […]

There are many questions surrounding the role of technology in our lives today. But one in particular is beginning to dominate: how much are we really willing to give up in exchange for the convenience and efficiency that technology promises? […]

Earlier this summer, the American union representing actors, performers and voice artists – known as SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) – concluded a long and bitter dispute with the largest video game publishers in […]

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Andrew Horn argues work-life balance is a myth. Great leaders succeed by aligning purpose, values, and service.

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Ben Hooper offers new opinion/quotes on Ross Edgley’s Great Icelandic Swim attempt to swim around Iceland.

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Atlantic expedition swimmer Ben Hooper on the brutal physical and psychological demands behind British adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete Ross Edgley’s new Great Icelandic Swim attempt to swim around Iceland, commencing 16th May 2025.

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Former MEP and environmentalist Stanley Johnson calls for Britain to rebuild ties with Europe — starting with the environment.

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Bestselling author Liv Arnold explores why women still struggle to set boundaries — and how saying no can be an act of survival.

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Constitutionalist Mike Bedenbaugh explains how America’s political labels lost all meaning — and how that confusion paved the way for Trumpism.

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Author and former Playboy cover star Liv Arnold tackles the feminist debate over thirst traps — and why she proudly posts them anyway.

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Oxford biologist Professor Tim Coulson explores who — or what — might inherit the Earth if humans go extinct. His surprising answer? Octopuses.

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Dr Tom Lonsdale calls for urgent reform to veterinary education — and explains how a curriculum built around processed food and corporate ties is failing future vets.

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Whistleblower vet Dr Tom Lonsdale outlines how processed pet food harms animals — and why industry resistance is putting pets at risk.

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Veteran game designer Oleksiy Savchenko argues that today’s AAA games have lost the magic of the classics — and explains how to bring it back.

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Bestselling author RR Haywood explores the rise of the passive-aggressive phrase taking over British life — and why we’re too polite to say what we mean.

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Former high-class escort and sex industry expert Elizabeth G. explores the strange, subversive history of the vibrator — and why its story reveals more about gender, power, and pleasure than we think.

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Bestselling romance author Liv Arnold reflects on the mental health toll of always being ‘on’ — and what helped her stop performing and start healing.

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Former Hare Krishna monk Andrew Horn shares five leadership techniques to help stressed professionals stay calm, clear, and focused — even under pressure.

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Travel writer Emma Strandberg explains how Rome is becoming a global model for sustainable tourism — and what travellers can learn from the locals.

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Oleksiy Savchenko argues that outdated gaming degrees are failing today’s developers — and offers a roadmap for change.

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Dr Linda Parker warns that Greenland may become the next Arctic battleground — especially if US geopolitical ambitions shift after the election.

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Gaming industry expert Oleksiy Savchenko makes the case for reinventing game design degrees — and explains why today’s graduates need more than just coding skills.

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Omara Williams explores how ancient civilisations continue to shape sci-fi — from alien mythology to space empire aesthetics.

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Oggy Boytchev reveals how to enjoy the slopes of St Moritz without breaking the bank — from budget lifts to secret snow routes.

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Workplace bias expert Buki Mosaku argues that scrapping diversity quotas might just make workplaces fairer — and calls for a shift from optics to outcome.

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Dr Tom Lonsdale presents new data suggesting kibble may be linked to one in 25 pet deaths — and calls for urgent transparency in the pet food industry.

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Tim Coulson argues that aliens probably exist — and that’s precisely why we should be worried.

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Elizabeth G. explains why current equality laws fail sex workers — and calls for urgent legal reform that protects rights without shame.

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Andrew Horn shares five high-impact techniques for sales success — and why most people misunderstand what makes a great closer.

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Elizabeth G. explains why current equality laws fail sex workers — and calls for urgent legal reform that protects rights without shame.

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Travel writer Emma Strandberg shares the surprising beauty tip that’s free, effective, and backed by science — and explains how slowing down may be the secret to ageing well.

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Bestselling adult romance author Liv Arnold delivers a cheeky countdown of spicy date-night ideas — inspired by her romance novels and real-life readers — just in time for Valentine’s Day.

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Mind coach Stephen Simpson introduces rising Australian star Darby Maguire — and explores how elite mindset and cultural pride are fuelling the next generation of long-distance champions.

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Mike Bedenbaugh unpacks how America’s support for Israel is shaped by conquest culture — and why Gaza has become a lightning rod for deeper ideological divides.

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Mike Bedenbaugh explores how Donald Trump’s return is rooted in Southern identity — and why Europe must understand the regional forces driving America’s political shifts.

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Dr Stephen Simpson interviews Jon Hall QFSM, former Chief Fire Officer and UK government resilience adviser, on what went wrong at Grenfell — and how safety leadership must change to prevent the next disaster.

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Mind coach Dr Stephen Simpson interviews IG’s Chief Market Analyst Chris Beauchamp about the psychology of trading — and why mastering your emotions matters more than market forecasts.

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Mind coach Dr Stephen Simpson speaks with podcast duo Scott Robinson and Chris Brooks about mental health, masculinity, and why more men need to talk before it’s too late.

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Polar historian Dr Linda Parker examines the future of the Northwest Passage — and warns that what looks like an economic opportunity could become an environmental and geopolitical crisis.

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Veterinary surgeon Dr. Tom Lonsdale reflects on 30 years of campaigning against ultra-processed pet food — and why, at 75, he has no plans to stop. A powerful personal account of science, industry resistance, and canine health.

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Internationally acclaimed mind coach Stephen Simpson sits down with one of Britain’s most successful professional poker players to explore risk, reputation, and the psychology of staying cool when the stakes are sky-high.

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Award-winning sci-fi author and keen astronomer Omara Williams blends science, travel, and stargazing to offer expert tips on where and how to witness the world’s most awe-inspiring eclipses over the next decade — and why it’s worth the trip.

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Former Hare Krishna monk Andrew Horn shares five creative, low-cost ways UK employers can acknowledge Diwali in the workplace — from decorations to cultural talks — and explains why inclusion matters more than ever.

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Veterinary whistleblower Dr. Tom Lonsdale calls for urgent, independent research into processed pet food. Based on decades of clinical experience, he argues that raw meaty bone diets work — and that data could be the key to reforming industry standards.

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Polar historian Dr Linda Parker argues that former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May deserve more credit as Arctic explorers — and that it’s time to rethink what modern exploration really looks like in an era of climate change.

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Ex-BBC journalist Oggy Boytchev travels deep into Colombia’s wildest landscapes to uncover the country’s transformation into an eco-tourism destination — and the dangers that still linger beneath the surface.

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Native Hawaiian author Dorimalia Waiau shares the emotional and spiritual journey that shaped her Be Manaful series of Young Adult novels. Blending personal experience with Hawaiian mythology, she offers an empowering message about healing from trauma and reclaiming cultural identity..

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When the riot starts, you don’t get a script. Bestselling author and former police officer RR Haywood recalls what it’s really like to be on the frontline — and why public order policing deserves more respect than it gets.

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Former Hare Krishna monk Andrew Horn shares 10 mindfulness techniques — backed by neuroscience and spiritual tradition — to help employees manage stress, improve focus, and enhance wellbeing at work. A practical guide with a deeply personal edge.

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You can’t build a strong army with unwilling recruits. Ex-Tank Commander Matthew Baldwin argues that forcing today’s youth into military service would backfire — socially, logistically, and tactically. A no-nonsense critique of conscription in the age of comfort, tech dependence, and low resilience.

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Yes, you can swim in Berlin — and it’s glorious. From the deep waters of Wannsee to the forest-fringed calm of Krumme Lanke, endurance swimmer Ben Hooper reveals Berlin’s top wild swimming spots — plus where to eat, what to see, and how to soak up the city once you’ve towelled off.

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Forget theory — show your skills. Veteran game developer Aleksey Savchenko shares hard-earned advice for aspiring games professionals. From building projects in your bedroom to finding your niche through doing, this pitch debunks the degree myth and champions hands-on, creative learning.

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Forget theory — show your skills. Veteran game developer Aleksey Savchenko shares hard-earned advice for aspiring games professionals. From building projects in your bedroom to finding your niche through doing, this pitch debunks the degree myth and champions hands-on, creative learning.

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When mainstream medicine failed, he hacked his way back. After a mysterious illness forced him off air, former Sky Sports presenter Tony Wrighton turned to biohacking. From fasting and breathwork to sleep and cold exposure, this article charts his return to health — and the habits he’s helping others adopt.

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Was Da Vinci trying to tell us something? Filmmaker and biblical historian Julian Doyle examines hidden hand gestures and cryptic symbolism across Da Vinci’s works, suggesting the Renaissance master may have been part of a suppressed tradition that venerated John the Baptist over Jesus.

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Are we witnessing the death of classic game design? Aleksey Savchenko explains why seasoned developers are walking away from big studios — and how short-term thinking, broken pipelines, and creative burnout are harming games. A critical, insider look at the state of the modern gaming industry.

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Can AI narrate your legacy? RR Haywood explores the strange new world of posthumous voice cloning, arguing that legacy matters — but only if the work stays untouched. With humour and sharp insight, he unpacks the creative limits of AI and what it means for the future of authorship.

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A race you feel, not just watch: Motoring journalist Mark G. Whitchurch captures the chaos, camaraderie and sheer spectacle of Le Mans 2025. From Ferrari’s title defence to 3am trackside moments, this piece dives into why the world’s greatest endurance race still captures the hearts of fans.

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The stars are easier to spot than you think.
Author and amateur astronomer Omara Williams shares how to find Orion, Gemini, Taurus and more — no telescope required. A clear, accessible guide for newcomers, complete with seasonal tips and mythological backstories to bring the spring sky to life.