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Venezuela After Maduro’s Fall: What the Headlines Miss

By Maile Monds Recent events in Venezuela have once again thrust the country into the global spotlight. On 3 January 2026, U.S. forces conducted a military operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, removing him from Caracas and flying him to New York to face federal charges, including…

15 January 20260Comments

Europe Can No Longer Look Away: Women’s Prisons Under Human Rights Scrutiny

In 2025, the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) announced a landmark thematic review of women’s prisons across Europe. The move reflects growing alarm over the treatment of incarcerated women and the failure of prison systems to meet basic human rights standards. Women…

14 January 20260Comments

Farah’s Appeal: Cancer, CPTSD and the Human Cost of Imprisonment

As Farah Damji’s case reaches the Court of Appeal, new legal submissions, expert witness evidence, and campaigning research expose a stark picture: a criminal justice system failing women with cancer and complex trauma. This week’s hearing on Wednesday 14th January before the full Court of Appeal raises urgent questions about punishment, healthcare, and humanity behind…

14 January 20260Comments

ICE Agent Shoots and Kills Renée Good: Slurs, Slander and Digital Abuse Follow

The killing of Renée Nicole Good by an ICE officer, followed by misogynistic slurs, political slander, and AI-generated abuse, exposes the lethal consequences of expansive enforcement and detainment tactics. A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer is once again at the centre of a national outcry. Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old decorated poet, a…

13 January 20260Comments

A Dereliction of Duty: How Vetting Failures in the Met Police Put London at Risk

A damning new review into recruitment and vetting practices at the Metropolitan Police has laid bare one of the most troubling scandals in recent British policing history. Between July 2019 and March 2023, thousands of officers and staff were recruited or retained without proper background checks, and at least 131 went on to commit crimes…

12 January 20260Comments

Cate Blanchett Honoured with Freedom of the City of London

Oscar‑winning actor Cate Blanchett receives one of London’s oldest civic honours, recognising her extraordinary career and humanitarian work. Cate Blanchett, one of the world’s most acclaimed actors, has been awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London, a tradition dating back to 1237. The ceremony at Guildhall on 28 November 2025 celebrated Blanchett’s remarkable…

11 January 20260Comments

Call for Healing: How Paula and Margaret Martin Are Challenging the Catholic Church on Abuse Accountability

For many survivors of clerical abuse in Ireland, justice hasn’t ended with a conviction; it has only just begun. Sisters Paula and Margaret Martin, from County Donegal, know this all too well. Abused as children by former priest Con Cunningham, the Martins have spent decades trying to make sense of their trauma and to be…

11 January 20260Comments

Laila Cunningham: Reform UK’s Mayor Bet

Reform UK’s announcement that Laila Cunningham will be its candidate for London mayor in 2028 has put the capital’s political discourse in an unexpectedly sharp focus. A former senior Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer turned local councillor and mother of seven, Cunningham’s profile combines personal success with political controversy, a mix that encapsulates both her…

10 January 20260Comments

Princess Catherine’s Birthday Reflections Contrast with the Reality for Women with Cancer in Prison

Princess Catherine celebrated her 44th birthday by releasing a personal video on social media, reflecting on the healing power of nature and the seasons. She spoke of how even in the coldest, darkest season, winter can bring stillness, patience, and quiet consideration. Her words resonated with many who find solace in the natural world. Yet,…

9 January 20260Comments