10 h. ago Leading female politicians and artists reject attempts to link migration and sexual abuse

The letter accuses the right of exploiting ‘violence against women to fuel hate and division’

Politics

33 h. ago I’ve seen how big tech has transformed the classroom – and parents are right to be worried | Velislava Hillman

I’ve examined how commercial technologies reshape education – often in ways parents instinctively resist, but are told to ignoreDr Velislava Hillman is an academic, teacher, writer and consultant on educational technology and policy.A quiet transformation is unfolding in schools: commercial technology is rapidly reshaping how children learn, often without much public debate or inquiry.From the near-ubiquity of Google and Microsoft to speculative AI products such as Century Tech, big and ed tech alike promise “personalised learning” while harvesting vast amounts of data and turning education to monetisable widgets and digital badges.Dr Velislava Hillman is an academic, teacher, writer and consultant on educational technology and policy. She is the author of Taming Edtech Continue reading...

Science

33 h. ago Big tech has transformed the classroom – and parents are right to be worried | Velislava Hillman

I’ve examined how commercial technologies reshape education – often in ways parents instinctively resist, but are told to ignoreDr Velislava Hillman is an academic, teacher, writer and consultant on educational technology and policy.A quiet transformation is unfolding in schools: commercial technology is rapidly reshaping how children learn, often without much public debate or inquiry.From the near-ubiquity of Google and Microsoft to speculative AI products such as Century Tech, big and ed tech alike promise “personalised learning” while harvesting vast amounts of data and turning education to monetisable widgets and digital badges.Dr Velislava Hillman is an academic, teacher, writer and consultant on educational technology and policy. She is the author of Taming Edtech Continue reading...

Science

6 d. ago ‘Parents’ rights’ groups gain ground in Canada amid Alberta book ban

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book banSocially conservative “parents’ rights” groups that have emerged as powerfully political lobbying groups in the US are quickly gaining ground in Canada, academics and free speech advocates say, after two such groups claimed they had persuaded Alberta to institute a sweeping public school book ban.Alberta recently directed schools to purge library books from shelves that fit its definition of “explicit sexual content” by 1 October. If the policy is applied precisely as outlined, a host of books face being purged, including George Orwell’s 1984 due to passages in the text that discuss sexual intercourse and rape. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Rightwing ‘parents’ rights’ groups gain ground in Canada as Alberta book bans target LGBTQ+ titles

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book banSocially conservative “parents’ rights” groups that have emerged as powerfully political lobbying groups in the US are quickly gaining ground in Canada, academics and free speech advocates say, after two such groups claimed they had persuaded Alberta to institute a sweeping public school book ban.Alberta recently directed schools to purge library books from shelves that fit its definition of “explicit sexual content” by 1 October. If the policy is applied precisely as outlined, a host of books face being purged, including George Orwell’s 1984 due to passages in the text that discuss sexual intercourse and rape. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago France to sue Kick for alleged negligence over livestream death

Minister says Australian platform ‘did not do everything possible to stop the broadcast of dangerous content’France will sue the Australian streaming platform Kick for alleged negligence after a user died during a livestream, a government minister has said.The platform has come under scrutiny in France after a 46-year-old Frenchman died earlier this month during a 12-day livestreaming marathon on his channel, which specialised in him enduring abuse or humiliation dished out by other participants. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Female political prisoners in Belarus face abuse, humiliation and threats of losing parental rights

Human rights activists say female political prisoners in Belarus are often singled out for abuse and humiliation, threatened with losing their children, and having medical problems ignored

Events

1 week ago Hostage review – five hours of fast, furious fun, featuring Suranne Jones as prime minister

Kidnappings, terrorists, blackmail: this globetrotting political thriller is a rollicking, propulsive yarn and its take on female leaders is deeply refreshingYou know how it is. One moment you’re on a romantic walk in the woods with your saintly, supportive husband as he convinces you to stand for election as prime minister, the next you are that prime minister (with the shorter but still flattering haircut to prove it). You’re knee-deep in a cancer drug supply crisis and about to meet with the French president who alone can solve your problem, when news arrives that your saintly, supportive husband – who is, of course, a doctor with Doctors Without Borders – and his team have been abducted by unknown terrorists in French Guiana. What is a Suranne Jones with a Netflix budget behind her to do?That is the set-up from which five punchy hours – Hostage fully swerves the curse of streamer-bloat – of great, globetrotting fun proceeds. Jones is the no-nonsense (in a good way, not a Thatche...

Politics

1 week ago French government investigating death of man during live stream

Police in Nice have been probing alleged ‘deliberate violent acts’ against ‘vulnerable people’ that have ended up on the internetProsecutors in the south of France have said they are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who died during a live streaming event showing him being mistreated.The man – whose real name is Raphael Graven, but was known online as Jean Pormanove or JP – had built a following by putting on live internet shows in which he was abused or humiliated. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago French prosecutors investigating death of man during live stream

Police in Nice have been probing alleged ‘deliberate violent acts’ against ‘vulnerable people’ that have ended up on the internetProsecutors in the south of France have said they are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who died during a live streaming event showing him being mistreated.The man – whose real name is Raphael Graven, but was known online as Jean Pormanove or JP – had built a following by putting on live internet shows in which he was abused or humiliated. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Peter Andre's wife admits 'I don't always get it right' in parenting confession

NHS doctor Emily MacDonagh has opened up on her family life with her husband Peter Andre as they prepare to mark their 10th wedding anniversary later this year

Politics

2 w. ago Parents and families urged to check right now if they can get unclaimed benefits

A new report has revealed that many people in the UK are missing out on billions of pounds in financial support - but you can check if you're eligible with a free online tool

Society

2 w. ago Nicola Sturgeon’s immense political talent is undeniable. The nationalism was the problem | Martin Kettle

Many of her admirers gloss over her desire to break up the UK as Scotland’s first minister. But in her open and touching memoir, it plays a starring roleNicola Sturgeon was – and still is – important, talented, personable and, to many, inspirational. She was also extremely lucky and often wrong, sometimes seriously so. There are examples of all these qualities in her newly published memoir, Frankly. Sturgeosceptics should concede at once that it contains much that is fascinating, especially about her relations with her charismatic mentor turned vengeful enemy Alex Salmond. Starry-eyed Sturgies should equally admit she made several deep and lasting errors that have left behind a divided nationalist party and movement.The book is more open and touching about private issues than most political memoirs, although Sturgeon deploys these qualities selectively. Many of the intimate reflections are about being a woman in politics. Other memoirs by female politicians – including those of Marg...

Politics

2 w. ago UN puts Israel 'on notice' over accusations its armed forces are using sexual violence against captives

The alleged crimes included incidents of genital violence, prolonged forced nudity of captives, and abusive and degrading strip searches aimed at humiliation and interrogation.

Events

3 w. ago Verbally abused children more likely to have poor mental health as adults, study finds

Analysis suggests long-term damage to wellbeing can be worse than for children experiencing physical abuseParents who ridicule, threaten or humiliate their children risk leaving them with a 64% higher chance of having poor mental health as an adult, a study has found.The research also found physical abuse experienced among the research participants reduced over time, while verbal abuse increased. Continue reading...

Society