Opinion and ideas

An injection to prevent HIV is something to celebrate

Negative reaction to the news recalls the homophobia that stopped early research into Aids treatments

Cosmetic surgery in the UK needs some work doing

As demand exceeds supply in the UK, too many practitioners are wielding needles and knives without the relevant skills

Anyone for padel? No, I hadn’t heard of it either

In my continuing search for a new sport, I tried padel. It’s like tennis, but less complicated

After 10 years, we still don’t know how Shamima Begum’s story ends

The young woman who left London to join the Islamic State may have been under duress. Was she presumed guilty because she was Muslim?

Former Nato chief warns Russia is at war with UK

In a speech this week, George Robertson echoed other analysts’ views that UK is in conflict with the Kremlin

‘We’re not going back to 6 October’

When the war in Gaza began two years ago, the date became synonymous with bitter political arguments, violation and failed policies

‘Our grief can become anger – or it can deepen our humanity’

We will never fully recover from the trauma of the past two years. But with a sense of compassion and dignity towards each other, we can build a better world for all our children

Did Spitting Image have to turn Paddington into a coke-addled wreck?

The show is hilarious when it skewers those who deserve it. But a kindly toy? It just makes me sad

The Observer view: from ceasefire to peace

Without restoring Israeli and Palestinians’ shattered sense of security, this plan will be short-lived

This brutal narrative must now change

The pause in hostilities offers a way to end the genocide in Gaza and advance Palestinian self-determination

I worked on a Gaza peace plan with Blair

Finally, the president has embraced a plan sketched out during Biden’s time in office

Reeves must do ‘whatever it takes’ to heal the UK economy

There are even hysterical suggestions that the UK’s economic position is so serious that we may have to borrow from the IMF

In praise of ‘rip-off’ degrees

Kemi Badenoch’s attack on the arts and humanities isn’t just culturally short-sighted, it’s economically illiterate

Apache Indian could teach Jenrick a thing or two about integration

Growing up in diverse Birmingham defined my world view

I want the hostages home – but what comes next?

Israelis owe it to themselves – and to those beyond the borders – to confront the deeper costs of this war

The Palestinian fight for liberation is not over

This is not the end of the story – the deeper struggle for rights and dignity remains

Badenoch’s speech may have bought her more time as Tory leader

The confident speech touched most of the right notes for her Conservative family, but voters are unlikely to be as convinced

Yes, Robert Jenrick, we do have an integration problem

The shadow justice secretary has railed against the lack of integration in parts of Britain. But it’s the ‘flag-bothering patriots’ who don’t want to mix