Two kinds of news stories have recently been proving that Black people are still exposed to serious racism in the USA in 2021. First, Republicans in many states are changing voting laws in ways designed to reduce the participation of minorities in elections. Second, police violence against people of colour keeps occurring. In this context, the history of racist ideas is most relevant – and a Black scholar published a book on the matter in 2016. This article summarise some of his conclusions.

In the past two weeks, violence has brutally re-erupted in Israel/Palestine. Hamas terrorism is unacceptable, but Israel's authorities are certainly not blameless either, as recent opinion pieces in the New York Times have pointed out.

If you believe that the USA is in terminal decline and China the irresistibly rising world power, spare a thought for the Oscars. Global hegemony depends on more than manufacturing and military prowess.

In the course of nine months, two East African presidents have died of health problems. Both were Covid-19 deniers, but many people believe they succumbed to this disease.