opinion - INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR JOURNALISM AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Nuclear power: Are we too anxious about the risks of radiation?

This week, Boris Johnson restated the UK government's commitment to nuclear power. But of six sites identified for replacements for the country's ageing nuclear reactors, three have now been abandoned, two are waiting approval and just one is under construction. So is it time to reassess our attitude to nuclear power? Consider this conundrum: when you talk to climate scientists you quickly discover they are far more worried about the dangers of global warming than most of us. Some tell you privately that they have had counselling to cope with the psychological effects of knowing the world is facing an impending disaster and not enough is being done. Meanwhile, speak to experts on the effects of ionising radiation and you find they are surprisingly relaxed about the risks low-level exposure poses to human health - certainly far less so than most people. Despite the popular anxiety about this form of energy, it's hard to see how the UK government can meet its carbon reduction targets without new nuclear. Not least because decarbonising transport and home heating will involve a massive increase in electricity demand. Nuclear nightmares You only have to watch HBO's stunning drama, Chernobyl, to understand people's fears. Who could watch the power station workers' bodies visibly breaking down as they lie in hospital and not be afraid of radiation? You'll be even more apprehensive if you venture down the online rabbit hole. The estimates for the number of deaths from the Chernobyl disaster that you can encounter there quickly spiral into the hundreds of thousands. Some studies claim a million people have already died because of exposure to the toxic plume that spread across Europe in the wake of the accident back in April 1986. ...

Covid is making us talk about death, says funeral planner

As a humanist celebrant, Julia Page has seen first-hand how the coronavirus pandemic has affected those who have lost loved ones. ...

Breonna Taylor: Why it's hard to charge US police over shootings

Three officers were involved in the police raid that ended with Breonna Taylor shot dead in her home in Kentucky. Only one of them has been charged, but not in relation to her death. Why are so few police officers charged after fatal shootings in the US? ...

US 2020 election: The economy under Trump in six charts

Claim: President Trump says he built the greatest ever US economy prior to the coronavirus outbreak. ...

Afghan-Taliban peace talks: What's next?

History took a front seat at the table this month when Afghan enemies formally sat face to face for the first time to embark on negotiations to end what is now regarded as the world's deadliest conflict. ...

Coronavirus: There's no law to 'harvest' DNA from Covid-19 tests

Claim: Legislation will allow 'DNA harvesting' through Covid-19 tests Verdict: False ...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Obituary of the Supreme Court justice

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the history-making jurist, feminist icon and national treasure, has died, aged 87. ...

Why Indians continue to live in joint families

The Indian family, wrote novelist VS Naipaul, was a clan that gave protection and identity and "saved people from the void". ...

US election 2020: When will we get a result for the US election?

Twenty years ago Americans woke up on an autumn morning after Election Day and did not know who would next lead the country. ...

TikTok: What is Oracle and why does it want the video-sharing app?

Software giant Oracle is believed to be the frontrunner in the bidding war for short-form video app TikTok. ...

Coronavirus: How the lockdown has changed schooling in South Asia

hildren across much of Europe have been going back to school for the start of a new year, but in many other parts of the world, coronavirus restrictions have kept classrooms closed. ...

Obituary: Toots Hibbert - the man who coined the word reggae

Toots Hibbert, frontman of the legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals, has died at the age of 77. ...

Coronavirus: Who would get the vaccine first?

If or when scientists succeed in making a coronavirus vaccine, there won't be enough to go around. ...

Abortion: How do Trump and Biden's policies compare?

Abortion is arguably the most divisive issue in US politics - and with the presidential candidates promising to either revoke national rights to abortion or take extra steps to safeguard it, the stakes have never been higher. ...

How Sudan's rebel deal offers lifeline for peace

Sudan's peace agreement signed last week finally promises to end the devastating wars in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile that have cost hundreds of thousands of lives, but as Alex de Waal and Edward Thomas explain, it comes with a huge price tag. ...