Betty Mendy, the sister of Mary Mendy who died with her daughter Khadija Saye in the Grenfell Tower fire, during the press conference in London. PA Wire
Grenfell fire and Covid-19 inquiries make UK inequalities all too clear

To see how depressing and unjust this is, we need to join the dots

September 13, 2024, 7:00 AM
Nuns and priests take part in a prayer near Mother Teresa's tomb during a mass marking Mother Teresa's 27th death anniversary at the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, on September 5. EPA
Who are today's role models?

Or are they all driven by algorithms?

September 05, 2024, 2:00 PM
The aftermath of a far-right riot on August 5 in Middlesbrough, England. Many in Britain's minority communities are frustrated that the work of creating change falls on those who are exhausted. Getty
Why do victims of racism have to lead the fight for change?

The emotional labour required to tackle such issues leaves us too drained to advance ourselves personally or professionally

August 15, 2024, 2:00 PM
French sprinter Sylla Sounkamba, seen here at the European Athletics Championships, was forced to compete at the Paris Olympics in a baseball cap due to France's ban of its athletes wearing the hijab. Getty
The French Olympics hijab ban should bother female athletes everywhere

It's hard enough to be a woman in sport without your appearance being subjected to shaming and politics

August 06, 2024, 4:00 AM
Opposition leader Rishi Sunak speaks during a debate in the UK House of Commons. AFP
Rishi Sunak's legacy as Britain's first Asian prime minister will be a lasting one

However, the symbolic impact of the milestone must be distinguished from the systemic one

July 18, 2024, 2:00 PM
A Thai elder receives a haircut by caregivers at the Elderly Home Ban Bang Khae II in Bangkok. EPA
Care giving is hard work and it's time to talk more openly about it

Too often primary caregivers don't receive adequate support, which can lead to a decline in their physical and mental health

July 12, 2024, 7:00 AM
Children participate attend the Hay Festival in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, in 2021. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Taking children to literary festivals is fodder for their imaginations

It's good for young people to feel inspired and see dreams that could shape their future

June 07, 2024, 9:00 AM
In a male-dominated culture, power is often asserted in such clubs’ corridors and lounges. Getty
Garrick Club's decision to accept women is about more than just sexism

The challenge being mounted against men-only spaces is not necessarily that men should not have them, but that they can exclude women from power

May 27, 2024, 7:00 AM
Parts of East London such as Whitechapel and Brick Lane, pictured above, have been home to successive waves of migration for centuries. Getty
Sneering at immigrants' English skills is a tired trope

Brits are famous abroad – even as residents – for not speaking the local language. Subjecting migrants in the UK to bogus language 'tests' is about creating a hierarchy of superiority and inferiority

May 10, 2024, 7:00 AM
For many young Muslims today, the war on Gaza is becoming a defining moment, just as 9/11 was for an earlier generation. Getty
What is the legacy of October 7 for today's young Muslims?

My public 'coming of age' happened in the shadow of 9/11 and the War on Terror. Now, I see a generation of young people having a similar cataclysmic reaction

April 19, 2024, 7:00 AM
A child collects Easter eggs during an event to mark the Christian festival in the US city of Kentucky. AP
Festivals can teach us about our common humanity

While each celebration has its own meaning, a shared lesson from festivals is the thread of renewal

March 29, 2024, 7:00 AM
Palestinian women prepare the Iftar meal on the first day of Ramadan. AP
Ramadan is a good time to remember the challenges many women face

Women in traditional families often bear a special burden during the holy month, and this must be appreciated

March 18, 2024, 10:02 AM
A shop selling decorative lights in Deir Al Balah in Gaza before Ramadan. AFP
The power of Ramadan in the time of war

There is widespread anguish, not just among Muslims, and a feeling of unity for people suffering in Gaza

March 05, 2024, 7:00 AM
Women do far more housework and childcare than men, studies from around the world show. AFP
You're both tired from work. Now who does the dishes?

Unequal housework and rest times are adding to the invisible load in too many domestic lives, a survey shows

February 16, 2024, 7:00 AM
In a world of increasing polarisation, it is unsurprising that research shows that this divide between younger men and women is growing in new and unexpected ways. Courtesy: Orbon Alija
Why are young men and women growing further apart?

In many countries, women are becoming more liberal and younger men more conservative but reconciling these differences can make societies happier

February 09, 2024, 7:00 AM