Once the bustling heart of Christian pilgrimage, Bethlehem now faces shuttered hotels, empty streets and a shrinking Christian community, while Israel’s assault on Gaza and the tightening grip of occupation destroy hopes of peace at the birthplace of Christ, writes Father GEOFF BOTTOMS
Latest editorial
Beyond Adolescence: the dangerous misinterpretations of Netflix’s most controversial drama
The series unveils uncomfortable truths about youth alienation and online radicalisation — but the real crisis lies in austerity and the absence of class consciousness in addressing young people’s disillusionment, says teacher ROBERT POOLE
ELITE ENDORSEMENT: Keir Starmer hosts Adolescence writer Jack Thorne (right) at 10 Downing Street, for a ‘safety meeting’ inspired by the fictional TV series
After years hidden away, Oldham’s memorial to six local volunteers who died fighting fascism in the Spanish civil war has been restored to public view, marking both a victory for campaigners and a renewed tribute to the town’s proud International Brigade heritage, says ROB HARGREAVES
The June 2025 attacks on Iran have heightened the risk of a wider war, exposed the fiction of a rules-based international order and left ordinary Iranians trapped between external aggression and internal repression, says the Committee for Defence of Iranian People’s Rights
While pretending to seek peace, Europe is heading toward a collision course with Russia – using security guarantees, troop deployments, expropriation and censorship as tools, writes SEVIM DAGDELEN
A WWI hero, renowned ornithologist, medical doctor, trade union organiser and founder member of the Communist Party of Great Britain all rolled in one. MAT COWARD tells the story of a life so improbable it was once dismissed as fiction
The long-term effects of chemical weapons such as Agent Orange mean that the impact of war lasts well beyond a ceasefire
LIKE most of the country, I have been enthralled by the Netflix limited series Adolescence. It is a great piece of drama, with fantastic acting — especially from some of the younger cast — and Stephen Graham shows that he is one of the finest working-class actors of our time. The claustrophobic shooting style — one single continuous, real-time shot per episode — is fascinating to watch and makes for an intense viewing experience.
It also leaves us constantly wanting to know more about what is happening off-screen and leaves us with more questions than answers by the end of the series.
But beneath the artistic excellence lies a dangerous narrative that’s been seized upon by those with political agendas, and it’s crucial we understand what’s really happening with our young people before we draw the wrong conclusions.
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