Totally buzzing

They are a $50bn global industry loved by teens and gig-economy workers-but what are energy drinks really doing to our health?

'There I was with my mittens on the moon, at the Last Supper, on the Titanic, on top of buildings'

I had predicted that Donald Trump would try to overturn the election results in every way possible, including the incitement of violence. But even I didn't imagine how far the defeated president would go on 6 January 2021.

THE PRESIDENT'S LEFT-HAND MAN

Bernie Sanders has galvanised American progressives in recent years. But the veteran senator is still angry about his country's vast inequalities of wealth, and is keen to tackle them.

Georgia case Trump report findings could lead to criminal prosecution

The release last week of a portion of the Fulton county special purpose grand jury’s report marks a new step toward potential criminal charges holding Donald Trump and his allies accountable for election interference.

Brain waves

Orthodox theories around the causes of dementia have focused on toxic plaques. But some scientists have doggedly pursued the idea that viruses and bacteria could play a role

Canal plus Depopulated Venice reels in the digital workforce

On most mornings, Mylène Ebrard hops on a waterbus from her home in Giudecca, a neighbourhood of Venice with a village-like feel, and across the canal to her favourite bar, where over a hot chocolate she works from her mobile phone.

Berlin's plan for a car-free city prompts a bitter war of words

Many visitors to Graefekiez, a lively cobbled-road neighbourhood just - south of Berlin's centre, come in search of something new: a tattoo from an authentic Japanese parlour, a rare print from an off-grid gallery, a 4 am dive-bar beer.

'An extreme situation' Sea ice hits record low

The area of sea ice around Antarctica has hit a record low, with scientists reporting \"never having seen such an extreme situation before\".

Concerns over release of 'treated' Fukushima wastewater

AImost 12 years have passed since the strongest earthquake in Japan's recorded history resulted in a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people along its north-east coast.

Gabrielle begs the question of how, and if, to rebuild

As people dig houses from the silt, a national conversation is emerging over how to mitigate for the new climate normal

In the cold Palestinians left isolated by 'Israeli spring' unity

As the light faded and tens of thousands of protesters made their way back from the Knesset to Jerusalem's train station last week, the mood was tired but determined.

Anger and despair as Erdoğan's pledges are scrutinised

A mid a wasteland strewn with bricks and iron and a city reeling from unfathomable loss, a lone new building stands unscathed.

Unfazed Sturgeon quit on her own terms

For those close friends who got a text from Nicola Sturgeon in the hours before she publicly announced her resignation as Scotland's first minister, it was the timing and not the fact of her departure that came as the shock.

Life after Sturgeon What now for Scottish nationalism?

Division may have been the main characteristic in Scottish politics in recent years but, after a momentous week, voters in East Lothian were temporarily united.

The bombs keep falling while weary Kherson still holds out

The city was liberated in November but the Russians have been bombarding it since from across the river

A game of cat and mouse

Under pressure, the Russian economy has proved resilient - but as revenues fall, Vladimir Putin has little room left for miscalculation

Rights abuses 'drive people towards extremism'

Human rights abuses committed by security forces and economic deprivation are among the most important drivers of recruitment to extremist groups in Africa.

Mineral-rich town makes way for the march of progress

In the far north of Sweden, 200km above the Arctic Circle, sits the church of Kiruna, once voted the most beautiful old building in the country.

Pink river dolphins bring peace and tourists

Rare Amazon boto is a focus for job creation, conservation and reconciliation after the country's 50-year civil war

News values - The editor who defends the oppressed

Elaíze Farias’ phone is buzzing. Sitting at a restaurant in central Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in Brazil, just weeks before the presidential election, Farias is in demand.

What did you just say? - The fallibility of intelligent chatbots

Google’s unveiling of a rival to ChatGPT had an expensively embarrassing stumble last week when it emerged that promotional material showed the AI chatbot giving an incorrect response to a question.

Poor science - Research left with massive funding gap

The government’s new science minister has said the UK is “more than ready to go it alone” if there is no resolution to the stalemate over taking part in the EU’s flagship research programme.

Burt Bacharach 1928-2023

The composer leaves a long list of complex and distinctive melodies, interpreted by musicians of all stripes. Maybe you are humming one now?

Peak perspective

Globe-trotting artist Peter Doig is on the brink of a new frontier, with a show that puts his work alongside venerated modern masters

Polls don't bode well for Biden despite his triumphs

When Joe Biden accused some Republicans of wanting to “take the economy hostage” and slash social welfare entitlements, the US’s State of the Union address turned into a verbal brawl akin to the UK’s House of Commons. “No!”, “Boo!”, “Liar!” came the response.

Progress poll - All eyes on crucial test for African democracy

Upcoming election is a chance for the continent's most populous nation to reaffirm faith in elected governments

Thorny issue - Invasive cactus takes root above the snowline

The residents of the Swiss canton of Valais are used to seeing their mountainsides covered with snow in winter and edelweiss flowers in summer. But as global heating intensifies, they are increasingly finding an invasive species colonising the slopes: cacti.

Female readers find solace and feminism in Sally Rooney

When the manuscript of Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends first arrived in Peng Lun’s inbox, he hesitated.

Secret summit raises Brexit's lack of success

Brexiters and remainers from both sides of the political divide met for ‘private discussion’ with diplomats and business leaders

'He's really dangerous' - The convict soldiers go back home

Anatoly Salmin, a convicted thief and murderer, is home from prison years ahead of schedule – his reward for volunteering for a suicide mission in Russia’s war in Ukraine and then managing to survive.