writers

Commentary pieces from The Hill and The Washington Post are examining what Donald Trump would have to do to earn a lasting monument or legacy, with writers arguing he covets such recognition. The discussion centres on his political ambitions and how history might judge his presidency.

Guardian science writer Linda Geddes reports on the growing threat of wildfires in the UK, where hotter, drier summers are turning green landscapes into tinderboxes. Scientists are working to map, model and predict how fires spread so that outbreaks can be prevented or contained earlier, as Britain confronts a type of risk once seen mainly abroad.

Personal finance writer David Aston examines why interest rates are climbing again after a period of decline, and what the shift could mean for mortgage holders. He breaks down the forces pushing borrowing costs higher and offers guidance for homeowners facing renewals or considering new mortgages.

Pacific women are voicing their priorities to global climate advocates ahead of the COP31 negotiations, arguing that those most affected by rising seas and extreme weather in the Pacific must shape the agenda. Writers on the Devpolicy Blog urge international campaigners to listen to Pacific women's perspectives on loss, damage and adaptation rather than speaking for them.

Writer Derek Thompson argues that American social life is collapsing at home: people increasingly stay in, and fewer invite friends or family over. Drawing on survey data on declining time spent entertaining guests, he links the 'death of the American host' to loneliness, rising costs, smaller homes, and screen-based leisure, sparking debate about whether hospitality can be revived.

An academic has warned that the EU's AI legislation systematically fails to protect authors' moral rights, such as attribution and the integrity of their work, as AI systems increasingly train on and generate creative content. Writing in World Trademark Review, the scholar argues that current EU law focuses on economic rights and compliance rules while leaving moral rights largely unaddressed, raising concerns for writers and creators across Europe.

A USA Today opinion piece argues that while the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has expanded access to immediate help by phone, callers in mental health crisis still often lack somewhere to go for in-person care. The writer calls for investment in crisis centers, stabilization facilities and community-based services so the lifeline connects people to real treatment rather than a dead end.

A writer has gone looking for traces of the film history of upstate New York, a region with a long but often overlooked connection to American cinema. The piece explores the places where notable movies were made and what remains of that legacy today, prompting readers to share their own memories of the area's on-screen past.

Spanish journalist and writer Maruja Torres is speaking about her difficult childhood, saying she rarely attended school and instead occasionally went to what were then called 'academies' — a ground-floor room run by a married couple as teachers. She recalled that at times her family could not even afford that, drawing attention to poverty and limited access to education in postwar Spain.

Amazon is developing a project titled 'Shadow Work', based on a short story by writer Adrienne Miller. The announcement adds to the company's slate of literary adaptations as it continues expanding its original film and television output. Details on casting, a showrunner or a release timeline have not yet been announced.

Baseball writers are making their picks for the MLB Wild Card Series, weighing whether the New York Yankees can get past longtime rival the Boston Red Sox, and whether the Philadelphia Phillies can find an offensive spark as the postseason begins. Analysts are split on the outcomes, with the Yankees-Red Sox matchup drawing particular attention given the rivalry and high stakes of the single-round playoff format.

Many marine protected areas worldwide are far less protective than their designation suggests. Activities such as fishing and trawling often continue inside their boundaries, and few zones have strict enforcement or monitoring. Conservation writers are pointing out that paperwork alone does not safeguard ecosystems, prompting debate about how governments define and enforce ocean protection.

The Texas Observer has published a magazine feature examining the work of authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, who propose a framework for analyzing what they call a world of perpetual upheavals and strategies to combat it. The piece questions whether the model of resistance the two writers offer is sufficient for the current political moment.

So Kuramoto, the Japanese screenwriter best known for the acclaimed television drama 'Kita no Kuni kara' ('From the Northern Country'), has died at the age of 91. Kuramoto was one of Japan's most respected television writers, and his work is credited with shaping generations of Japanese family drama. Tributes and remembrances of his career are circulating following the announcement.

Google's Android developer verification requirement is often being described as a blanket ban on sideloaded APKs, but that is not what it does. Starting September 30, it applies initially in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and only to installs from designated participating stores onto certified Android devices. Direct APK downloads from the web are not covered at this stage, and ADB-based development and on-device testing continue as before. Writers are walking through how the rules differ by distribution method and what to check before the scope widens.

A forum letter in Singapore argues that patients who combine Western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine should receive clinical judgment rather than blanket bans. The writer says doctors should focus on managing potentially harmful interactions and guiding patients honestly instead of dismissing or prohibiting complementary therapies outright, a stance that touches an ongoing debate over integrating traditional and modern care.

A novelist whose previous book won the Pulitzer Prize has released a new novel that is failing commercially and critically, according to a New York Times report comparing the two books' fortunes. The piece examines why a writer at the height of literary prestige has not repeated the success, prompting discussion about prize momentum, reader expectations and how unpredictable book sales remain even for celebrated authors.

MIT Technology Review has published an explainer examining legal responsibility when autonomous AI agents cause harm. The piece asks who should answer for an agent's mistakes — the developer, the deployer, or the user — as companies increasingly hand real-world tasks to software that acts on its own. It is part of the outlet's ongoing series untangling complex technology questions.

Commentators are arguing that the growing public backlash against data centers, driven by concerns over energy use, water consumption and local impacts, has so far failed to become a broader reckoning about the climate cost of digital infrastructure. Writers on climate-focused online communities say the debate should connect data center expansion to emissions and grid strain, but that discussion remains largely framed around local nuisance rather than global warming.