Diversity & inclusion - why does it matter?

Celebrating Nowruz: Ancient festival marks arrival of spring and renewal

More than 300 million people celebrate the Persian New Year, which has been observed for more than 3,000 years in different regions, including the Balkans, the Black Sea basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. Read more here.

Vaughan Gething: What does his win mean for representation?

Vaughan Gething is set to become the first black person to lead a European country after winning the Welsh Labour leadership election. While making political history in beating rival Jeremy Miles, what difference can this make to young people from different ethnic backgrounds in Wales? Read more here.

Cabinet minister Mark Harper denies Tories have a problem with race

Last week we shared a story about the astonishing remarks made by a Tory party donor about MP Diane Abbott. Transport Secretary Mark Harper told the BBC he was in "the most ethnically diverse cabinet there has ever been", and that his party welcomes members "whatever their race". Read more here.

Doreen Lawrence says Keir Starmer not listening to her despite asking for race advice

Meanwhile, Baroness Lawrence, who was appointed Labour's race adviser, has complained that 'gatekeepers' around Labour leader Keir Starmer have hindered the progress of her work. Read more here.

New campaign builds inclusivity by challenging assumptions for World Down Syndrome Day

Titled Assume That I Can, the campaign centres around a short film starring actor, model, and advocate Madison Tevlin as she defies teachers, bartenders and parents to prove that she is capable of far more than they think. Read more here.

Transgender patients could face years-long wait for NHS treatment

The mother of Alice Litman, who killed herself while waiting for treatment, has called for urgent changes to NHS care. Read more here.

Women affected by state pension rise owed compensation and apology from government, report says

The ombudsman has asked Parliament to intervene and “act swiftly” to make sure a compensation scheme is established. Read more here.

Two bar workers in Russia become first people charged under anti-LGBTQ+ law

A Russian court has ordered two bar workers to be placed in custody, accusing them of roles in an “extremist organisation”, under new legislation criminalising the LGBTQ+ community. Read more here.

New report seeks to end ineffective business EDI practices

The independent Inclusion at Work Panel has this week published a report on the state of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) business practices in the UK. Read more here.

How a Malawi WhatsApp group helped save women trafficked to Oman

BBC Africa Eye investigates how a WhatsApp group helped save more than 50 Malawian women trafficked to Oman to work in slave-like conditions. Read more here.