Latest Stories from Flo
Opinion – The Odyssey casting meltdown misses the whole point
Actor Lupita Nyong’o has faced backlash over her role as Helen of Troy in the upcoming film. But fury surrounding her casting says more about our narrow understanding of identity than our interest in historical accuracy. When Christopher Nolan, purveyor of the epic thriller and sprawling cinematic project, announced he would be working on an adaptation of Homer’s famous poem The Odyssey, lovers of antiquity knew they were in for...
What the rise of UK shoplifting says about the nation’s economy
New reports show rural areas and independent businesses across the country are being targeted. Britain’s shoplifting crisis is no longer limited to city-centre supermarkets or high street convenience stores. Increasingly, it has spread into rural areas, affecting farm shops, independent retailers and small family-run businesses. New research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual suggests that the kind of crime once associated with urban decline is no longer confined to these areas. Nine...
The UK’s smoking ban already feels out of date
Britain’s ‘smoke-free generation’ law may save lives, but it also reveals a government legislating for habits young people have largely grown out of. The British government has hailed its generational smoking ban as a landmark public health intervention. Anyone born after 1st January 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes in the UK, theoretically creating a ‘smoke-free generation’ that will phase tobacco out of British life forever. It’s...
Should delivery apps impose alcohol limits?
The death of a young woman has sparked debate over the access afforded by instant delivery services. For people with alcohol dependency, food delivery platforms have transformed drinking into a private and frictionless ritual. The limits imposed on physical retails, such as opening hours and – in some cases – units per spend, are bypassed on apps like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. They also make access to alcohol almost instant. This loophole is...
Opinion – The outrage over Olivia Rodrigo’s dress is disturbing
Criticism over the singer’s babydoll-style dress is a projection of misogynist and perverted hypersexualisation. But the women targeted by this kind of backlash are still framed as the villains. When Olivia Rodrigo stepped out on stage in a sweet babydoll dress, I’d never have guessed it would start an internet controversy. But alas, the limits of internet outrage continue to surprise. The popstar has quickly become the target of disturbing scrutiny...
AI will not be winning any Oscars
As artificial intelligence continues to threaten intellectual property, the announcement is a sigh of relief for those working in the creative industries. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has clarified that only acting and writing for films done by humans will be considered eligible to win an Academy Award. A few years ago, it would’ve been hard to take that statement seriously. But in the age of AI,...
Will banning early morning airport drinks prevent bad behaviour?
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary believes a ban on alcoholic beverages will curb bad behaviour onboard early-morning flights. Passengers have other thoughts. Airports are strange places – the epitome of a third space. We do lots of things at the airport that we wouldn’t do anywhere else: spend an inordinate amount on a WHSmith sandwich; buy a comically large Toblerone; decide we need a new perfume or pair of sunglasses. But...
Did the Trump administration obscure HIV epidemic data?
The collapse of USAID left a vacuum that only exacerbated the HIV epidemic. Yet rather than addressing the fallout, the administration chose to prioritise optics, hiding the true scale of suffering in developing nations. At its height, USAID was one of the major pillars sustaining global healthcare; that is until Trump ran for president a second term. Before that happened, the US used to pour billions into its annual budget...
Where are all the women on the Times ‘Best-of’ list?
A list of the 25 best non-fiction books of the century has sparked debate after it featured just eight female writers. A gender disparity in the Sunday Times list of the 25 best non-fiction books of the century has stirred up a gender debate, after it listed only eight books written by women. At six men to two women, the gender split points to broader patterns in UK non-fiction, an...
How the Golders Green attacks are impacting London’s Jewish community
Jews living in the capital are choosing to conceal their religion as a form of self-protection. A terror attack in Golders Green, north London, has left two men in hospital and the local Jewish community traumatised. The double stabbing took place last Wednesday, where a 70 and 30-year-old were attacked. Both remain in stable condition in hospital, and a 45-year-old man has been arrested. Since then, the terror threat in...
