Latest Stories from Sofia
Why Pinterest is booming among Gen Z
The platform just saw its best user growth in two years, with young people leading the charge. This is due to recently introduced shoppable content, which has transformed the social media site into a go-to fashion destination for the style-obsessed demographic. According to Pinterest’s CEO, the platform – designed to enable the discovery of inspiration on the Internet in the form of pinboards – has just seen its best user...
Almost one in three female surgeons have been sexually assaulted
Representing a ‘#MeToo moment’ for the NHS, a recent survey has uncovered a pattern of female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons during the past five years in operating theatres across the UK. Almost a third of female surgeons in the UK have been sexually assaulted by a colleague during the past five years, a recent survey – which is the largest of its kind – has revealed. Published in...
UN warns that ‘climate breakdown has begun’
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Earth just had its hottest summer on record, prompting calls for global leaders to ‘turn up the heat now’ on solutions. The summer of 2023, which saw heatwaves, fires, and floods destroy livelihoods across the globe, from North and South America, to Europe, India, Japan, and China, has officially been confirmed by the United Nations as the ‘hottest on record.’ According to...
Mexico is the latest Latin American country to decriminalise abortion
The Supreme Court’s decision to legalise the procedure across all 32 states follows a growing trend throughout the region, which is renowned for its deeply conservative values. On Wednesday, Mexico’s Supreme Court unanimously ordered that abortion be removed from the federal penal code across all 32 states, in a historic decision welcomed by women’s rights groups throughout the country. The ruling will mean access to the procedure for millions, an extension...
Could India officially be renamed ‘Bharat’?
In preparation to host the G20 summit this weekend, state-issued invitations sent to world leaders have ignited rumours that Modi’s government plans to break with the country’s colonial heritage. This has raised concerns that the Prime Minister is attempting to politicise the national identity. This week, speculations have been growing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist government could try to officially change the name of India to Bharat. Rumours...
EU to crack down on advertisers making false green claims
To protect increasingly climate-conscious consumers from being misled, the proposed directive will ban generic statements including ‘eco,’ ‘environmentally-friendly,’ ‘carbon neutral,’ and ‘natural’ from being made without evidence. More than ever, we’re seeing brands claiming to be sustainability-orientated in an effort to attract climate-conscious consumers. So much so, in fact, that words such as ‘recyclable,’ ‘biodegradable,’ and ‘responsibly sourced’ can be found on almost every piece of packaging their products are cased...
Is TikTok’s burnt toast theory a solution to rising anxiety among Gen Z?
The viral concept postulates that minor inconveniences could be the universe’s way of averting a more severe catastrophe. Can this perspective alter how we perceive daily mishaps and alleviate stress? When you’ve endured a global pandemic, continue to witness the worsening effects of climate change, and are struggling to navigate a cost of living crisis, it can be hard to trust in the universe. And the more...
How ‘algospeak’ aids sensitive social media discussion
With life online increasingly controlled by overzealous censorship policies, users have begun inventing code words to dodge strict moderations on platforms like TikTok. Though you may not be familiar with the phrase ‘algospeak,’ what you’re likely to have come across is the slew of code words Internet users have been adopting to bypass content moderation filters on major platforms. For the unacquainted, ‘spicy eggplant’ rather than vibrator, ‘seggs’ rather than...
Why celebrity stylists are unionising
For decades, strict labour laws in the US have hindered unionising efforts in creative industries like fashion. Thanks to the knock-on effects of the Hollywood strikes, however, – where workers are standing up against low wages and poor working conditions – the tide appears to be turning. In July, hundreds of thousands of Hollywood actors swapped the red carpet for the picket lines and went on...
Soil home to more than half of the Earth’s species
According to a new study, 90 per cent of fungi, 85 per cent of plants, over 50 per cent of bacteria, and 59 per cent of life overall dwells in this ecosystem – double what many previously thought. A recent analysis has found that soil – the top layer of the Earth’s crust that’s composed of a mixture of water, gases, minerals, and organic matter – is home to more...










