Wattpad scraps ‘Paid Stories’ for better balanced freemium model
The community storytelling platform has decided to scrap its paywall feature in favour of a new freemium model. ‘Wattpad Originals’ aims to strike a better balance for authors in terms of monetisation and growing their readership through non-paying users. If this is the first you’re hearing of Wattpad, you’re welcome. The...
Current in Change
Shouting at kids increases their risk of mental health issues by 50%
New research claims that shouting can be as damaging to children’s development as sexual and physical abuse. It warns that young people exposed to hostile parenting early on are more likely to self-hr, use drugs, and commit crimes. According to a recent study published in Science Direct, shouting at, denigrating,...
Study shows UK parents won’t have another child due to cost of living
Research from Bambino Mio reveals that British parents won’t have a second or third child because of the rising expenses. The cost-of-living crisis continues to affect many British households as food and bills increase quicker than the average household income. Nappy expert Bambino Mio found that new parents are...
Japanese scientists find microplastics in Earth’s clouds
Tiny particles of plastic have been found in clouds for the first time. Scientists in Japan say their presence risks exacerbating climate change and contaminating ‘everything we eat and drink’. Is nowhere on Earth sacred anymore? Nope, not even the clouds above us. When surveying cloud water near Mount Fuji...
Explaining the latest flare-up between India and Canada
The assassination of a Sikh leader in Canada is the latest flare-up in a decades-old conflict in India. The situation at present threatens to do irreparable diplomatic damage to both countries. When Justin Trudeau landed in Delhi for the G20 summit he came prepared to face tensions with Modi head-on...
Corporations soon have to report their carbon emissions in California
California is about to sign off on a deal to become the first US state requiring large companies to report their carbon emissions. This will affect around 5,400 firms which make more than $1bn in annual revenue. Considering filling out tax forms for the prior year proves too difficult a...
A young Black gymnast was denied a medal in Ireland
The snub has sparked outrage on social media, and placed Gymnastics Ireland under the spotlight. Last week, a video went viral for all the wrong reasons. Taken in March 2022, the clip shows a line of children at a Gymstart event in Dublin. Each of them is awarded a medal, except for the one Black girl pictured. Since the footage re-emerged, it’s been watched by millions on social media. The incident...
A UK police officer has been charged with Chris Kaba’s murder
But the ruling doesn’t equate accountability within a broken police system. Last year, an unarmed man was shot by a police officer in South London. Chris Kaba was just 24-years-old. His death resulted in protests from the Black community at the time. Led by Kaba’s family, hundreds rallied at the Met Police headquarters demanding justice. It took a year for any progress in the case, as Kaba’s mother Helen Lumuanganu continued demanding...
How the G20 summit addressed member nations’ top challenges
The annual G20 summit tackled major global challenges, while also providing India with an opportunity to showcase its growing global stature as the host nation. The 18th G20 Summit was held in Delhi, India over a two-day period. The summit was attended by leaders from member countries, as well as invited guests from other institutions and international organisations. In case you’re unaware, the G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising the 19...
UN gravely concerned over rising child deaths in Sudan
The United Nations has sounded a distressing alarm over the escalating child mortality rates in Sudan, a tragic consequence of the relentless conflict that has gripped the nation for months. This week, during the UN's briefing in Geneva, UNHCR announced a harrowing set of statistics that reveals the devastating toll the war is taking on Sudan's youngest and most vulnerable population, with malnutrition and disease rampant among children. Since April, Sudan...
