The UK’s smoking ban already feels out of date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...
Current in Change
New Zealand shields corporate polluters by banning climate lawsuits
In a major blow to climate action, the nation’s Justice Minister announced a legislation to ban citizens from suing companies for climate change damage. In 2016, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed, marking a landmark moment in global cooperation on climate change. Yet, a decade later, the agreement appears to...
Anger towards migrants is reaching crisis point in South Africa
South Africa is regarded as the land of opportunities on the continent, but at this time, there is fear of settling within its borders for African migrants. In townships and inner-city neighbourhoods, African migrants are once again becoming targets. Caught in a cycle of violence, exclusion, and suspicion, this...
New study says most UK millionaires happy to pay more tax
Research has found that most rich people in the UK would be happy to fund public services and pay more income tax, softening fears that millionaires could leave the country due to financial pressures. It seems as though millionaires in the UK might be more open to higher taxes than...
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...
What does research tell us about parasocial relationships?
Parasocial relationships have always existed, but social media has made them feel more personal. For Gen Z, constant access to influencers, streamers, and idols is blurring the line between fandom and real connection. What does the research say? Have you ever watched so many interviews of your K-pop bias that...
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...
What a failing Atlantic Current means for Europe and North America
Recent studies have found that the AMOC is approaching a collapse sooner than expected, prompting concerns over unstable weather patterns, rising in sea levels, and critically, national security threats. When we think of climate change, we usually think about increased heat and the resulting melting ice sheets. In recent times, it has been made clear that the Earth’s very dynamics are being shifted tremendously by the actions of humans, and this...
How Britain’s press bias helped shape Tory election wins
Britain’s press has long claimed to simply report politics, but its deep-rooted bias toward the Conservatives suggests it may have played a far more active role in shaping how the public sees power, leadership, and ultimately who gets to win. On 13 April 1992 after a devastating election loss, swerving the usual graceful exit, Neil Kinnock stood in front of the press and made a striking claim: ‘...the Conservative-supporting press...
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...
