Does Brockwell Park battle prove festivals are another form of gentrification?
When London’s green sanctuaries become private playgrounds, who truly holds the key to public space? Last month, Brockwell Park underwent its annual transformation from local haven to festival fortress. Surrounded by temporary fencing and housing a swathe of stages and food vans, tens of thousands prepared to descend on the...
Current in Change
Is London about to legalise cannabis?
A new report backed by the Mayor of London calls for some cannabis possession to be decriminalised in the capital. Sadiq Khan is supporting calls for the partial decriminalisation of cannabis in the UK capital, following a study by the independent London Drugs Commission (LDC). According to reports by the...
US opts out of signing landmark pandemic agreement
In a pivotal moment for global health cooperation, the US has chosen not to sign the world’s first international pandemic agreement, distancing itself from the future of pandemic preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic tested the world in circumstances that were never before seen. From governments, to the public, the crisis exposed...
Israel says 22 new illegal settlements will be built in occupied West Bank
The Israeli government has announced plans to establish 22 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, in what officials say is deliberate attempt to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state. Despite looming sanctions from its international allies, the Israeli government has announced plans to build 22 new settlements...
KFC plans large expansion across UK and Ireland
Popular fast food franchise KFC has announced plans to create 7,000 jobs across the UK and Ireland. It comes as emerging competitors pose a threat to the chain’s dominance. Chicken shop franchise KFC is planning to expand significantly across the UK and Ireland in the next five years, the...
Scientists discover new marine species in the Southern Ocean
While exploring the Southern ocean’s deepest trench, scientists encountered hydrothermal vents, lush coral gardens, and more previously unseen marine species. While many of us grew up hearing spooky stories about giant squid lurking in the deepest parts of the ocean, scientists had never been able to confirm the existence of...
Subglacial groundwater in Antarctica may accelerate sea level rise
Scientists recently uncovered a vast hidden groundwater system beneath Antarctica’s ice that could potentially change how we understand and predict rising sea levels. For a long time, experts around the world hypothesised the possible existence of deep groundwater beneath the ice sheet. However, there was no direct evidence or detailed mapping to confirm this. The Antarctic hydrological system was known to include shallow lakes, rivers, and waterlogged sediments beneath the ice,...
EU plans extra fee on small parcels often sent from China
The European Union has proposed a new fee on billions of small parcels that are sent directly to people’s homes. This extra two-euro charge would largely affect parcels sent from China on fast-fashion platforms like Shein and Temu. A new tax has been proposed by the European Union that would stop packages worth less than £126 from being customs-free. Instead, an additional two-euro charge would be applied to small packages...
Dartmoor ‘Right to Roam’ reinstated in nature milestone for UK
After a lengthy legal battle with wealthy landowner, Alexander Darwall, the right to roam, picnic, and camp in Dartmoor National Park has been reinstated by the Supreme Court. Earlier today, the Supreme Court made the decision to fully reinstate the ‘Right to Roam’ within Dartmoor National Park. The decision comes after a two-year-long court process in which Alexander Darwall, the multi-millionaire hedge fund manager and landowner, pursued the case first...
New gonorrhoea vaccine to roll out in UK as cases rise
A new vaccine for gonorrhoea will be rolled out in England as part of a world-first project. Described as a ‘landmark moment for sexual health,’ it’s hoped this initiative will lower rising levels of STI cases. A world-first vaccine for gonorrhoea is to be distributed in the UK amidst record-level case numbers. In 2023 there were over 85,000 cases in England alone. This is the highest number since records first...
