Will a maternity commissioner tackle Britain’s cultural problems on motherhood?
The role has yet to be finalised or filled, but the government is already facing criticism over its decision to appoint a maternity commissioner. The UK government has announced plans to appoint a maternity commissioner following ‘shocking’ failings in maternity care across England. Whoever takes on the new role...
Current in People
Why several African nations are rejecting US aid
After pulling foreign assistance to African countries last year, Trump's government is again offering hundreds of millions in financial aid. But the support comes at a cost, and many nations aren't willing to pay it. Ghana is the latest African country to turn down a new funding deal from...
Record number of Gen Zers living at their family home in America
A fifth of Gen Zers are currently living with their parents or grandparents in the US, a record high according to analysis from John Burns Research and Consulting. Gen Z are turning ‘Gen Freeload,’ for the meantime. We’re all bored about hearing how oppressive the job market is: how entry-level jobs...
Parenthood is costing women their academic careers
Studies show a direct correlation between motherhood and a decline in academic tenure, with one in three women leaving academia after becoming mothers. When I was a student, I remember being struck by how many women were on my Art History course. Out of our 50-or-so cohort, I could count...
Half of sexually active young people engage in ‘choking’
More than two-in-five sexually active under-18s in the UK have either strangled someone or been strangled during sex, a study shows. ‘Choking’ has become a troublingly routine part of the sexual experience for young people in the UK. A study conducted by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) suggests...
FIFA overturning Balogun ban will be the lasting mark of Trump’s World Cup
Amongst blocked visas, overseas conflict, and soaring ticket prices, this year’s tournament has been marred by US politics. But Trump’s latest intervention in a FIFA red card ruling signals an ugly future for the beautiful game. The World Cup has always been political. By its very nature, a tournament that unites...
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to restrict birthright citizenship
As part of a broader push against immigration, the Trump administration attempted to restrict the nation’s longstanding birthright citizenship policy. Yet, in a turn of events, the bid was ultimately rejected by the Supreme Court. The moment we’re born, we automatically become citizens of a particular country. Beyond carrying multiple identification cards or even a passport, many of us rarely stop to consider what citizenship truly means or how it...
HR teams are constantly battling AI generated grievances
HR teams are reporting being bogged down by overly lengthy grievances framed around legal precedents that don’t even exist. Rearing its head on a daily basis, the culprit is generative AI. Have you ever felt so aggrieved you couldn’t articulate yourself properly? Maybe you considered letting AI be angry for you? If the answer is yes, and your choice of battleground was email, you may be one of a growing number...
Almost one in four European voters now back far-right parties
New research by more than 150 political scientists has found that European voters are now almost five times as likely to vote for far-right parties as they were in 1995. Anti-establishment parties have also seen a surge in popularity. Far-right parties are on the rise across Europe, new research suggests. Analysis by more than 150 political scientists from 21 countries was recently published by PopuList, with the study led by...
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 it feels like you know them as a friend? Or what about when you’re watching your favourite streamer? They say...
