Waterstones controversy highlights the power of social media
The popular bookseller has been criticised for transphobic behaviour, after book-tok came out in support of a former employee. Waterstones has been a mainstay of the British highstreet for decades, but the beloved bookseller has sparked significant online backlash over its stance on LGBTQIA+ issues. Over the past few years, Waterstones...
Current in People
Could Biden’s exit from the presidential race upend international politics?
Joe Biden has pulled out of running for presidential re-election, with Kamala Harris expected to take his place. How might his sudden exit impact global politics, including the US’ stance on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as its relationship with China? In a moment that it seemed...
The Labour Party lifts longstanding ban on onshore wind projects
The UK’s Labour Party is wasting no time advancing its sustainable agenda, lifting a longstanding ban on onshore wind projects just days into its leadership. Ending our reliance on fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy resources has been touted as the number one way to mitigate climate change. In some...
What is ‘Project 2025’ and will it ever see daylight?
A think tank called the Heritage Foundation is urging Trump to make the US a Christian nationalist state, should he get a second term in charge. Liberals are laughing and the former president is emphatically distancing himself. Imagine a ‘Land of the Free’ where watching porn is enough to land...
Severity of Just Stop Oil prison sentences causes a stir
Five supporters of the JSO climate campaign have just been handed the longest jail terms ever meted out in the UK for a non-violent demonstration. This has sent shock waves through the protest community and wider British public, who consider the punishment to be too harsh. In November 2022, forty-five...
US government can seemingly censor any social media content it wants
The Supreme Court's recent dismissal of a high-profile free speech case against the Biden administration has reignited concerns about the government's influence over social media content moderation and the broader state of free expression in the US. Late last month, the Supreme Court dismissed claims that the federal government...
Survey reveals half of NHS nurse students have considered quitting
Figures revealed by the Guardian suggest that 32,000 nursing students in England may walk away over fears of burnout. Nearly half of nursing students in England have contemplated quitting their studies before graduation, amid the worst workforce crisis in NHS history, according to a new survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The end of a supportive grant for nursing students in 2017 has led to a steep decline in...
India repeals law protecting vulnerable communities from sexual abuse
As India replaces its colonial-era penal code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a significant oversight has emerged. The repeal of Section 377 leaves men and transgender individuals vulnerable to sexual abuse. On July 1, 2024, India took a historic step by replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This move, aimed at modernizing and decolonizing the country's criminal laws, has inadvertently created a significant legal gap....
The rapid development of ‘affordable’ weight loss drugs
India and China are poised to play a significant role in making weight-loss drugs more affordable and accessible, as pharmaceutical companies race to develop cheaper alternatives to Ozempic and Wegovy. The use of weight-loss drugs otherwise known as GLP-1 drugs has seen an upward trend in recent years as obesity rates rise worldwide. Medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have increased in popularity, with Ozempic being the most commonly...
Understanding the Gen Z-led protests in Kenya
In recent weeks, Kenya has witnessed a seismic shift in its socio-political landscape as protests led by Gen Z sweep across the country. At the heart of this lies the contentious Finance Bill 2024. The catalyst for these protests can be traced to the Finance Bill's proposals, which many argue disproportionately burden the common citizen while favoring the wealthy elite. Young activists, organizing mostly through social media, have emerged as...
