How the cost-of-living crisis is pushing Britain to the brink
As bankers’ bonuses increase and government action stalls, a new cost-of-living documentary has highlighted the urgency of our country’s wealth gap. The same day that Channel 4 released its new cost-of-living documentary, a cap on bankers’ bonuses was scrapped in the UK. The irony hasn’t been lost on many, as...
Current in People
Will protests calling for Israel’s ceasefire in Gaza work?
As Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip – and more recently the occupied West Bank – continues with intense ferocity, hundreds of people gathered at one of London’s busiest train stations to call for a ceasefire. Yesterday evening, more than 500 protesters sat inside London’s Liverpool Street station during rush...
How the veto power dominated UN ceasefire discussions
The controversial veto by the United States on a resolution calling for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has left many angered and confused. It poses the question of how one country managed to overturn 14 others. On October 18th, the United Nations Security Council brought forth a resolution that...
British start-up develops STI-testing tampon
Daye, a former femcare firm that’s now a gynaecological health company, has launched a new at-home screening service for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and other common sexually transmitted infections with the hope it will encourage more women to seek treatment. Let’s be honest, getting tested for a sexually transmitted infection is never...
Assisted dying bill to be passed in the Isle of Man imminently?
A vote which could make assisted dying legalised for the first time in the British Isles is imminent. The doctor behind the bill, Alex Allinson, is ‘cautiously optimistic’ it will be instated. Assisted dying is an incredibly difficult and sensitive subject to consider, but large parts of the public demand...
Over 70 arrested in Nigeria for organising gay wedding
In a country where conservatism often clashes with diversity, Nigeria’s LBGTQ+ community continues to face immense challenges. This past weekend, 76 young people who organised a same-sex wedding were arrested in the north-east. On Saturday last week, a day meant to be a celebration of love and unity, the lives...
Understanding the lag in Ethiopia’s university entrance rates
Ethiopia is currently facing a significant challenge in its education system - abysmally low university entrance exam pass rates. Only 3% of high school students manage to pass leading to a growing crisis in the country's educational landscape. In the Ethiopian education system, high school students must pass the country’s University Entrance Exam, locally known as the Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate Examination (EHEECE), to gain admission to universities. The...
Study finds period insecurity may stop girls from playing sports
The Youth Sports Trust has found low confidence related to menstruation stops girls from enjoying PE in schools. Government efforts have been geared toward the health and fitness of UK children for the past few years, as campaigns around obesity and physical activity begin to infiltrate more aspects of our daily lives. But despite a new plan to improve equal access and the quality of PE in schools,...
What are war crimes and who is held accountable for them?
As Israel unleashes its wrath on Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rages on, war crime accusations have become a central topic of international discussion. Let’s look at what acts are considered war crimes and who, historically, has been held accountable for committing them. Although the condemnation of various acts committed during war has existed throughout history, concepts of what constitutes a war crime were not developed until the end...
Is free-speech under threat in UK universities?
Newly appointed university free-speech tsar Arif Ahmed certainly thinks so. Conversations around free-speech, particularly in our education systems, can often feel like a minefield. The growing concern around ‘culture wars’ and ‘cancel culture’ in recent years has only exacerbated this fact, with many expressing fears of academic freedom in UK universities. Government figures have shared beliefs that many figures in higher education, whether students, teachers, or other members of staff, are being...
