
Five years on from the first news of COVID, recent reports of an obscure respiratory virus in China may understandably raise concerns. Chinese authorities first issued warnings about human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in 2023,...

Champagne, caviar or salmon: are luxury foods becoming more accessible?
The concept of luxury in food has undergone a profound transformation. Foods once considered exclusive to the wealthy champagne, foie gras, and truffles have become increasingly accessible. How did this shift occur? What...

The Pelicot rape case revealed not a group of monsters but a culture that enables the abuse of women
The conviction of Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men for the aggravated rape of his wife Gisèle Pelicot, perpetrated over years of horrific violence has been shocking. Their trial revealed that Dominique Pelicot...

Even the much lauded Nordic prisons are facing overcrowding and understaffing
Prison reform advocates often point to the Nordic countries as examples of how to do prison right. The low rates of imprisonment and more humane approach to incarceration in these countries have long been considered...
Better sleep, more energy and feeling in control: the reported benefits of Dry January
Better quality sleep is just one of the perks. Prostock-studio/ Shutterstock Since it was started in 2013 by the charity Alcohol Change UK, the Dry January challenge has significantly grown in popularity, becoming a very...
How generative AI is transforming financial services – and what it means for customers
Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock Generative AI, including platforms like ChatGPT, is transforming industries by making processes simpler, more efficient and easier to interact with. However, in the heavily regulated financial...

How and why the US Senate could thwart Trump’s cabinet picks
The US government, on the the ignominious anniversary of the seditious coup attempt on January 6 2020, met this week to ratify Donald Trumps very real victory in the 2024 presidential election. They are shortly about to...