Why Europe wants to boost its Arctic presence
EU leaders gathered in northern Finland recently for a summit focused on reaffirming the importance of the Arctic region to European security. The meeting, which took place in the city of Rovaniemi, came a month before the EU is expected to release its updated Arctic policy. This will be the first update since 2021, during […]
How do Denmark and the UK compare when it comes to alcohol and drinking habits?
Videnskab.dk/Lærke Slot For decades, Denmark and the UK have been known as countries where alcohol plays a big role in people’s social lives. In this way, the two countries make an interesting comparison when it comes to alcohol consumption because they both have a strong drinking culture. For years, Denmark has appeared near the top […]
Why the UK’s support for Saudi Arabia also signals a reset of relations with Donald Trump
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated in 2026, with the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran. Renewed attacks by Saudi Arabia against the Houthi rebels in Yemen dialled up hostilities even further. Through attacks on global shipping, this small group has had a strategic impact far greater than its size and capability. […]
Water is precious – this Swedish city separates different waste sources to reuse more of it
Oceanhamnen in the city of Helsingborg, Sweden. Bhoff Agency/Shutterstock Extreme temperatures, droughts and wildfires lead to water scarcity and the search for alternative sources of water to secure supplies. With increasing pressures from climate change, Europe’s water stress – not having enough clean freshwater to meet demands – is becoming more intense and more frequent. […]
Social media bans are an attempt to manage harm – but young people can flourish online
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock In the UK, Australia and many other countries around the world, debates around teenagers’ internet and social media use are focused on risks, problems and harms. This has been reflected in a growing emphasis on regulation, including bans on social media for under-16s. While these concerns are both necessary and well-intentioned, this […]
Employment leave for pregnancy loss is a step forward — but support must reflect the diversity of pregnancy endings
PeopleImages/ Shutterstock Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the UK government is extending statutory bereavement leave entitlements to include early pregnancy endings. Currently, the statutory entitlement to parental bereavement leave is limited to parents whose child under 18 has died, or who experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This enables them to […]
In Youth, Sharon Horgan explores what it means to find happiness in your ‘sixth decade’
In a montage of iconic women from Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Jane Goodall, to Arundhati Roy, a video clip of Margaret Atwood emerges. She looks towards the interviewer and says: “When you’re a teenager, you’re acutely worried of what people think of you, but I think now you can just have more fun.” In this […]
Yemen’s Houthis move to control crucial waterway – our research maps the countries most at risk
A container ship at a Red Sea port in Sudan, a country that relies heavily on trade through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. FabienneLaNoir / Shutterstock The advance of the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group in Yemen has driven more than 130,000 people from their homes since the beginning of September, deepening the humanitarian crisis in an […]
High levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found in Lancashire residents’ blood – what I’ve learned from studying exposed communities for over a decade
Pickadook/Shutterstock.com When residents living near a chemical plant in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, recently had their blood analysed, many were found to contain high levels of Pfas (so-called “forever chemicals”). So what does this mean for their health? I have worked on that question for more than a decade, as more and more contaminated sites have been […]
Climate disasters are getting worse – risks escalate when authoritarian regimes keep neighbours in the dark
shankar bhujel/Shutterstock Authoritarian regimes have a history of keeping information about escalating disasters secret, even when it could harm their own citizens. With more weather-related disasters caused by climate change predicted, the issue of whether governments are willing to act faster to share information with neighbouring nations is an increasing concern. The signs are not […]