Shareholder activists can inadvertently raise CEO pay – here’s how to help make pay rises more equal for all: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock Activist investors or shareholders can be a powerful force in the corporate world, capable of driving significant change within companies. Their influence can be a force for good. It can extend beyond financial decisions to …
‘Beauty’ in architecture can’t be enforced — but design competitions could help architects strive for it: New Islington Marina in Manchester. Matt Newton|Unsplash In 2021, the UK government made beauty an explicit objective of the English planning system. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which received royal assent on October 26 2023, now requires local …
Extreme weather may help invasive species outcompete native animals – new study: Invasive species can capitalise on disturbances like this. FJAH / shutterstock Non-native species appear to be better able to resist extreme weather, threatening native plants and animals and potentially creating more favourable conditions for invasive species under climate change. That’s the conclusion of …
South Africa’s literacy crisis: our app could help young readers by using home language and English: Educational technology, while no silver bullet, can be a tool for learning. Wirestock Literacy changes lives: in Unesco’s words, it “empowers and liberates people, … reduces poverty, increases participation in the labour market and has positive effects on health …
Diabetes is South Africa’s second biggest killer disease: hiking the sugar tax would help: Death rates in South Africa have declined slightly during the past few years. But the country faces a steady rise in both death and disability caused by increases in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer. According to the NCD Alliance, …
Parkinson’s disease: tai chi may help manage symptoms – new research: Tai chi has been practised for centuries. Mladen Mitrinovic/ Shutterstock The centuries-old martial art of tai chi is shown to have many health benefits – including improving balance, reducing anxiety and preventing cardiovascular disease. But these aren’t the only benefits this exercise may have. …
The Sun’s activity cycle is reaching its peak early: knowing why could help us unlock the secrets of our star: An image from January 2023 showing an X1.2 class flare erupting on the Sun (far left hand side). NASA/GSFC/SDO Our Sun is a steady and everlasting companion. Reliable like a clock, its apparent passage across …
Focusing on functional fitness in your 20s and 30s can help you stay ready for anything — and many exercises can help you achieve it: CrossFit is an example of a workout which focuses on functional fitness. Kjetil Kolbjornsrud/ Shutterstock What’s the best type of exercise you can do for your health? The answer seems …
Minor Detail book: how the language of the past can help us read the present situation in Palestine: Fitzcarraldo Editions On August 12 1949, members of an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) unit at the Nirim outpost in the Negev desert were celebrating the successful establishment of their new camp, close to the recently agreed armistice …
Social prescribing could help support young people’s mental health – but calls for a national strategy in England may be premature: GPs could "prescribe" activities to a child or teen with the aim of improving health and wellbeing. PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/ Shutterstock A growing number of children and adolescents in England are seeking access to …
Shops can’t save UK high streets but a dose of local character could help them thrive again: High St, Conwy, Wales. Some places have already started to inject some local flavour to their high streets. James Clarke/Shutterstock Cratering consumer confidence and the collapse of major UK retailers like Wilko are causing concern about the future …
South Africa’s 2022 census missed 31% of people – big data could help in future: No census is ever exact: as academics Tom Moultrie and Rob Dorrington at the University of Cape Town have noted previously: a census is not, in reality, a full and accurate count of the number of people in a country; …
Shouting at children linked to depression – but defining what counts as verbal abuse is what will help prevent harmful parenting: fasphotographic/Shutterstock A recent research paper has found that verbal abuse of children, including shouting at them and calling them names, is linked to low mood, drug abuse and delinquency (antisocial behaviour). The authors of …
Witchcraft in Ghana: help should come before accusations begin: Witchcraft is generally understood to refer to a supernatural power possessed by an individual. In Ghana, particularly in the northern parts of the country, the subject continues to spark fierce debates. In regions such as Northern, Savanna and North East, people accused of witchcraft are banished …
Lion protection fee paid by tourists could help stop trophy hunting – South African study: Trophy hunting is contentious. It typically involves paying for and pursuing a specific wild animal, often a large or iconic species, with the goal of killing it to obtain a trophy, such as the animal’s head, horns, or hide. Popular …
Teachers can nurture students who care about the world: four approaches that would help them: Teachers wear many hats. They are expected to be subject matter experts, leaders, administrators, managers, lifelong learners – and not just in the classroom, but in their wider communities. It is crucial to cultivate teachers who are socially aware and …
How to challenge toxic behaviour and help someone being bullied or harassed at work: fizkes/Shutterstock The average person will spend more than 3,500 days at work, so toxic behaviour in the workplace can have a big impact on your wellbeing. Whether it’s the sexual assault of a theatre nurse by a senior surgeon, harassment at …
Virtual reality can help emergency services navigate the complexities of real-life crises: Brandon May, Author provided The UK has experienced several terrorist attacks, from the 2005 London bombings, to the devastating events at Manchester Arena and London Bridge in 2017. These tragic incidents not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but were also …