News & Blog

Chris McCausland: 'Perception of people with disabilities is antiquated'

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Chris McCausland has told the BBC that people's views of disabilities are "antiquated". McCausland is one of the favourites to win the competition. Read more here.

Yale University introduces course on Beyonce's political and cultural impact

The Yale University course will work through her self-titled 2013 collection, into Lemonade and Renaissance, and up to her multi-Grammy nominated country album Cowboy Carter. Read more here.

What is the 4B movement and why is it on the rise after Trump’s victory?

While its exact origins are unclear, the 4B movement is a feminist movement from South Korea that initially gained popularity in 2019, with members swearing off heterosexual relationships with men and the heteronormative steps that come with them, such as childbirth and marriage, as a form of protest. Read more here.

UK women in Spain, France, Portugal face 'terrifying' problem that's 'endemic'

Meanwhile, women walking the Camino de Santiago have spoken out over being hit by "terrifying" sexual harassment. Sexual aggression is said to be "endemic" on the route through Spain, Portugal and France with solo female pilgrims particularly at risk. Read more here.

Jamie Oliver apologises after his children’s book is criticised for ‘stereotyping’ First Nations Australians

Publisher takes responsibility for the failure to consult Indigenous groups, who say the fantasy novel trivialises complex and painful histories. Read more here.

Maori haka in NZ parliament to protest at bill to reinterpret founding treaty

Meanwhile, New Zealand's parliament was brought to a temporary halt by MPs performing a haka, amid anger over a controversial bill seeking to reinterpret the country's founding treaty with Māori people. Read more here.

Luke Evans on growing up gay as a Jehovah's Witness

Jehovah's Witnesses reject homosexuality and Evans - the Welsh actor whose films include Beauty and the Beast, The Hobbit, and Fast & Furious 6 - understood he would be expelled from the community if he came out, with implications for his family too. Read more here.

'Systematic racism' in social work to be addressed in review

A national review of social work in Scotland has been launched in a bid to address ‘systemic racism’ within the sector. Read more here.

Secrets of happiness: the happiness hacks backed up by science

Ian Sample asks which happiness strategies are backed up by science. He hears from Elizabeth Dunn, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, who recently scrutinised a whole lot of happiness research to work out which recommendations are most reliable. Listen here.