Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
The public satisfaction for the NHS has dropped to a record low, as recorded by the British Social Attitudes survey.
29% said that they were satisfied during 2022; less than the 29% recorded during 2021. Back in 2010, it was at a record high of 70% satisfied. The main reason it has dropped so low is because of staff shortages and waiting times.
A&E has seen the biggest drop in satisfaction, but not surprisingly is the most valued asset the NHS has – its price being free and quality when used. However, 43% said that taxes should be raised to provide more funding, while 28% wants the NHS to live within its budget.
Crazy News
Food made from recreated flesh has seen a soar in popularity, as meatballs are made out of woolly mammoth recreated flesh.
Created by an Australian company called Vow, they use cells from various species never used before to create new meat.
No animals are killed in the process, as more than 50 species (including alpaca, buffalo, crocodile, kangaroo, peacocks and different types of fish) have been explored.
Tim Noakesmith, who cofounded Vow, says: “We chose the woolly mammoth because it’s a symbol of diversity loss and a symbol of climate change”.
They are thought to have become extinct because of hunting was a warning to the world after the ice age.
Happy News
The 2023 World Happiness Report has been published, and Finland has topped the chart for the sixth year running.
The United Kingdom has dropped two places to 19th as the United Nations chart claims that the COVID pandemic has not made an impact on happiness levels.
We have a happiness score of 6.80 points, Ireland sit above us in 14th with 6.911 points, while Finland lead with 7.804; Afghanistan are the unhappiest and sit in bottom position of 137th with a score of just 1.859.
