Iceland becomes first country to legalize equal pay
The legislation, which came into force on Monday, the first day of 2018, makes Iceland the first country in the world to legalise equal pay between men and women.
Europe
Germany begins to enforce new social media hate speech law
Last year, Germany passed a sweeping anti-hate speech law requiring websites to promptly investigate reports of posts illegal under German law and delete them.
U.K. scientists claim they found a drug that significantly reverses memory loss
A team at Lancaster University in the U.K. has discovered that a drug designed to treat type 2 diabetes may hold the key to fighting the memory loss that accompanies Alzheimer’s disease.
Britain has doubled its minimum wage since 2000 with no observable effect on unemployment
The data suggest that the traditional economic idea that rising wage prices reduce the number of available low-paid jobs might not be true.
The world’s first floating wind farm is now producing energy in Scotland
Hywind Scotland, situated in Buchan Deep, is the world’s first floating wind farm, with its five six-megawatt turbines now generating electricity.
European spending on energy efficient building technologies in 2026 to near $112 billion
The European market for energy efficient building technologies is expected to grow from $83.5 billion in 2017 to $111.9 billion in 2026.
Cambridge University to accept transgender students at women-only college
Applicants for Murray Edwards College will simply have to identify as a woman at the time they submit their application.
Brenda Hale sworn in as first female president of U.K.’s supreme court
The first woman appointed to be a law lord, in 2004, Hale had to wait until this week for a second woman to join her on the U.K.’s highest court.
Scottish government bans fracking after public opposition
Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse says allowing unconventional extraction of coal and gas would put climate goals at risk