For decades, maternity leave has dominated conversations about family policy. But today, a quiet revolution is taking place, especially across the Global South.

Women live longer than men nearly everywhere in the world. According to data compiled by Worldometer, the average life expectancy at birth in 2025 is 70.9 years for men and 76.2 years for women, leaving a gap of over five years.

Being bullied is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction and is linked to depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts.

One would think that washing hands with soap and water would become second nature for everyone after the pandemic. Surprisingly, some countries still find it difficult to do this even after using the toilet.