Just 19% of Brits are planning on packing their suitcases and heading abroad for two weeks in 2015, yet almost half have booked four short trips scattered throughout the year. Why are people ditching the two-week trip of sun, sea and sand in favour of staycations and city breaks?

In the 24 hours following the attacks on Paris, 4.1 million people marked themselves ‘safe’ on Facebook. It prevailed as a practical tool for the masses; a way to alleviate worry and spur a collective sigh of relief. But is Safety Check simply a helpful feature or yet another way to perpetuate fear?

Sales of pepper spray and air guns have recently surged in Germany, spiking after the Paris terror attacks in November and again after the sex assaults on around 20 women that occurred on New Year's Eve in Cologne. Is this what's driving people to purchase these scare devices?

After a year of violence both at home and abroad, the French public is emotionally drained. With deteriorating confidence in their political system, their collectivist ideals present pro-social businesses with a unique opportunity to help dig them out of the tough times.