What are the Taliban doing at COP29?
The fundamentalist group is attending the summit for the first time since its violent return to power in 2021. Though objections have been raised, poverty-stricken Afghanistan is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis and it’s for this reason that hosts in Azerbaijan extended...
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Breaking down intersex variations in human biology
Recent studies indicate that intersex variations are as common as red hair, affecting approximately 1.7% of the global population. Public awareness about this facet of human biology remains limited however, highlighting the need for improved education and acceptance across the board. ‘Intersex’ is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide...
India ranks lowest in Global Nature Conservation Index
The country’s environmental protection efforts are being scrutinised after it ranked 176th. India’s score of 45.5 out of 100 in this year’s Global Nature Conservation Index positions it among the worst-performing countries in the world. The assessment, conducted by Ben-Gurion University and BioDB, looked at land management, biodiversity threats, governance capacity,...
The silent crisis of obstetric violence in Indian hospitals
In maternity wards across India, a disturbing pattern of mistreatment and disrespect towards pregnant women has emerged. While government initiatives aim to promote hospital births, this raises questions about women’s safety and the quality of care in these environments. Though relatively new to India, a silent crisis of obstetric...
Everything you need to know about COP
The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is kicking off in Baku, Azerbaijan, and will be continuing for the next two weeks. What’s the purpose of the annual summit, what’s the focus this year, and after almost three...
Emergency contraception could be banned in India
Regulatory bodies are considering restricting access to over-the-counter morning after pills. This has sparked a debate about women’s reproductive rights and public health priorities. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is currently considering banning the sale of over-the-counter emergency contraception, particularly that which contains Levonorgestrel. Until now, morning after pills...
Why doesn’t the US want to collectively save nature?
Besides the Vatican, it’s the only nation in the world that hasn’t joined the Convention on Biological Diversity – the single most important global treaty designed to safeguard Earth’s animals and ecosystems. What’s behind this reluctance to stave off ecological collapse? As it stands, only two countries haven’t joined the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): the Vatican and the US. Given America has some of the strongest...
The silent crisis plaguing India’s prison system
In recent years, the health of political prisoners across India – from scholars to activists – has severely deteriorated in custody and some have even died as a result. This human rights issue reveals a systemic failure and demands immediate attention and reform.
The death of G.N. Saibaba, a 90 per cent physically disabled human rights defender, marks another tragic chapter in India’s handling of political prisoners.
Saibaba, who 
Why India needs feminism more than ever
The movement is addressing deeply rooted systemic issues countrywide – from workplace discrimination to social stigma – amid the continued fight for tangible gender equality. According to a recent analysis conducted by the Centre for Global Development (based in Washington DC), there exists widespread gender bias in Indian learning materials. The comprehensive study examined 526 textbooks, including 60 from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)...
WHO declares Egypt malaria-free after 100-year effort
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Egypt malaria-free, marking the culmination of a century-long effort by the North African nation to eradicate the disease. Egypt’s landmark achievement places it among the select group of African countries that have successfully eliminated malaria, becoming the fifth to receive this encouraging certification. The accomplishment is particularly significant given the country’s population of over 100 million people. The eradication of malaria from...
