Ethiopia bans the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles
Ethiopia has made a bold and unprecedented move by becoming the first country to ban the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles. The country is pushing for a rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs), signaling a profound shift in its environmental and energy policies. Ethiopia’s decision to eliminate gasoline and...
Current in Change
England & Wales to enforce ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics
The decision aims to tackle cases of harassment outside clinics across the country. For years, anti-abortion protesters in England and Wales have employed tactics ranging from the passive-aggressive to the blatantly invasive in an effort to sway women from terminating pregnancies. Come the end of October, however, this may no longer...
The implications of Australia’s social media ban for young people
TikTok, Instagram, Twitch and Steam are some of the platforms to be banned for young people in Australia by the Albanese government. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced in mid-September that social media will be banned for minors. There will be an age verification trial conducted, as the first...
Starlink access approved for areas hit by Hurricane Helene
Elon Musk’s gaggle of internet satellites is currently providing connectivity to areas affected by Hurricane Helene. This is what the tech tycoon had always envisioned for Starlink. You can argue whether Elon Musk’s Starlink project is borne of altruism or primarily of self-gain, but there’s no denying the project’s original...
Controversial topics reintroduced to India’s medical curriculum
In a surprising U-turn, India’s National Medical Commission has revised the medical curriculum, reintroducing controversial topics related to sexuality and gender. This decision has sparked a debate on education, LGBTQ+ rights, and the intersection of law and medicine in the country. India’s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission...
Are we adapting radically enough to climate change?
According to a new study comparing how sensitive societies are to extreme weather now versus 50 years ago, humanity may be no better prepared for the impacts of climate change today than in the 1970s. Considering that hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect our planet to breach the...
Should we be using AI powered tools in the academic environment?
AI can be a great tool, but what happens when these tools are not well trained? In recent months, a series of new tools that use Artificial Intelligence have emerged, including ChatGPT and Gemini. Each one of them has been marketed as having the ability to make our lives easier. Whether it’s creating essays for us in seconds, locating reputable sources of information, or even creating illustrations for us – AI...
Why quick commerce is thriving in India
A new retail phenomenon is reshaping consumer behaviour in major cities across the country. But what makes the quick commerce model – which promises deliveries in minutes – so successful? At the heart of India’s quick commerce triumph lies a deceptively simple concept: dark stores. These micro-warehouses, strategically placed in urban centres, are the hub of instant delivery operations which, unlike traditional retail spaces, are optimised for rapid order fulfilment. But location...
Exclusive – Kiana & Ali Rahmani on efforts to free their mother, Narges Mohammadi
We spoke to Kiana and Ali Rahmani about the global campaign called ‘Free Narges Coalition’, launched at the Nobel Peace Center on September 5th - led by PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, and Front Line Defenders - to free their mother, Laureate Narges Mohammadi. Narges Mohammadi has been imprisoned for ten years in Iran, including 135 days in solitary confinement, and now faces another 11 years for her advocacy of...
Opinion – early release for UK prisoners is the start of another sentence
Labour’s decision to release thousands of prisoners early is in the government's best interest, leaving inmates as vulnerable as ever. In the midst of a rising crisis in the UK’s prison system, the Labour government has rolled out a plan that is, in their words, both pragmatic and necessary. Short-term, the solution involves releasing eligible prisoners on licence after serving just 40% of their sentence. Long-term, it’s about building...
