Africa is witnessing a huge electronic waste problem
Africa is increasingly becoming a dumping ground for electronic waste from developed nations. Despite having the lowest annual e-waste production per capita, UN agencies project a growth rate of 3 to 5 percent annually - a trend likely to continue with further technology integration. The African continent has emerged...
Current in Change
Al Jazeera to be imminently banned from broadcasting in Israel
Netanyahu has announced an immediate ban on the Middle Eastern news company from operating in Israel. The US expressed concern, as Al Jazeera’s journalists have been some of the only officials able to broadcast from the ground. On Monday, Israeli parliamentarians voted in favour of a new law which...
A deep dive into the fight to end whale captivity
The SWIMS Act, introduced in January of this year, may finally come into force in the US, ensuring a better life for captive cetaceans and pulling a plug on any such in future. For decades, the cruelty of confining some of the world's most intelligent creatures to tiny tanks for...
Reforesting with the wrong trees could be worsening the climate crisis
Tree planting has been heralded as a saving grace in the face of a warming planet, but projects that use the wrong plant species are contributing further to the climate crisis and worsening biodiversity loss. By now, we are all aware of just how vital trees are to our...
Is cloud seeding to blame for the Dubai floods?
Last week, approximately 25cm of rain – roughly twice the UAE’s yearly average – fell in a single day, leaving much of the city’s outdoor infrastructure under water. This has sparked a debate about weather modification. In parts of the Northern Hemisphere, April is known as the month of showers. This...
Canada’s cap on residents reflects mounting immigration concerns
For the first time, Canada has announced plans to reduce its share of temporary residents. The move highlights growing anti-immigration sentiment worldwide. Canada has long been somewhat of a haven for foreign visitors, whom it relies heavily on for economic growth. But in a major u-turn, the country has announced...
Thailand to legalise same-sex marriage imminently
After an overwhelming majority vote in parliament, Thailand is poised to become the third Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage. In the coming months Thailand will officially become the first nation in south-east Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. Rapturous applause broke out following the announcement in parliament on Wednesday, with 400 of 415 lawmakers from the lower house voting for the bill’s instatement. Danuphorn Punnakanta, president of the committee that devised the...
Navigating the intricacies of the Russian election
Vladimir Putin's fifth term as President was long expected, but his victory was far from simple in the complex world of Russian politics. The results of the recent Russian election were oh so predictable. Recent tensions, underscored by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the highly anticipated presidential election, have once again brought Vladimir Putin to the forefront of global attention. Against geopolitical complexities and internal dissent, Putin's landslide victory in...
South Sudan schools continue to close amid heatwaves
In a bid to safeguard the health and well-being of students, educational authorities in South Sudan have taken the unprecedented decision to close schools across the nation in preparation for a 45C heatwave. South Sudan, already known for its scorching temperatures, has experienced an unprecedented rise in mercury levels over the past weeks. According to the country’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry advisory, temperatures have been soaring well above 40C...
UK school dinner disparity highlights wider socio-economic divide
Campaigners have argued children face a ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to the quality of school meals. But as portions decrease and prices rise, school meals highlight the hurdles faced by parents amid a cost-of-living crisis. I’d hazard a guess that few of us look back fondly on our school dinners. From jacket potatoes to stodgy pasta, they weren’t always the tastiest meals. But many of us were extremely lucky...
