Misinformation threatens the ‘super election year’ of 2024
In its risk report, the World Economic Forum warns how Indian elections in 2024 could be swayed by the rampant spread of misinformation and disinformation. Close to 3 billion voters - approximately a quarter of the world's population - are expected to be heading to electoral polls this year and...
Current in People
Children’s Mental Health week highlights shortcomings in system
Mental health struggles aren’t exclusive to adults. Many children around the world are at odds with how to deal with their mental and emotional wellbeing – and in the UK, children’s’ crisis organizations are sounding the alarm. It was established by the children's mental health charity Place2Be, with the intention...
Why are French farmers blocking routes into Paris?
Thousands of tractors have blocked routes in the capital as farmers demand better pay and fewer environmental regulations. Tensions between France’s farmers and government reached boiling point this week, after thousands of tractors threatened to blockade Paris for an indefinite period. The protest is the culmination of a months-long demand...
Is the BJP weaponising Hindu sentiment for electoral gain?
Allegations of the BJP weaponizing Hindu sentiment for electoral gain continue to grow stronger. Is the supposed ‘reclamation’ of temples the latest boon for Narendra Modi? As Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremoniously unveiled the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya earlier this month, the visual was striking - the country's most...
Why is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?
The Arab state had strict no-alcohol rules since 1952, but the introduction of its first alcohol shop in 72 years has people questioning Saudi Arabia’s stance on booze. Both foreigners and locals were left somewhat bemused when news broke of Saudi Arabia’s first alcohol shop. Well, first since 1952 at...
New report uncovers a dramatic rise in FGM cases worldwide
According to recent data released by UNICEF, the number of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation has increased by 15 per cent in the past eight years, showing that the pace of progress remains woefully off track to meet the SDG of ending the practice by...
Opinion – It’s time we rethink Australia Day
The vandalisation of two statues in Melbourne highlights a growing disillusionment with Australia’s national holiday, and an increased awareness of the country’s colonial past. Police in Melbourne are investigating ‘criminal damage’ toward two of the city’s monuments, after residents woke up to find them destroyed. A statue of Captain Cook – the British cartographer who is named as the ‘founder’ of Australia in many Western historical documents – was sawn off at the...
Exclusive – in conversation with Daphne Frias and Selina Leem
We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight both the climate justice activists’ insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future. Daphne Frias is a Latina climate justice activist, disability awareness advocate, and storyteller born and raised in West Harlem, NYC. As a freelance organiser, she spends her time speaking at various colleges, summits,...
What do Cold Weather Payments mean for Britain’s most vulnerable?
The scheme provides financial support for those affected by prolonged sub-zero temperatures, but how viable are these payments against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis? As we hunt for blown-away wheelie bins and crank up the heating, the UK’s cold-snap is affecting some more than others. But those in the most affected areas – who are experiencing prolonged sub-zero temperatures – could qualify for government support. Cold Weather Payments, designed to provide...
Exclusive – in conversation with Disha Ravi and Natalie Cooper
We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight both the climate justice activist’s and the evolutionary biologist’s insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future. Disha Ravi is a climate justice activist, storyteller, and one of the founders of Fridays For Future India. Part of the organisation’s Most Affected Peoples and Areas wing, her...
