Exposing the tyranny of caste in Indian academia
The dramatic detention of Dr. Ritu Singh, a former Delhi University professor, marks a turning point in her ongoing protest against caste discrimination in academia. Dr. Singh, a Dalit professor dismissed from University of Delhi allegedly due to caste bias, has protested for over 170 days seeking justice and reform. On...
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Zimbabwe to block scholarship for LGBTQ+ people
In a controversial announcement, Zimbabwe's Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, declared the government would block scholarships for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those sponsored by GALZ, a membership organization advocating for the rights of such groups in Zimbabwe. The state university scholarship program, which caters to individuals aged 18 to 35, has been...
I attended the International Prevention of Violent Extremism summit in Nairobi
This week, the International Prevention of Violent Extremism commemoration brought together a diverse array of organisations, leaders, and communities across the globe for a collective sustainable response to violent extremism. I left feeling buoyed. In Nairobi, participants from various backgrounds showcased a collective effort to address the global challenge of...
India deploys arsenal against farmers’ protests
Outside the barricaded checkpoints in Delhi, tensions between farmers and authorities have reached fever pitch. The level of response to the grievances has been unwarranted and cruel. Seventy-one-year-old Jaspal Singh, who lives near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, sustained a leg injury during farmers' protests at the...
Understanding implications of the US & China’s science pact
In an age marked by rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty, the US-China S&T Agreement has been a beacon of collaboration, yet, its future lies in the balance. The United States and China have witnessed a complex relationship characterized by various different elements. One of the cornerstones of their...
Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian nation to legalise gay marriage
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Greece this week after a lengthy parliamentary debate. Though the vast majority of Greek citizens are celebrating the move, pushback from the church highlights tensions between longstanding religious tradition and modern views in the country. Yesterday, Greece legalised same-sex civil marriage. Although it is the...
US professors raise concerns about college students’ reading ability
College professors in the United States are noticing a considerable drop in the number of students willing to do reading for their course. Is an uptick in short-form digital content to blame, or is it something else? In an age where our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter by the day, who has the time or patience to read long-form text anymore? Apparently, not even students enrolled in higher...
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 thus 2024 has been dubbed a ‘super election year’ or even the biggest election year in history. This is aided by...
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 of shining a spotlight on the importance of children and young people's mental wellbeing. The organisation has been running for more...
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 for better pay among French farmers, who feel threatened by environmental regulations and competition from cheap imports. ‘This is the final...
