Should sex offenders face chemical castration as legal punishment?
National outrage has ensued in Italy after the horrific gang rape of a 19-year-old girl which took place in Sicily this summer. One far-right politician has put forward a controversial punishment for sex offenders – chemical castration. TW: This article contains mention of sexual assault. In early July, a 19-year-old...
Current in People
Understanding the growing movement for paid housework
There is a growing demand for paid housework, and a call to recognise the economic impact of an often overlooked aspect of day-to-day life. 16.4 billion hours per day are spent performing unpaid care labour, as per data from the International Labour Organisation which is based on two-thirds...
Migrant boat capsize leaves near 70 dead
Close to 70 young people are feared dead after a boat carrying mostly Senegalese migrants capsized off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. The migration path across the Atlantic stands out as one of the globe's most perilous routes. The reasons behind the youths' risky voyage to...
Mexico is the latest Latin American country to decriminalise abortion
The Supreme Court’s decision to legalise the procedure across all 32 states follows a growing trend throughout the region, which is renowned for its deeply conservative values. On Wednesday, Mexico’s Supreme Court unanimously ordered that abortion be removed from the federal penal code across all 32 states, in a historic...
How rich nations have trapped poorer countries into fossil fuel use
The campaign group Debt Justice says rich nations have forced poorer countries into moving past fossil fuels as they struggle to pay back national debts. Its members call for debt forgiveness, which will allow the Global South to begin advancing towards sustainable energy. As the global consequences of fossil fuel...
Could India officially be renamed ‘Bharat’?
In preparation to host the G20 summit this weekend, state-issued invitations sent to world leaders have ignited rumours that Modi’s government plans to break with the country’s colonial heritage. This has raised concerns that the Prime Minister is attempting to politicise the national identity. This week, speculations have been growing...
European nations consider adopting siestas to cope with heatwaves
Spain has long been famous for its siestas. In the face of higher global temperatures and increasing heatwaves, other European countries are considering adopting them. Brutal heatwaves have been at the centre of European summer experiences in recent years. As they continue to arrive with increasing intensity, it's time for nations to consider different strategies to cope. One solution that has already proven effective in several countries is the siesta...
Opinion – Football’s gender equality is still wide off the mark
Despite an emotional World Cup journey for England’s lionesses, football remains governed by an antiquated male gaze. England faced heartbreak on Sunday when the national team lost 1-0 to Spain in the Women's World Cup final. But despite falling at the final hurdle, the lionesses made history in securing their first World Cup silver medal, following on from a groundbreaking Euros win last year. National response to the tournament has proved women’s...
Fascist outfits are exploiting climate disasters to find recruits
When climate disaster strikes, usually nobody wins. Far-right groups, however, have been determined to land new recruits by masquerading as caring and supportive citizens. The word ‘conniving’ needs updating in the dictionary with some examples we’re about to hit on here. Following a severe storm which swept through Vermont last month, several communities were upended by flooding and destruction. With residents left feeling downtrodden and plucking through wreckage, who came...
Western Australia is abandoning Aboriginal heritage protection
Western Australia has announced its intention to abolish the recently enacted Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, a move that is poised to have profound implications for the preservation of Indigenous heritage. Modern-day Australia’s relationship with its Aboriginal history and present Aboriginal population has always been fraught. The country is infamous for denial of its own colonial history, resulting in the continued socio-political alienation of Australia’s Aboriginal people. In recent years, efforts have...
