Ethiopian civilians killed in Tigray drone strike
Ethiopia has been facing a humanitarian crisis for more than a year. Monday and Tuesday’s drone strikes have killed and wounded more women and children according to local reports. Over the past two days, Ethiopia’s war-stricken region, Tigray, has experienced drone strikes killing 19 people and injuring dozens. On Monday, in...
Current in People
In conversation with #HerGameToo co-founder Lucy Ford
Despite a slight technical hitch 10 minutes in, I was fortunate enough to talk with Lucy Ford, mega-fan of Bristol Rovers FC and co-founder of #HerGameToo, an online campaign tackling sexism in football. (Content warning: mention of abuse, rape, threats, discrimination.) Lucy is one of 12 female football fans who...
Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter
The legendary writer and activist passed away in 2014 and is now being paid tribute by having her image depicted on America’s brand new 25 cent coins. How can one begin to describe the late Maya Angelou? One might start with her accomplishments as an inspiring poet and novelist, whose books...
Preventing pandemics would cost 5% of the damage they inflict
Every year, the world loses approximately $500bn due to economic fallouts spurred by zoonotic diseases. The cost of preventing them in the future, according to a recent report, could be just $20bn. Though Covid-19 has obviously taken a huge toll on the world, claiming more than 5 million lives and...
Sudan’s prime minister resigns amid mass protests over military dictatorship
January 1st 2022 marked 66 years of Sudan’s independence. The following day, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned - leaving the military in full control. On Sunday 2nd January, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation as the head of the civilian government. In an evening televised address, Mr. Hamdok said, ‘I...
Why Boots cutting the cost of emergency contraception is a victory
After years of campaigning by healthcare bodies and MPs to end the ‘grossly sexist surcharge,’ the British pharmacy chain has finally lowered the price of the morning after pill. On Black Friday last year, British pharmacy chain Boots slashed the cost of emergency contraception, giving it a 50 per cent...
What could a global tax on those with $5m wealth pay for?
Globally, there are 3.6 million people that have accumulated more than $5m in wealth – more than 2,600 of them being billionaires. If there were an annual tax on these individuals, here’s what it could pay for. How’s vaccinating the entire planet, for starters? Global wealth distribution is up there as one of the very tetchy-est subjects, so prepare to be triggered. Around the world, there are 3.6 million people today...
Honduras sanctuary protects women fighting for gender equality
La Siguata, which translates to ‘the woman’ in Uto-Aztecan Nahuatl language, is a safe haven for those campaigning for equality in one of the most dangerous places on Earth. No matter where you are in the world, committing to a life of activism requires going against the grain, challenging the status quo, and taking action that has potential to frustrate local communities and policy makers. But in certain parts of Central...
UK football is facing calls to tackle gender-based violence
Two of the sport’s most powerful bodies have received an open letter urging them to take action after numerous high-profile players have been arrested for domestic and sexual abuse. In January, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and making threats to kill after allegations against him went viral on social media. Alarmingly, his case is only the latest to emerge, and a...
BSL to become a legally recognised language in the UK
The UK government has backed a bill to make BSL a legally recognised language, a move that the British Deaf Association says will give deaf people equal access to education and public services. A bill that would make British Sign Language (BSL) a legally recognised language in the UK and help deaf people play a more prominent role in society has received government backing. The proposed law was...
