How are cities responding to extreme heat?

 

Scorching temperatures and record breaking heat have already grabbed headlines this year as increasingly severe heat waves continue to be a recurring feature of life in many parts of the world. School hours have been cut short in the Philippines while outdoor labour will be banned in Spain when it’s simply too dangerous to work. Climate historian Maximiliano Herrera tweeted that a recent heatwave in Southeast Asia is one of the most brutal heat events the world has ever witnessed. All the while scientists are on high alert, warning that an El Nino weather system may be imminent.

How is extreme weather changing Pakistan?

 

Unprecedented flooding in Pakistan has left millions of people in ruin, with the country’s central government and provincial authorities scrambling to provide urgent help to those who need it.

An estimated 33 million people have been affected by weeks of flash flooding throughout the monsoon season. The southern provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been particularly badly hit, leaving a third of Pakistan underwater. More than 1,300 people have been killed.

Will China ever let Taiwan be Taiwan?

As China and Taiwan ramp up their military drills amid strained cross-strait and US-China relations, uneasy questions over the future of a democratic Taiwan loom for the island’s 23 million inhabitants.

Increased air and sea military exercises have been carried out on both sides of the Taiwan Strait this month after a controversial visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered Chinese officials.

In recent years, Beijing has become more aggressive in declaring its ambitions to take over the island and has threatened force against the Taiwanese if they declare independence. US President Joe Biden recently reiterated US forces’ commitment to defend the island militarily in the event of a Chinese attack.

Can Myanmar’s pro-democracy activists endure military pressure?

 People across Myanmar are continuing to endure a state of emergency that has now been extended for six months by military coup leaders who are upping the ante against their opponents.

State media reported on August 1 that the ruling State Administration Council (SAC) approved a request by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to maintain a state of emergency until February 2023 –  which would be two years since the military unseated the democratically-elected National League for Democracy government.

Can independent media in the Philippines survive?

Press freedom continues to be under attack in the Philippines, human rights and media advocacy groups say. In June, Philippine authorities issued a shutdown order for Rappler, the award-winning news site run by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa.

Known for its investigative reporting on corruption and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”, Rappler has been accused of violating rules against foreign ownership of mass media. Ressa has vowed to keep the newsroom running.

Sri Lanka: Can new leadership prevent the spiral into chaos?

Turmoil in Sri Lanka continues, as the deadline for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down approaches, and protesters continue to occupy Sri Lanka’s presidential palace. They have threatened an island-wide strike by Thursday if both leaders have not resigned by that point. Sri Lanka‘s parliament announced it will hold a vote on July 20 to elect a new president.

This is the next chapter in Sri Lanka’s plunge towards political and economic chaos. Sri Lankans have blamed Rajapaksa for the collapse of the tourism-dependent economy which was decimated by COVID. Government finances have been crippled by mounting debt and lavish tax breaks given by the government. Foreign exchange reserves are depleted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import fuel, forcing rations and long lines; inflation has hit more than 50 percent already.

Forced Uighur labour in China: How can companies & shoppers help?

Taking aim at forced labour in China, the United States has enacted a new import ban on products with links to Xinjiang, including cotton, solar panels and tomatoes. The region is a major manufacturing hub that the U.S. says is built on forced labour and the oppression of the Uighur people. According to rights group, this ethnic Muslim minority is experiencing a genocide at the hands of the Chinese government.

What does Ms. Marvel mean to the Muslim community?

 “It’s not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world.” Or is it? That’s the question Marvel Studios intends to answer with the debut of its latest superhero, Ms. Marvel, which aired on Disney’s streaming service this month.

The television show follows the adventures of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a Pakistani-American teenager who develops incredible powers and finds herself pursued by supernatural bad guys, all while grappling with familial and religious obligations.

Is democracy dead in Myanmar?

 

It has been one year since the military coup in Myanmar. The army seized power, claiming fraud in a democratic election won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Suu Kyi and members of her party were detained and the military declared a year of national emergency.

Since then, the country has been in turmoil. Millions took to the streets in protest, calling for the military to give up power. Security forces responded with brutal violence and arrests. Human rights groups accuse them of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, deprivation of liberty, disappearances, and rape. More than 10,000 protesters have been detained and more than 1,000 killed, according to activists.

Will the ‘Great Resignation’ change the way we work?

In 2021 the world continued to confront the consequences of the Covid19 pandemic, including a ‘Great Resignation’ in which millions of people left their jobs. But as we start a new year, there are signs the phenomenon will continue into 2022, and maybe beyond.

What’s behind the spike in food prices?

 Food prices rose sharply in 2021, reaching highest level in a decade, according to the United Nations.

As many countries pushed to reopen their economies last year after months of lockdowns and tightly controlled borders, economists began to warn of a new looming crisis: the rising cost of food.

The UN food agency says prices jumped 28 percent during the year, reaching their highest level since 2011.

Omicron: Will rich countries now stop hoarding vaccines?

Since the first COVID-19 shots were made available, scientists have been warning the leaders of rich nations that if poorer countries don’t have equal access to vaccines, the virus could mutate and prolong the pandemic.

Now the Omicron variant is causing concern for health officials and scientists who are working to determine how infectious it is and whether current vaccines will protect against it.

COP26: Is carbon offsetting a stalling tactic?

Carbon offsetting is a way some companies and countries are attempting to counteract the greenhouse gases they emit. Offsetting involves putting money into funds dedicated to reducing emissions elsewhere. But critics say the mechanism allows wealthy companies to carry on with polluting behaviour rather than cutting emissions. Carbon offset funds can be linked to projects for reforestation, renewable energy, or funding climate mitigation for poorer communities.

Is Myanmar a failing state?

 

Nine months after the military junta overthrew a democratically-elected government in Myanmar, tensions are reaching a boiling point as a low-level rebellion and a brutal crackdown on civilian opponents continues. 

What does racism in English football say about wider prejudice?

 

English football - how deep is the issue of racism? England's national soccer team players have faced a deluge of racist abuse and harassment online, following the team's loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 championship.

Is Hong Kong now a police state?

 

A year after China imposed a new sweeping security law, Hong Kong is a city transformed. Pro-democratic voices have been silenced, Chinese patriotism has been mandated in schools and media faces swift censorship.

The law criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. So far, it has been used to arrest more than 100 people, mostly activists, politicians and journalists.

How safe are the Tokyo Olympics from COVID-19?

 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing increasing pressure from the public to postpone or cancel the upcoming summer games in Tokyo.

Japanese public opinion is largely against holding the world’s largest sporting event while the nation struggles to contain its fourth wave of coronavirus and vaccinate its population. Public health officials and the Tokyo Doctors Association fear the event will place more strain on already crowded hospitals. And the head of the country’s doctors’ union warned that a new Olympic COVID variant could result from holding the event.

Is France legalising Islamophobia?

 

As Ramadan begins this week, many Muslims in France are bracing themselves for the passage of a controversial new law.

Recently approved by the Senate, the “anti-separatism” bill aims to stop radicalisation. It doesn’t name any specific religion, but includes provisions that critics say single out France’s six million Muslims. If passed, the government would have new powers to close places of worship that get foreign funding and/or preach certain ideologies.

Why is Kenya trying to close one of the world's biggest refugee camps? | The Stream

 

The fate of more than 400,000 people remains unclear after a court ruling temporarily blocked the closure of two huge refugee camps in Kenya.

The country’s high court last week placed a stay of 30 days on a government plan to close the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, which mainly host refugees fleeing conflict in Somalia. The case will return to court after that period.

🎮 Six Days in Fallujah: Is killing Arabs just a game to some? | The Stream

 

Six Days in Fallujah is a first-person shooter game that aims to recreate the stories of US soldiers and Iraqi civilians during the deadliest battle of the Iraq war. But critics say the game - based on the second US-led assault of Fallujah in 2004 - whitewashes critical history of the war and dehumanises Arabs.