On December 25th, 2020, the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 televised a deepfake video of Queen Elizabeth II delivering her annual Christmas message. Although this might initially appear to be a humorous form of entertainment, Channel 4 stated that their intention in releasing the fake was to provide a “stark warning”
On Monday, 16 November 2020, the Assam oil well fire was finally extinguished after five months of constant flames and smoke. That day marked the end of a multinational effort to extinguish the Baghjan blazes which commenced in June earlier this year following an explosion at an oil-drilling site in
2020 has seen an explosion of conspiracy theories populating social media and online spaces, challenging mainstream discourse. With information more easily accessible than ever before, COVID-19 now presents itself as an opportune time for conspiracy theorists to exploit community fears for political motives. In 2020, new actors such as celebrities
Year by year, we have seen the world’s accessibility, supply, and availability of water decrease, raising serious questions about whether we are doing enough to secure our water. Water security is particularly relevant in Australia, as continued drought has placed increasing pressure on primary industries, many involving agriculture and irrigation.
On September 3rd 2020, French Prime Minister Jean Castex launched a highly ambitious recovery plan for the nation with a strong emphasis on renewable energies and environmental sustainability. Marketed as a means of ensuring continued growth and assistance during the nation’s current recession, 100 billion Euros have been pledged to
With countries around the world beginning to ease restrictions, only to return cities into lockdown, social distancing and closed borders are once again putting a strain on food sources and supply chains. The increased stockpiling of essential supplies, such as flour and pasta, has radically influenced the way we process,
Several months into the Coronavirus pandemic, its worldwide effects, whether it be health risks, financial hardship or interpersonal conflict and violence, are acutely felt in communities, families, and by individuals. This article is the second in three that seeks to highlight the different ways in which women have been impacted
Despite claims that COVID-19 has largely been an equalizer in indiscriminately affecting communities around the world, it can be seen that women’s experiences of the pandemic are often uniquely individual and under-recognized. It is therefore essential to highlight the different ways in which women have been impacted in a variety
One of the most prominent features of any crisis is that the people who are left behind first are often the most vulnerable – the elderly, those experiencing homelessness, migrant workers. As nationalism grows, it becomes very easy to ask – why not put our people first? After all, if
On 1 April 2020, major television networks CNN and MSNBC cut live coverage from President Donald Trump’s nightly coronavirus briefing. The reason? In what was intended to be a nightly address on the nation’s response to COVID-19, President Trump used the time to discuss the importance of a border war
There is no doubt that news about coronavirus is everywhere – it’s on the front pages of every news site you open, every television channel, every conversation you have with your friends on Zoom. For two weeks in the middle of March, supermarket shelves were empty as thousands began hoarding
It is currently a time of significant change and upheaval for many individuals and families around the world. In the span of a few weeks, millions have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment whilst others struggle to keep up with online education and remote work. The world as a
The Prime Minister of Lesotho has recently been charged with his wife’s murder, raising questions of whether defences of sovereign immunity remain persuasive in the country. Thomas Thabane is currently on trial for the shooting of his former wife, Lipolelo Thebane, two days before his inauguration in 2017. In Court,
In a territory of just 9318km2, situated in the Asia-Pacific, Bougainville has undergone significant change in recent years, having witnessed the power and influence of female peace movements. The Bougainville Civil War of 1988-1998 resulted in the loss of over 15,000 lives through the conflict between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Having access to adequate housing is growing increasingly difficult in New Zealand, as rates of homelessness skyrocket. As housing costs grow to more than seven times the median wage, many are now forced to live on the streets or on friends’ couches as housing becomes more unaffordable. In a time
On 19 February, a horrific act of right-wing extremism cost nine people their lives in a racially motivated attack. At around 10 p.m. on Wednesday in the West German town of Hanau, Tobias Rathjen entered a Turkish bar and began opening fire on the locals who were seated inside, enjoying
The recent coronavirus outbreak in China has significantly heightened fears of a global pandemic, fuelling racism in the wake of social media. In the modern era, where individuals are more connected to their devices than to print media, information is accessed faster and more frequently online. Unlike our predecessors, we
South Korea has rapidly transformed itself into a major player on the international stage in a matter of decades. It’s a nation of rapid growth, innovation and ever-increasing life expectancy, studied in business schools around the world as a model of rapid upskilling, and technological innovation. Currently the 4th largest
Zimbabwe is currently facing its worst food shortage in over a decade, leaving almost 8 million people food-insecure. The country, once the region’s breadbasket and rich in fertile crops, is currently plagued by widespread drought and flooding. Women and children are most vulnerable to this crisis, being the ones least
Fears have begun to spread in China over the coronavirus disease, potentially raising prospects of a health crisis spreading through Asia. Originating in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus disease is a pneumonia-like illness. It has been identified as a cousin of the SARS virus, a sickness that spread across Asia in
