Global Stories

Coming December will mark 15 years since the Indian Ocean Tsunami which wiped entire towns and killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. On December 26 in 2004, an earthquake under the Indian Ocean caused a massive tsunami to strike southern Asia. With tens of thousands more injured, and having caused the displacement of...

Sophists were the first political philosophers, contemporary to Socrates, who believed that virtue, in general, is the ability to acquire those things that people agree, give them pleasure – wealth, honour and status; and political virtue, in particular, is the ability to acquire these things by the successful use of power. Which is why,...

Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg has turned down a major environmental prize. "It is a huge honor," Thunberg said of the Nordic Council Environment Prize. "But the climate movement does not need any more awards. What we need is for our politicians and the people in power to start listening to the current, best available...

Agriculture produces food, fuel and fibre. It is key to economic development and poverty alleviation at community, country and higher levels. As populations continue to grow and people have become wealthier, the global agriculture system has changed significantly to meet increasing demands. The agriculture sector comprises a diverse collection of actors, with farmers using a range...

Basic freedoms are at risk in Kashmir. The latest news on the human rights violations front there is that American lawmakers are expressing serious concern over the situation in occupied Kashmir. They have asked India to refrain from committing human rights violations, release all political detainees and lift restrictions in the territory. The lawmakers aired...

From melting Arctic icebergs to record-breaking European heatwaves, Cyclones and Typhoons in Asia and super-charged hurricanes, floods, and wildfires in the Americas, climate change is making its impact felt across the globe. Climate-related disasters are now occurring at the rate of one a week, with the resulting costs estimated at $520 billion a year, according to the United Nations. Yet plans for adaptation...

Tech startups are designing sophisticated solutions to tackle global food waste. According to the United Nations, approximately 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year, which is about a third of all food produced. As environmental concerns increasingly spark change around the world and consumers seek more sustainable living practices, tech startups are stepping in...

The Indian economy is expected to expand by 7.6 and 7.4 per cent in 2019 and 2020, respectively, after expanding by 7.4 per cent in 2018. Economic growth continues to be underpinned by robust private consumption, a more expansionary fiscal stance and benefits from previous reforms. Yet, a more robust and sustained recovery of...

The transportation industry is responsible for a major chunk of carbon emissions in the world. Aviation accounts for about 2% of emissions. The impact of the aviation industry has been increasing in recent years. In fact, according to a European Commission (EC) fact sheet, if global aviation were a country, it would rank among...

In the industrialized countries of the early twentieth century, there were no standards of protection for children. It was common for them to work alongside adults in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Growing recognition of the injustices of their situation, propelled by greater understanding of the developmental needs of children, led to a movement to...

A new study published in the Harvard Business Review has said that the corporate boards that include women are more likely to exercise a beneficial, moderating influence on male CEOs. It has been noted that overconfidence is the key factor that drives CEOs — predominantly male CEOs — to underestimate risks and make rash decisions with negative...

By Henry Huang Hong Kong, the pearl of the East, lives in such turmoil. The ongoing political crisis and massive protest have drawn a large amount of international concern and attention. There are multiple explanations of what has happened in Hong Kong. Some say it is for a "wider demands for democratic reform." On the...