What does Mauritius’ acquisition of the Chagos Islands mean for the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees?
The Chagos Islands have recently been handed over to the Mauritian government by the UK’s new Labour government. Yet, on these very islands, specifically Diego Garcia - a US-UK military base, around 60 Tamil refugees, including 16 children, are trapped in limbo after claiming asylum in what was, and still is, the British Indian Ocean Territory in 2021. The group are alleged to have faced rats in their camp and multiple reports of sexual harassment and abuse along with several self-harm attempts (the latter of which led to 8 being treated in Rwanda), even resulting in the United Nations declaring that Diego Garcia is an unsuitable location for these migrants.
Struggle and Madness—A conflict between teachers and parents in the mainland of China
Recently, an incident in China has attracted widespread attention. On October 14, 2024, Miss Xu, a high school teacher at Southwest University Affiliated Middle School, posted a series of irrational and impolite messages in a parent-teacher chat group. Some of her messages included statements like, “Everyone stay away from me,” “If I were dead, you’d have to bow to my body,” and “Get out of my sight.”
An insider-outsider to my own country: a reflection on the 22-day uprising of Bangladeshi Students.
In July 2024, Bangladesh faced political upheaval following the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of a controversial job quota system. This meant that a significant portion of government jobs would be reserved for the descendants of the veterans who fought for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. This triggered nationwide protests, led by students demanding a more just and merit-based system. The unrest escalated with the government's violent crackdowns, resulting in widespread chaos, mass arrests, and over 700 deaths, garnering international attention. The protests ended in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years.
Rut or Renaissance? The aftermath of Kazakhstan’s most violent riots yet
Kazakhstan, with a population of only 20 million, has had a relatively uneventful recent history. Up until the riots in 2022 that ousted the president in power since its independence 30 years ago. Initially the product of pent-up frustration with the ineffective government, the demonstrations shook the young nation to the core and redefined Kazakh identity for the population.
Playing Badminton can control sexual impulse – Hong Kong new sex education curriculum
Controversy has sparked after the HKSAR Education Bureau’s release of teaching materials for the new curriculum of Citizenship, Economics and Society, designed for form 1 to 3 pupils (equivalent to year 8 to year 10 in England). The module 3.1 titled “Intimate Relationships with Affection and Propriety Part 2: Adolescents and intimate relationships” included worksheets to be completed in class. One component requires pupils to sign a commitment form during the first lesson of this module, promising to avoid sexual impulse and set limits in relationships – “I promise that I will develop self-discipline, self-control, and resistance to pornography” (picture 1). Some students view such a compulsory task as a violation of their autonomy as the Education Bureau has forcefully made the decision on their behalf.
COP29 – A chance for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Raising concerns about human rights abuses by the Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan has become the focal point in the conversations regarding COP29 in the country’s capital, Baku. However, these concerns have overshadowed an arguably more important development – the near finalisation of a peace deal between the two seemingly eternal regional rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan. This potential peace deal, with its power to usher in a new era of regional stability in the South Caucasus, offers a beacon of hope for a more peaceful future.
Taiwan’s Future at a Crossroads: Seeking Stability and Security Amid U.S.-China Rivalry
The Republic of China (R.O.C), commonly known as Taiwan or Chinese Taipei in the Olympics, is a country without full international recognition, yet it has garnered significant attention on the global stage as a crucial political pawn between two superpowers- China and United States. The ongoing debate over the tendency of unification with China versus the pursuit of independence permeates all levels of society, from political parties and workplaces to schools and even family discussions. For Taiwanese people, this issue extends beyond being a subject of international discourse - it represents the fight to safeguard democracy and protect individual freedoms.
