All posts tagged: crisis

JVP Chicago members attempt indefinite fast to draw attention to Gaza starvation crisis

[ad_1] CHICAGO (RNS) — Across the country, various chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist group, have been partaking in 12- and 24-hour fasts to bring attention to starving Gazans. In Chicago specifically, several JVP members have been attempting an indefinite fast in which they only consume water and electrolytes. The hunger strikers have participated in various JVP Chicago events throughout their fast, including rallies, teach-ins and a vigil honoring the children of Gaza. On Thursday (June 26), their 11th day of fasting, they presented a teach-in at the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago with other hunger strikers concerned with causes surrounding Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts and General Iron Industries Inc., a scrap metal company. JVP Chicago members Ash Bohrer, Audrey Gladson, Becca Lubow, Seph Mozes, Avey Rips and Benjamin Teller started their fast on June 16. On the eighth day, Mozes, who is son of “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon, stopped his fast for medical reasons. Ahead of the teach-in, Bohrer, Lubow, Rips and Teller spoke with …

G7 leaders gather in Canada for summit overshadowed by crisis

[ad_1] The flags of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union ahead of the Group of Seven (G-7) Leaders’ Summit in Banff, Alberta, Canada, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Leaders of some of the world’s biggest economic powers will arrive in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a Group of Seven (G-7) summit overshadowed by a widening war across the Middle East and U.S. President Donald Trump’s unresolved trade war with allies and rivals alike. Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, are the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the U.S. from its role as world policeman. Speaking on a flight to Canada to attend the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the situation with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders. Britain is sending Royal Air Force jets and other military reinforcements …

on the frontline of the special needs crisis

[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles “Not many staff feel able to do it, nor continue in [the] role for long,” Stephen Ellis, former head of the North Birmingham SENCos group, told MPs at their ‘Solving the SEND crisis’ inquiry.  He revealed three-quarters of SENCos in his area had “changed over a two-year period”, adding: “Morale is low. Turnover is high. Less and less time [is] given to SENCos due to funding cuts.” The number of teaching vacancies mentioning ‘SENCo’ or related terms soared from 37,737 in 2018-19 to 76,633 in 2023-24, SchoolDash analysis commissioned by Schools Week shows. Vacancies averaged around 3,100 a month in 2019. This year it was more than 7,000. The rise has also outstripped a wider surge in school workforce vacancies. SchoolDash found the proportion of vacancies mentioning ‘SENCo’ had risen from four per cent in 2019 to six per cent last year. Every school is legally required to have a designated SENCo. But Abigail Hawkins, a former SENCo who runs support group Sensible SENCo, said some are waiting …

America’s college crisis – The Atlantic

[ad_1] This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. College-graduation ceremonies are expressions of joy, but also of relief. As photos are taken, tassels turned, hugs exchanged, the hope is that all of the hard work, and the money, will have been worth it. But many Americans aren’t convinced that it is. Confidence in the institution of higher education has fallen sharply over the past decade, and among political groups, Republicans show the most skepticism. A 2024 Pew Research Center report noted that only one in four Americans says “it’s extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today’s economy.” The fact that finding a job has gotten more difficult for recent graduates hasn’t done much to inspire faith in higher education. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported in late April that the unemployment rate …

NASA is facing the biggest crisis in its history

[ad_1] NASA faces massive cuts under a proposed budget homas Lammeyer/imageBROKER/Shutterstock The Trump administration’s proposal to wipe out a quarter of NASA’s budget has left scientists reeling, with multiple missions and spacecraft facing cancellation. That proposal was followed by the news that the man slated to lead the agency is no longer up for the role. The intended new leader for NASA, US billionaire Jared Isaacman, had his nomination for the role revoked by US President Donald Trump, leaving the US space agency in turmoil. [ad_2] Source link

Ocean darkening: The hidden crisis affecting marine life today

[ad_1] The vast, sunlit waters of the ocean’s surface, known as the photic zone, nurture 90% of marine life. Sunlight and moonlight in this crucial region guide marine creatures and maintain global ecological balance. Yet, over recent decades, these vital zones have grown darker, and new research reveals troubling consequences for marine ecosystems around the globe. Shrinking Sunlit Waters The photic zone extends roughly 200 meters below the ocean’s surface, forming the base for countless marine ecosystems. But a recent study published in Global Change Biology shows alarming changes. Between 2003 and 2022, scientists observed that over 21% of the world’s ocean—an area larger than South America—became noticeably darker. This reduction in available sunlight threatens marine species dependent on these waters for survival. By analyzing satellite data from NASA’s Ocean Colour Web, scientists at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory examined how deep sunlight penetrated ocean waters. Their research pinpointed significant reductions in photic zone depths—more than 50 meters—in roughly 9% of global waters. Astonishingly, some regions saw depths decrease by over 100 …

How Labour can solve the attendance crisis (again)

[ad_1] More from this theme Recent articles Absence rates are lower than just after covid, but they are still far too high. There is little evidence that absence makes the heart grow fonder: kids are not returning in droves despite schools being a source of friendship and esteem, as well as a place from which bright futures are built.  Thankfully someone who knows what they are talking about has a plan. Moira Wallace was director of Tony Blair’s Social Exclusion Unit when they set out to tackle high rates of school absenteeism. She has just published a report for the Institute for Government on exactly this topic.  When they started in 1997, absence rates were 6 per cent at primary and 9 per cent at secondary, very similar to today’s figures. By 2013 absence rates had fallen to 4 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. That looks like success to me! Data for persistent absence rates only go back to 2005, when these were 14 per cent at primary and 25 per cent at …

Pippa Middleton’s retro mini dress has your heatwave wardrobe crisis covered

[ad_1] Pippa Middleton’s style may not be exactly like her sister’s, the Princess of Wales’ regal fashion sense, but we think that both siblings have a classic look that always stands the test of time. A case in point is Pippa’s incredible mini dress that she wore to Wimbledon back in 2016. The mother-of-three watched tennis legend Roger Federer in action from the Royal Box at Centre Court that year, and much was said about her minidress. The vibrant style was designed in an orange and grey colourway and featured a vintage, 70s-style geometric print. The zany style boasted a high neckline, but it was light and airy, and offered the brunette beauty some coverage from the hot sun, too. Designed by Tabitha Webb, it cost around £350 at the time of purchase and really suited her. Pippa, who is married to James Matthews, accessorised with grey court shoes and a Kiki McDonough clutch bag to allow the statement design take centre stage. © GC ImagesPippa wore a fabulous retro mini dress at Wimbledon in …

Dozens killed in El Fasher as Sudan’s conflict worsens humanitarian crisis

[ad_1] Sudan’s army reports that at least 41 people have been killed in the shelling of El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under government control amidst its conflict with the RSF paramilitary. Besieged since last May, the city faces a devastating toll on civilian lives if it falls. Clashes have intensified this week, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. Olivia Bizot reports. [ad_2] Source link

Urban Heat Crisis: How Strategic Tree Planting Makes a Difference

[ad_1] Urban trees often stand at the center of plans to fight rising city temperatures. Their cooling power seems simple and effective. But new research shows that the truth is more complex. Trees do cool cities, but how well they work depends on the tree type, the shape of the city, and the local climate. Scientists from the University of Cambridge studied 182 research projects covering 110 cities across 17 climate zones. Their work brings fresh insights into how trees affect city temperatures during both day and night. How Trees Cool Cities—and How They Can Heat Them Trees lower temperatures mainly by three actions. First, their leaves block direct sunlight. Second, they release water into the air through tiny pores, a process called transpiration. Third, their leaves change airflow around streets and buildings, helping cool breezes move more freely. Urban trees moderate urban warming caused by urban heat island (UHI) effects. Interconnecting factors determine the cooling benefits of urban trees. Maximized cooling from urban trees is achieved by selecting the optimal trees and their placement, …