NEWS DIGEST: What We’ve Missed In the Wake of COVID-19
While the world media stage fights to point the spotlight on the current global pandemic, it is only natural that other stories find themselves sat in the wings. Despite the increasing levels of anxiety, we have to remind ourselves that even as the world starts to slow down, the picture painted by current tabloid news is not entirely complete: reality does not only consist of widely reported news. In such challenging times, we have a responsibility to remain informed about wider world news – although it may seem like all conflict, other political issues, climate changes, and technological advancements have come to a halt for COVID-19, this is very much not the case. See our current news digest on things happening in the world that aren’t related to COVID-19 below.
POLITICS: A Female First in Politics
As a new Labour Party leader was elected on 5 April, so was a new Shadow Chancellor and for the first time ever, a woman has been elected to fulfil this role. Oxford educated Anneliese Dodds will be the first female to hold either a ministerial or shadow ministerial position. This news follows previous Shadow party leader, Jeremy Corbyn’s announcement that he was stepping down from the position. Having been elected for the House of Commons for the first time in 2017 as an MP for Oxford East, Dodds has worked in social policy for many years now. She listed her interests as housing, the NHS, social care and education.
TECH: EU Releases New Economy Plan to Target Tech Giants
In recent news, the EU has launched a controversial strategy to circumvent the ability of large scale technology producers to reduce the shelf-life of the latest products. This new strategy will also aim to ensure that all relevant information is made available to customers relating to how repairable their products are. This is hoped to help reduce ‘tech waste’, which directly benefits the environment, and reduce the number of customers living in the dark about the repairability and recyclability of their devices. Specifically, the EU has stated that it plans to offer customers a ‘right to repair’ on computers and smartphones, a right that currently does not exist. The EU is optimistic that this will halve municipal waste by 2030 and simultaneously remove the ability of large technology manufacturers to withhold information from customers regarding their devices.
ENVIRONMENT: The Climate Crisis Continues
Despite many news stories detailing how much greener the planet is as a direct knock-on effect of COVID-19, do not let the surge of observable wildlife fool you. Unfortunately, the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland are still melting. It is reported that they are melting six times faster than in 1990. A team of scientists from the University of Leeds have been reviewing sea level changes and the variation in volume of water in the sea for over three decades now, and their work has not stopped for COVID. In 2019, it was discovered that the melting process of ice sheets within Greenland specifically is accelerating at a faster rate. As the COVID crisis highlights the quick-term effects of stopping the large-scale movement of trade and persons world-wide, studies like this remind us of the perhaps irreversible long-term effects our up-to-now unquestioned lifestyle has had on our planet.
SPORT: Tokyo Olympics Delayed by a Year – But What Can We Expect of GB?
It was announced on 23 March that the summer Tokyo Olympic Games previously scheduled to take place in 2020 have been postponed until 2021. Given the UK’s historic performance in the last cycle of the Games, at Rio in 2016, where we became the first competing nation ever, having hosted the previous Games, to win more medals in the following cycle than in our home cycle. Given various uncertainties, data analysis from Gracenote expect GB to rank 7th in the overall medal table. This comes from news that GB currently have a reduced number of athletes training in sports that have, in previous Games, helped us to win many medals. For instance, gymnastics, track cycling, and rowing. This said, there is only so much that data analysis companies can predict, and the fever and excitement on the Olympic Games certainly comes from the unpredictable nature of the outcome of so many well-loved events. While we may not be home to a Usain Bolt, or a Michael Phelps, it is undeniable that team GB will achieve many podium finishes.
UPLIFTING NEWS: Celebrating Remarkable Women
We should also endeavour to seek out news that inspires us during admittedly trying times. National Geographic released a trailer for the upcoming documentary on Jane Goodall, set to premiere on 22 April. The film follows the life of Goodall, an activist and scientist who continues to work to spread the message of hope for the world. In these times of crisis, it is important to remember the inspiring work of those around us. In the trailer, Goodall reminds us that we can each make a difference to contribute towards a better world every day.
This should act as a reminder of the power of small acts of kindness in difficult times, and let it also implore us all to cast a light onto the remainder of world news left in the shadow of the COVID crisis; and, most importantly, to find, and indeed share, bits of inspiration and happiness where we can.