The Goings-On: Spring 2024 in the News

As we make our way from spring to summer, and the academic year draws to a close, we reflect on the changes and continuities the world has seen. Across the globe, noteworthy stories have made headlines, but some have been left out of the light. It is crucial to learn about both the popular and less talked-about developments in order to widen our understanding of today’s world.

      As discussed in previous editions of The Goings-On, one of the most polarizing world issues in these past few months has been the Israel-Hamas Conflict. In terms of the current situation, over 1,200 Israelis have been killed in strikes by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. Hostages were taken, and some are still being held by the militants. In order to fight back against the attack, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has been ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to execute strikes and a large counterattack on Hamas-infiltrated areas in Palestine. So far, 34,622 Palestinians have been killed, with over 13,000 of those deaths being children. Talks have also been occurring as to whether there will be arrest warrants issued for top-brass Israeli officials by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Additionally, Palestine’s Ministry of Education announced that the upcoming school year was suspended, leaving over 625,000 students without education.

In order to call out the war against Palestine, students across the world and in over 120 universities in the U.S. have staged encampments and protests, demanding that educational institutions acknowledge the claims of genocide in Palestine, as well as cutting ties with Zionist sponsors and other entities that share Zionist beliefs. While the majority of protests have been peaceful, there have been mass arrests across several universities, with some arrests happening due to illegal encampments on college grounds. Political analysts have currently been describing this event as a strong form of democracy, and have said that it has revealed Western nations’ realistic view on the freedom of speech.

Now onto other regions of the world: In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has made the Rwanda deportation bill law. This bill will deport illegal asylum seekers entering the U.K. after January of 2022 to Rwanda, where they could have their asylum claims processed. While Sunak has confirmed that asylum seekers will not have to face going back to their home country, he has also made it clear that no asylum seeker would be able to apply to return to the U.K. This bill was previously struck down by the U.K. Supreme Court and the European Convention on Human Rights and has created tensions in British society. This bill has been criticized as a poor way to deter illegal asylum seekers arriving at the border on small boats, although these individuals are usually escaping horrific circumstances and are coerced by human traffickers. Critics of the bill, as well as independent think tanks, have called for the improvement of the backlogged and complex asylum claims system in place of this bill.

In Georgia, the passing of a new “foreign agent” law has incited protests throughout the nation, with countless arrests and violent attacks on people opposing the law in its capital city, Tbilisi. The law requires that NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and media outlets with over 20% of international funding be registered as “carrying the interests of a foreign power,” whilst being mandated to provide financial statements to the government. Western nations, the E.U., and the U.N. have condemned the passing of the law, stating that the Georgian people are against the law in hopes of a freer, more European future. This law was inspired by Russian authoritarian laws. Georgia’s current president, and the first woman to hold the office, Salome Zourabichvili, has vowed to veto the bill, but will most likely be overturned by parliamentary majority. With the passage of this bill, it will be harder for Georgian citizens to access unbiased information and services, with stricter control of their personal freedoms.

In India, the largest election in the world is underway with over 1 billion voters, 18 million of them being first-time voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win once again, pushing forward another term for his office. His party has remained popular due to initiatives to cut taxes, invest more time into Indian foreign relations, put more money into education (especially for young girls in rural, conservative communities), and also his strong connection to Hinduism. Some people, however, have called his focus on Hinduism a tactic to weaken other minorities. Apart from him, more people have found his lack of accountability for more extremist members of his party, such as Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, sets a bad record for India and its government.

In Zimbabwe, a new currency known as Zig has been implemented to combat inflation. Many citizens are skeptical of the plan since a lack of Zig notes has caused most transactions to be completed in U.S. Dollars. Skepticism is fueled by a lack of hope from long-standing economic issues and a history of failed currencies. Overall, Zig’s effectiveness is shrouded in mystery, with many Zimbabweans moving their lives over to other nations in anticipation of failure.

Now finally, we have come to the end of the fourth edition of The Goings-On. I hope you enjoyed this informational piece, and please make sure to continue your knowledge of current affairs through verifiable sources.

Works Cited

BBC. “Why Are Asylum Seekers Being Sent to Rwanda and How Many Could Go?” BBC News, 1 May 2024, www.bbc.com/news/explainers-61782866. Accessed 5 May 2024.

Hayden, Jones. “Israeli Strikes on Rafah Kill 18, as Gaza Death Toll Tops 34,000.” POLITICO, 21 Apr. 2024, www.politico.eu/article/israel-strike-rafah-kill-13-gaza-death-toll-surpass-34000/. Accessed 5 May 2024.

Lukiv, Jaroslav, and Paul Kirby. “Georgia Rocked by Clashes over “Foreign Agent” Bill.” Www.bbc.com, 30 Apr. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68933064. Accessed 5 May 2024.

Sevenzo, Farai. “Is Zimbabwe Zigzagging into Further Currency Chaos?” Www.bbc.com, 4 May 2024, www.bbc.com/news/articles/clm3108jxxno. Accessed 5 May 2024.

“The Latest | Israel’s Planned Invasion of Rafah Risks Killing Hundreds of Thousands, UN Says.” AP News, 3 May 2024, apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-03-2024-fd7d9c386b70d8e175b3e55a999a9e1b. Accessed 5 May 2024.