5 global events worth knowing about

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News, like lightning, strikes fast and hard these days. So much so, many people, understandably, are left bamboozled and at a loss on details if their attention has been drawn elsewhere. 

There is a lot going on in the world right now, so it is important to know what some of the bigger stories are so as to not be completely behind if you find yourself discussing current events. This is a short primer on some ongoing global events in no particular order. Read up on them later to learn more.

Israel–Hamas war

The most immediately known issue is the current violent conflict in the Gaza Strip. This chapter in a decades-long international dispute was triggered by an attack from Hamas, Gaza’s governing party, on Oct. 7. 

The Israeli governmental and military response has garnered criticism and condemnation for its tactics that have subjected the Palestinian civilian population to extreme humanitarian crises and left 1.9 million displaced and over 30,000 dead. The International Court of Justice found Israel culpable of the catastrophe on Jan. 26 and ruled it had to prevent the situation from worsening — which has worsened since the ruling. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is accepting donations to aid in relief efforts for civilians.

War in Sudan

A lesser known conflict but a necessary one to know. Arguably a continuation of the 2003 to 2020 war in Darfur, the Rapid Support Forces militia is fighting with the Sudanese Armed Forces in a civil war within Sudan’s military government. 

As one of the larger countries in its region, this war has an impact on neighbouring states as well with two million refugees fleeing Sudan on top of the eight million internally displaced. Internet blackouts are making it difficult to coordinate relief, document human right violations, and contact loved ones. The UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has a donation collection set up to aid the refugees.

Farmers’ protests in Europe and India

Agricultural protests across two continents do not happen every day. In both cases, the protests are the result of farmers being against government policies, but the same actions are not always derived from the same motives. 

European farmers are opposing environmental policies, bureaucracy, competition from imports, and diesel prices among other grievances spread across the continent that they claim will make their lives harder. Indian farmers are reigniting the 2020-21 protests demanding, this time over guaranteed minimum support prices, waivers on loans and income increases. It is evident that governments in Europe and South Asia lack the confidence of their farmers.

2024 United States presidential election

Round two of Biden vs. Trump is set to take place this November in an election that has nobody all too surprised. Both men have respectively clinched the Democratic and Republican party nominations in what can only be described as a foregone conclusion. 

Despite the candidates being a repeat of 2020, the election itself is gearing up to be a rehash of 2016’s ethos — two broadly unpopular candidates running for the top executive spot in Washington, D.C. The key difference being this is a battle between an incumbent and the ex-office holder. Either way, it will very likely suck.

2025 Canadian federal election

A decade of governance by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party has left many Canadians weary if recent polls indicating a 15-point lead for the Conservative Party are anything to go by. 

The top national issues — inflation, housing supply and costs, jobs and the economy, and healthcare — have all been points for firebrand Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, to attack over in Parliament and on campaign stops ever since becoming the official opposition leader. While there still is over a year until the next election, the Liberals will have to fight with all their might just to eke out a minority government.