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World / 2 weeks ago

80 years of the United Nations: From 51 to 193 member states

On October 24, 1945, the world witnessed the birth of the United Nations, an institution established in the aftermath of World War II to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations. Eighty years later, the UN remains one of the most significant symbols of global unity, with 193 member states spanning every corner of the globe. What began with 51 founding members has grown into a truly universal body, reflecting decades of decolonisation, independence movements, and shifting political landscapes.

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Culture / 3 weeks ago

5 Global South countries leading the world in paternity leave days

For decades, maternity leave has dominated conversations about family policy. But today, a quiet revolution is taking place, especially across the Global South. Countries once overlooked in global labour rankings are now setting bold new standards for paternity leave, offering fathers time to bond with their newborns and share caregiving responsibilities from day one.

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Politics / 5 weeks ago

How old do you have to be to vote?

While 18 years old remains the most common minimum voting age, there is significant variation across countries, from 16 to 21, and even 25 in rare cases. According to the Wikipedia overview of voting ages, most nations use 18 as the legal voting threshold. A handful lower it to 16 or 17, and the United Arab Emirates remains an outlier with a voting age of 25. That data is echoed in broader surveys: nearly 202 countries hold 18 as their standard voting age, while only 10 use 16, and 4 use 17.

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Culture / 7 weeks ago

Ireland’s Irish: A language of identity but not always of daily life

Despite being the Republic of Ireland’s first official language, Irish (Gaeilge) lives unevenly in daily life outside classrooms. The map above, based on the 2022 Census, shows how in many areas fewer than 5% of people speak Irish daily, while only pockets reach 20–60%. According to the Central Statistics Office’s Census 2022 Profile 8: The Irish Language and Education, nearly 1,873,997 people aged three or older declared they could speak Irish, about 40% of that age group. But of that number, only 71,968 said they spoke Irish daily outside the education system — a slight drop from 2016.

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World / 7 weeks ago

'Opening Voices' at UNGA 80: Who speaks first?

The United Nations General Assembly enters its 80th session in September 2025 under the banner "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” The High-Level General Debate begins Tuesday, September 23, where world leaders deliver keynote addresses.

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World / 29 weeks ago

Pope Francis dies at 88: A look at his legacy and the geographic history of the papacy

The Vatican confirmed the death of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 88. The first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope in history, Francis, passed away peacefully in the Apostolic Palace on the morning of Monday, April 21, leaving behind a legacy marked by humility, reform, and a tireless pursuit of social justice. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis shattered centuries of tradition in 2013 when he became the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His election not only represented a geographical shift in the papacy but also a moral and ideological one, emphasising compassion for the poor, care for the environment, and the importance of mercy over judgment.

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Politics / 35 weeks ago

Starmer scraps NHS England in sweeping health service shake-up, promises AI-led efficiency drive

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday, March 13, the abolition of NHS England — the body that has overseen the National Health Service since 2013 — as part of a wider plan to streamline public services and re-centre healthcare around patients. Speaking in East Yorkshire, Starmer said the landmark reform aims to “cut red tape, end bureaucratic duplication, and return direct accountability to the Department of Health and Social Care.”

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