Education - The Junior Age

Vladimir Putin Wins the Presidential Election

December 13, 2024 Mitali k

President Vladimir Putin won 87.8% of the vote in Russia’s election. The US has said that the Russian presidential elections were not “free or fair”. Many countries have also said that the vote was unfair, as many of the political opponents of the Russian president were jailed, to prevent them from standing against him. Vladimir Putin will now start another new six-year term, which, if completed, would make him Russia’s longest-serving leader in over 200 years, surpassing Josef Stalin. This will be his 5th term as the Russian president. Protests have taken place across Europe, after his win.

Who was Josef Stalin?

Josef Stalin was a communist dictator and leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until 1953.

Word Check

Communist is a type of government and economic system where the government and community as a whole own everything and everyone is meant to share the wealth created.

2024 Was The Super Election Year

December 13, 2024 Mitali k

In 2024, more than 80 countries will be conducting elections to choose their leaders and governments. This means more than half the people on the Earth will be voting in 2024.

Also read Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 US Presidential Election

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As on the date of printing this Issue, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Taiwan, Finland, Comoros, Tuvalu, El-Salvador, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Iran, and Portugal have already conducted national elections this year. The following are some of the countries that will be conducting elections in the course of this year: Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, North Korea, India, Togo, Kuwait, South Korea, Solomon Islands, Panama, The Dominican Republic, Lithuania, Iceland, Mexico, the European Parliament, Belgium, Mauritania, Mongolia, Venezuela, Rwanda, South Africa, Croatia, Austria, Botswana, Sri Lanka, Georgia, Moldova, Mozambique, UK, Jordan, Uruguay, Namibia, US, Mauritius, and Ghana.

African Elephants Are Disappearing!

December 3, 2024 Mitali k

African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. However, they are now facing a severe crisis, as highlighted in a recent comprehensive study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. There are two species of African elephants – the Savanna Elephant and the Forest Elephant.

Also read, Two Brothers Find Bones Of Prehistoric Elephant

Researchers analysed data from 475 sites across 37 countries, covering a period from 1964 to 2016, and found that:

Savanna Elephants: Populations have dropped by an average of 70% across surveyed sites.

Forest Elephants: Populations have decreased by around 90%, marking a sharper decline than their savanna counterparts.

In total, the two species combined have seen a 77% population reduction across surveyed locations.

These losses are especially pronounced in northern and eastern Africa due to intense poaching and habitat loss. But, there is some good news as well. The study also found that even though some elephant groups have disappeared, some groups have increased in countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Also Watch full video Elephant: The Largest Land Mammal

Everything You Need To Know About COP29

November 30, 2024 Mitali k

COP29 Countries Agree To A $300 Billion Deal

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (“COP29”) took place from November 11 to November 22, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Delegates, business leaders, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders from about 200 countries attended the summit.

The main issues discussed at COP29 were finance for poorer countries to fight climate change, reduction of pollution, and finding better ways to protect people from climate change.

Agreement At COP29

The original agreement from 2009 to provide poor countries with $100 billion per year is coming to an end in 2025. After days of intense negotiations, it has been agreed at COP29 that rich countries will give poorer countries $300 billion every year by 2035, to help fight climate change. It’s hoped that the money will help developing countries move away from fossil fuel power to using renewable energy, which is better for the Earth. However, many developing countries think that this is not enough money to protect themselves from the effects of climate change. Furthermore, there is no clarity on how that money will be found.

There is also an agreement to look at climate finance again in two years.

For many years, developing countries have been asking developed countries for help

dealing with climate change. Richer countries are responsible for most of the pollution that has caused global warming, but poorer countries are often hit hardest by the effects of the climate crisis.

Also read Everything You Need To Know About COP16

What Is COP?

COP or the ‘Conference of the Parties’ is attended by countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992. The countries agreed to avoid any behaviours that could lead to “dangerous climate change”. The first COP took place in 1995, and since then, world governments have been coming together to make plans on how to tackle the growing climate change crisis.

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When and where will COP30 be held?

COP30 will be hosted by Brazil in the Amazon rainforest in November 2025.

Watch Full Video on #COP28 Historic Moment : COP28 Deal Agrees To ‘Transition Away’ From Fossil Fuel

What Is Happening In The Middle East?

November 29, 2024 Mitali k

Israel-Hamas War

October 7 marked the first anniversary of Hamas’s sur- prise, large, and violent attack on Israel. Last year on this day, Hamas, which is an armed Islamic group, launched an attack on Israel. They fired many rockets into Israel from Gaza and many of their fighters crossed the border killing many innocent people in Israel. Many others were taken as hostages by Hamas.

On October 8, 2023, Israel declared itself in a state of war. This October 7, 2023 attack started a war that is still ongo- ing and which has affected not only Israel and Gaza, but the wider Middle East and other countries too.

Israel responded with a ground military campaign and air strikes in Gaza with the aim to destroy Hamas. Israel has continued to bomb Gaza, which has not only destroyed the infrastructure in Gaza but also has killed and displaced many civilians. Hamas and Israel have fought many times, but this ongoing conflict is the largest outbreak of violence.

Israel says it will only stop its military operations in Gaza, when it has completely destroyed Hamas. The attack by Hamas on Israel outraged people in Israel and around the world. But Israel’s massive response has also shocked people. Many attempts to broker peace have failed.

Ever since then, fighting has escalated. As of October 2024, Israel is now involved in serious fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Recently, concern has grown as Iran has joined the conflict.

Watch full video on Understanding the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Recent Events

In recent months, fighting has increased in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon. According to Israeli officials, on July 27, 2024, a rocket fired from Lebanon killed some youths in a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled area of Golan Heights. Israel responded with attacks in Lebanon that killed many members of Hezbollah and many Lebanese civilians, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

On October 1, 2024, Iran fired 180 missiles into Israel, most of which were shot down by Israel’s air defence technology.

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Israel And Lebanon

About Lebanon

Lebanon is a country in the Middle East and borders Israel on its north. It also shares a border with Syria. The capital of Lebanon is Beirut. The population of Lebanon includes different groups of Muslims and Christians. Many refugees, especially people from Syria and Palestine, have come to Lebanon in order to avoid the violence and conflict back home.

Who Is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is an armed group and an organisation based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has some seats in the parliament of Lebanon and also enjoys a lot of support within the country. Despite not being a member of Lebanon’s armed forces, it commands the strongest military force in the country and controls several public services. Hezbollah supports Hamas. Just like Hamas, Hezbollah also opposes Israel.

Many countries like the US, UK, and Israel have classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. However, Hezbollah is supported by Iran.

Why are Israel and Hezbollah Fighting?

For many decades now, Hezbollah and Israel have also been fighting. Ever since the start of the war in Gaza, Hezbollah has attacked Israel many times in support of Hamas.

On July 30, 2024, Israel assassinated Faud Shukt, who was one of the leaders of Hezbollah. In response to the assassination of their leader, on August 25, 2024, Hezbollah fired around 300 rockets and drones at Israel. However, Israel defended itself by shooting the rockets out of the sky.

In recent weeks, Israel has carried out air strikes in Lebanon which they claim are targeting Hezbollah. On September 27, 2024, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in these air strikes by Israel in Beirut. Israel has also launched a major military operation in Lebanon including a ground attack in and airstrikes on Beirut and the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah has promised to fight back against Israel.

Also read Everything You Need To Know About COP16

Category: Education