Sri Lanka: cyclone tragedy exposes government failures
The authorities are under intense scrutiny for their handling of Cyclone Ditwah, which has affected more than 1.46 million people across all 25 districts and caused the nation’s worst flooding in two decades. Over 410 people are confirmed dead, hundreds are missing, and tens of thousands are sheltering in overcrowded government centers. Critics argue that officials ignored early warning signs and failed to coordinate a timely, unified emergency response, leaving rescue teams overwhelmed and communication systems fragmented. Severe damage to roads, power networks, and telecommunications has isolated northern districts, complicating relief efforts as water levels continue to rise. Opposition leaders are pursuing legal action, accusing the government of negligence that cost many lives. Further concerns have emerged over inadequate disaster communication in Tamil, which left many without critical information. Despite international aid pledges and a state of emergency, the crisis has exposed major weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s preparedness and response structures, prompting urgent calls for reform. However, there has been an impressive show of ‘volunteerism’ from local communities: see
Australia: under-16s prepare for social media ban
The impending ban on social media access for under-16s in Australia has sparked confusion, concern, and debate among students, parents, experts, and global observers. From 10 December, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and others must demonstrate effective age verification or face major fines. Schools are scrambling to prepare teens for losing access to their accounts, photos, and online communities. Tech companies are rolling out facial age-estimation tools and other verification methods, though questions remain about accuracy and accessibility for older teens. Many young content creators fear losing hard-won followings, while others, like students at phone-free leadership programmes, describe unexpected freedom and richer real-life connections. Advocates warn that some teens rely on social media for support networks and could be pushed toward more dangerous spaces. The policy, inspired partly by concerns over youth mental health, has drawn both strong political backing and legal challenges claiming that it restricts young people’s rights. Other nations are watching closely as similar proposals emerge worldwide.
Israel: looming crisis over conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews
The long-standing exemption of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men from military service has potentially become a huge crisis for Benjamin Netanyahu. With the Gaza war placing immense strain on reservists, public opinion has shifted decisively toward ending the exemption, which was first granted in 1948. Although the high court ruled it illegal twenty years ago, political gridlock has kept it in place, so that only 1,200 of 24,000 drafted Haredi men reported for duty last year. Haredis have more than doubled their share of Israel's population over the past seven decades, and now account for 14%. What began as an exemption for several hundred religious students has now become a cohort of some 60,000 men left out of the draft. Street protests, clashes with police, and rapid-response networks reflect growing Haredi communal resistance. Supporters of conscription - religious and secular alike - argue that fairness and national survival demand shared burden. Yet ultra-Orthodox leaders insist that studying the Torah protects Israel spiritually and must remain untouched. Netanyahu’s fragile coalition depends on Haredi parties, making meaningful reform politically perilous. The Haredis are now locked in a debate over what it means to be Jewish and Israeli, and whether that means fighting for Israel or fighting for their way of life against the modern demands of war.
Venezuela / USA: Trump’s increasing pressure on Maduro
On 21 November, weeks of escalating threats, military posturing, and diplomatic tension culminated not in conflict but in a stark phone call in which Donald Trump reportedly issued Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum: leave Venezuela immediately or face the consequences. This shows that Trump is not easing pressure and may be edging closer to military action, despite earlier signs of potential compromise through envoy Richard Grenell’s negotiations which freed US detainees and reopened migrant returns. Analysts note that while advisers like Marco Rubio influence policy, Trump himself has long viewed Venezuela as unfinished business touching on his key concerns - migration, drugs, and China. Trump’s resort to a threatening phone call may in itself be a response to the Venezuelan armed forces’ refusal to buckle before the overwhelming US military presence. Experts warn that a ‘decapitation strike’ targeting Maduro is conceivable, with the justification that he is an illegitimate leader after stealing two elections. Observers say Trump is using intimidation to force concessions while leaving the door open to rapid escalation.
