Iran Launches Drone Strike on Israel

On April 13, Iran launched a drone attack against Israel. Hundreds of drones sent from Iran to Israel were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces. The attack comes after the IDF bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus. World leaders have encouraged Israel not to retaliate, fearing that any further violence would lead to an escalation of the conflict between the two nations.

Russia Destroys Kyiv’s Largest Power Plant

Last week, the largest power plant in the Kyiv region was destroyed by a Russian missile. According to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “Ukraine ran out of missiles” to stop the attack. While Ukrainian forces were able to intercept the first seven missiles, they ran out of missiles to stop the next four that completely destroyed the power plant. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s air defense system resources and capabilities are running “perilously thin.” The Ukrainian President continues to ask Western nations for military aid. This comes as several Republican members of Congress have blocked aid to Ukraine. 

Elections in India

Over seven weeks between April 19 and June 1, India will hold elections set to be the largest ever seen. The majority party that wins will elect the prime minister. Numerous parties will run in opposition to current Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling conservative Bharatiya Janata Party. This election will decide whether Modi will receive a rarely-obtained third term in office. Important issues in the election include jobs, religious conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India, increased censorship by Modi’s government, environmental issues, and a rapidly expanding economy, among others.

Global Warming Drives Massive Coral Bleaching Event

Record-level ocean temperatures and heat resulting from climate change are triggering a massive coral bleaching event, resulting in significant threats to coral reefs and marine ecosystems. More than 54 percent of the world’s coral reef systems have experienced bleaching this past year as a result of this event, and that figure is likely to surpass 56 percent soon. The bleaching threatens coral reefs and the various species that depend on them, as coral reefs are a vital part of marine ecosystems. This is set to be the fourth-largest coral bleaching event on record.

Sudan on the Brink of Mass Starvation One Year After Civil War Began

After one year of civil war, Sudan is losing resources and is now on the brink of mass starvation and famine, according to Islamic Relief Worldwide, a humanitarian nonprofit. So far, 8.4 million people have had to flee due to conflict, including 2 million children under the age of five. Countless people have been displaced, wounded, or killed in the conflict.  Despite this, only 5 percent of the 2024 humanitarian response plan to aid individuals and families caught up in the conflict has been funded, according to Islamic Relief Worldwide. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that the conflict could further escalate as other militant organizations seek to arm civilians to join in the conflict.

Wooden Turbines Increase Efficiency and Sustainability of Wind Energy

In efforts to move towards renewable energy and wind power, it has recently been found that wooden turbines can be more sustainable and more efficient when it comes to clean wind power generation. Wooden turbines are made from several layers of wood that are attached together with an adhesive. Traditional turbines are made from carbon emission-intensive materials such as steel, which increase the carbon footprint of manufacturing the turbines. Around two tons of carbon is emitted from manufacturing one ton of steel. While there is less of an impact with wooden turbines, the wood used to manufacture turbines would ideally be coupled with reforestation efforts and sustainably sourced wood, as has been done in Sweden.