2024.03.19: International Relations

For the first time in 50 years, deaths in China outnumbered births, and last year marked the sixth consecutive year that births in the country fell. Experts say the dwindling population will have catastrophic economic consequences for the world’s second-largest economy, and China isn’t alone in confronting a shrinking population.

Global fertility rates are dropping at an unprecedented rate. While many would argue that a decrease in population growth is good for the environment, an inverted age structure could cause severe social, political, and economic consequences.

Dive into the dark underbelly of tradition and social media with the latest episode of Rotten Mango, where Stephanie Soo and Little Kitty uncover the haunting story of a Chinese live streamer's tragic fate. As they explore the life and tragic end of an influential internet star known for her buoyant beauty and fashion content, they unravel the tale of her struggles with mental health leading up to her death during a live stream—an event that shockingly captivated numerous viewers and left indelible marks on the virtual community.

However, the narrative takes an even grimmer turn as the hosts expose the posthumous violation of the influencer's remains, stolen with the intent to be sold for an archaic 'ghost marriage.' Stephanie and Little Kitty delve deep into this disturbing cultural practice that commodifies the deceased, linking it to the ramifications of China's one-child policy and the creation of a sinister market for female corpses. This episode is not only a chilling investigation of a social media personality's exploitation and cyberbullying but also a critical reflection on the intersection of ancient traditions with modern injustices. Join the discourse on Rotten Mango as it prompts a necessary conversation on preserving safety and ethics within cultural practices.

The world is predicted to hit record-high temperatures in the next five years. Human-caused fossil fuel emissions and cyclical weather events are contributing to ever-rising, deadly temperatures. Billions of people around the globe will suffer the impacts of extreme heat in the decades ahead.

Climate change-driven heat waves, flooding, and droughts are plaguing the globe. What’s worse, the extreme weather events are exceeding climate scientists’ projections—which suggests we’re unprepared for what’s to come. It’s too late to reverse the effects of climate change. All we can do is to keep things from getting worse and adjust to our new normal with adaptations like green technology, updated building codes, and better infrastructure. Private industry is getting more involved with adaptation efforts, as it’s becoming increasingly clear that severe weather will impact business.

Malware researcher Marcus Hutchins first found fame as the “hero” who thwarted the 2017 WannaCry cyberattack. However, just a few months after the attack, revelations about his past criminal activities threatened to end his budding career.

Video games are meant to be fun, but making video games can be anything but. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, video game journalist Jason Schreier gives a rare look into the inner workings of the video game industry and the harsh reality of being a game developer: long hours, enormous pressure to meet deadlines, and an unpredictable, constantly changing work environment. Schreier discusses the development cycles of 10 games, ranging from indie darlings to AAA flops, as told by developers whom Schreier interviewed.

This guide organizes the themes and key ideas from the case studies in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels into four challenges that video game developers face: accounting for games’ interactivity, constantly evolving technology, the impossibility of making and adhering to a schedule during development, and interference from people outside of the development studio. Our commentary adds background information for readers less familiar with the gaming industry and further explores the human impact of industry practices.