Anton LaGuardia, The Economist's diplomatic editor, discusses the precarious state of nuclear arms control amid China’s expanding arsenal, emphasizing the need for communication to prevent an arms race. Shailesh Chitnes, a global business correspondent, explores the rise of rickshaw apps in Bangalore, showcasing how tech is reshaping Indian urban transport. They also touch on alarming absenteeism rates in U.S. schools post-pandemic, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by students and the systemic issues that contribute to this crisis.
The breakdown of nuclear arms control treaties and the rise of new technological advancements in missile systems contribute to an unstable and dangerous global nuclear arms race.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a concerning rise in chronic absenteeism in American schools, particularly affecting low-income students, and addressing the root causes with social services and family engagement is essential to improving attendance rates and ensuring access to education.
Deep dives
Dangers of Nuclear Arms Control Breakdown
The breakdown of nuclear arms control treaties and the rise of new technological advancements in missile systems, such as hypersonic missiles and artificial intelligence, are contributing to a more unstable and dangerous global nuclear arms race. The war in Ukraine, China's increasing nuclear stockpiles, and the expiration of the New START treaty further exacerbate this situation. The lack of communication and cooperation between the major nuclear powers, especially the United States, Russia, and China, has created an unpredictable and delicate balance of three-way deterrence. The urgent need for dialogue and negotiations on arms control is crucial, with hopes that the major powers will engage in talks and prevent an escalation of nuclear tensions.
Chronic Absenteeism in American Schools
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a concerning rise in chronic absenteeism in American schools. According to recent studies, 28% of students across the country missed at least three weeks of school, and chronic absenteeism has almost doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. Low-income students are particularly affected, with 55% in Alaska being chronically absent. Various factors contribute to this issue, including the flexibility and appeal of staying at home, the challenges of childcare and work, and the broader reevaluation of traditional in-person schooling models. Addressing the root causes of absenteeism, providing social services, and engaging families in solutions are essential to improving attendance rates and ensuring access to education.
Namayatri App Revolutionizing Rickshaw Travel in Bangalore
A new app called Namayatri is transforming the way rickshaw travel works in Bangalore. Developed by the local Rickshaw drivers union, the app directly connects drivers and riders, cutting out any digital middlemen and eliminating commissions. Since its launch, Namayatri has gained popularity, with around 80,000 drivers and 1.5 million customers on the platform. This app is enabled by the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a government-backed platform that allows smaller communities of marketplaces to flourish and compete with larger ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber. Namayatri's success highlights the potential of decentralized, community-driven platforms in providing efficient and cost-effective services.
The calculus of the cold war is back, but there are new variables in the equation—namely China’s growing arsenal. We look at how three-way deterrence could work. Two years after America’s schools reopened their doors, a terrifying proportion of students are still skipping class (10:13). And what a slew of rickshaw apps says about India’s technological backbone (15:38).
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