Missouri is trying to raise the minimum marriage age to 18.
And Switzerland's clean river transformations.
“The Intersection” is your weekly briefing on global affairs, human rights, environment, social innovation, culture, and design—offering fresh insights through the lenses of sustainable development, women-centered perspectives, and emerging global trends. The aim? To keep you informed, curious, and always ready with a compelling conversation starter at the dinner table.’’
Hello,
The world is awash with critical stories, and each week, I aim to stay focused on The Intersection’s core themes. Yet some developments demand deeper attention—stories that are bigger than they first appear.
Take the decision to shut down Voice of America (VOA), the radio broadcaster that has provided independent news to censored nations since 1942. Mandated to present a full spectrum of American political opinion, VOA has long been a vital instrument of U.S. soft power, delivering objective reporting in 48 languages—something no other outlet does at scale. Alongside the defunding of Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia, this move risks ceding the information space to state-controlled narratives from Russia, Iran, and China, which invest billions in propaganda. The void left behind will not remain neutral. In fact, Beijing and Moscow are already rejoicing.
Equally troubling is the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and U.S. green card holder, who was taken into custody by ICE following his involvement in campus protests over the Gaza war. What should concern everyone—regardless of political stance—is that Khalil has not been charged with a crime. Protest and political criticism, whether one agrees with them or not, are protected under the First Amendment. Free speech is not a principle that can be applied selectively. The legality of this arrest raises serious questions, and I highly recommend this podcast for a deeper legal analysis.
Let’s keep a close watch on both of these stories.
Now, onto what else I’ve been reading, researching, and learning about—morning, noon, and night.
Global Affairs
In a rare diplomatic breakthrough, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda met in Qatar for direct talks, calling for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in eastern DRC. The meeting, facilitated by Qatar’s Emir, marks the first time Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame have engaged since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels escalated their offensive—a conflict that has claimed 7,000 lives since January. While the two leaders pledged to pursue lasting peace, the M23’s response remains uncertain, having refused recent negotiations in Angola. Kigali insists dialogue between Kinshasa and the rebels is key, while DRC accuses Rwanda of fueling the conflict and exploiting its mineral wealth. With previous peace efforts faltering, all eyes are now on whether this diplomatic overture can shift the tide.
Germany’s Bundestag has approved a sweeping spending package that includes a constitutional amendment to ease the country’s strict debt limits, allowing defense spending above 1 percent of GDP— including military aid to Ukraine— to bypass the debt brake. The move paves the way for up to $1 trillion in defense and infrastructure investments over the next decade, with $546 billion earmarked for infrastructure, including more than $100 billion for climate projects. Despite opposition from the far right and far left, the package signals growing political will to bolster defense in response to Russian security threats. Friedrich Merz, Germany’s presumed incoming chancellor, framed the decision as essential for European security, calling Russia’s aggression “a war against Europe.” The Bundesrat will vote on the measure on Friday, with a two-thirds majority needed for final approval— a pivotal moment that could determine the fate of Germany’s next government.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s sweeping new defense spending plan is shutting out U.S. and U.K. arms manufacturers, prioritizing European suppliers as the bloc retools its security strategy.
Mexico’s search for the disappeared continues as President Claudia Sheinbaum vows to bolster efforts following the discovery of a mass grave last week. With more than 120,000 people forcibly disappeared since records began in 1962— many linked to drug violence— the scale of the crisis remains staggering. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of bodies uncovered, but Sheinbaum has pledged transparency, promising an update on the investigation soon.
Human Rights
Amid deep budget cuts to fair housing initiatives, Representatives Maxine Waters and Senator Elizabeth Warren are leading the charge against the Trump administration’s rollback of protections designed to combat housing discrimination. The two Democrats have penned a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, warning that the cuts—rescinding $30 million in grants and slashing staff by over 50 percent—will embolden discriminatory practices and leave vulnerable Americans unprotected. Their concerns are echoed by fair housing organizations across the country, some of which have already filed lawsuits against HUD and DOGE, citing an illegal termination of congressional funding. With hundreds of local groups at risk of shutting down, grassroots advocates fear that without enforcement, the Fair Housing Act will become toothless. HUD officials, however, have dismissed these concerns, emphasizing their commitment to enforcing existing civil rights laws while positioning the cuts as a necessary efficiency measure. Meanwhile, as fair housing groups scramble to secure private funding, cases of discrimination—ranging from denied rental applications to sexual harassment by landlords—are being abandoned, leaving many without recourse. “This is a constitutional crisis,” says Lisa Rice, president of the National Fair Housing Alliance. “They’re thumbing their nose at the law.”
A UN inquiry has accused Israel of committing “genocidal acts” in Gaza, alleging the systematic targeting of reproductive healthcare facilities and the use of sexual violence as a war strategy. The Geneva-based commission reported that Israeli forces intentionally destroyed the Al-Basma fertility clinic in December 2023, eliminating 4,000 embryos and blocking medical supplies for pregnancies and neonatal care—acts the inquiry claims were designed to prevent Palestinian births. The report also accuses Israeli forces of using sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, stating that such crimes were committed either under explicit orders or with implicit encouragement from senior leadership. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” denouncing the UN Human Rights Council as “anti-Semitic” and “irrelevant.” While former UN official Martin Griffiths called the genocide evidence “incontrovertible,” he questioned whether legal action would follow. The findings add to mounting international scrutiny over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks.
Missouri’s Senate has given bipartisan approval to two bills: one raising the minimum marriage age to 18 and another banning discrimination against natural Black hairstyles. The child marriage bill, sponsored by Senator Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis), aims to curb the state’s high rate of child marriage, citing risks of abuse, poverty, and social isolation. (Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds can marry in Missouri with parental consent.) While the measure passed the Senate last year, it stalled in the House, with some Republicans opposing it as governmental overreach. Meanwhile, the CROWN Act, championed by Senator Barbara Washington (D-Kansas City), seeks to prevent schools from penalizing students for natural hairstyles such as braids, Afros, or dreadlocks. Washington, who has faced discrimination over her own hair, stressed that no child should be barred from school activities because of their appearance. The Senate’s 32-1 vote sends both measures to the House, where their fate remains uncertain.
Iran is intensifying its crackdown on dissent, particularly against women defying the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code, using drones, AI-driven surveillance, and state-sponsored vigilantism, according to a new UN report. Authorities have enlisted the public via phone apps to report hijab violations in taxis and even ambulances, while facial recognition software and security cameras track compliance in Tehran and beyond. Those who resist face severe consequences—arrest, beatings, and even sexual violence in custody. The report follows the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, whose killing by the morality police sparked ongoing protests despite brutal state repression. Investigators found Iran’s judicial system lacks independence, with victims of torture and their families systematically intimidated. The report, which also documents extrajudicial executions dismissed as suicides, will be presented to the Human Rights Council on 18 March.
Environment & Climate
In the 1960s, Switzerland’s waters were among Europe’s most polluted, with raw sewage and industrial wastewater flowing freely into rivers. Today, the country boasts some of the cleanest rivers in Europe, with cities like Geneva offering residents the luxury of swimming in crystal-clear waters, a testament to decades of investment in wastewater treatment. This transformation began after a 1963 typhoid outbreak in Zermatt prompted sweeping reforms, including the 1971 law mandating wastewater treatment. Now, 98% of the population is connected to wastewater plants, and the country is leading efforts to eliminate micropollutants from its rivers, a move that has made it a global pioneer in water purification. In Geneva, swimmers like René Rottenberg, who swims in Lake Geneva up to five times a week, enjoy what many consider Switzerland’s "blue gold." This success, driven by a culture of environmental responsibility and government investment, has become a model for other countries, though efforts like those in the UK remain far behind. As Switzerland continues to refine its water purification processes, including treatment for pharmaceutical residues, its citizens benefit from not just cleaner water, but also a strong sense of community, as seen in swimming groups that gather by the lake to socialize and connect with nature.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, long known for its concrete-heavy approach to water management, is embracing nature-based solutions in an effort to mitigate floods and restore ecosystems. Its Engineering with Nature (EWN) initiative, launched in 2010, has slowly gained traction, with projects ranging from reconnecting rivers to floodplains to using dredged sediment to bolster tidal marshes. Skepticism abounded at first, given the Corps’ legacy of reshaping landscapes with levees and dams, but figures emerged as internal changemakers, integrating ecological thinking into the agency’s vast civil works portfolio. The shift is pragmatic as much as ideological: climate change is amplifying floods and droughts, and traditional infrastructure alone is proving inadequate. A new rule requiring the Corps to consider nature-based options alongside conventional “gray” solutions signals institutional buy-in, yet tensions remain—balancing engineering with ecological restoration is a delicate dance. The legacy of past missteps, from the catastrophic levee failures during Hurricane Katrina to the ecological damage wrought by the Corps’ own projects, underscores the urgency of a more holistic approach. Whether this newfound environmental ethos prevails in the face of political and bureaucratic inertia remains to be seen, but as one engineer quipped, the 20th century may have belonged to reinforced concrete—perhaps the 21st will belong to nature.
Zambia is grappling with the fallout from a catastrophic acid spill at a Chinese-owned copper mine, which has polluted the Kafue River—an essential waterway supporting millions. The spill, triggered by a tailings dam collapse at Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, released 50 million liters of acidic waste, killing fish, destroying crops, and halting water supplies for the city of Kitwe. The government has deployed emergency measures, including dropping lime into the river, while Sino-Metals’ chairman has pledged restoration efforts. However, the incident has reignited concerns over China’s environmental footprint in Africa’s mineral-rich regions, with critics pointing to lax oversight and Zambia’s broader economic dependence on Chinese investment. A subsequent acid leak at another Chinese-operated mine has further heightened tensions, with reports of a worker’s death and arrests of mine managers. Both mines are now shut, but the damage—both environmental and political—lingers.
Social Innovation
Off-grid solar is quietly revolutionizing Africa’s energy landscape, succeeding where national grids have failed. With more than 600 million people still lacking electricity, the cost of expanding state-run infrastructure remains prohibitive. Instead, companies such as M-KOPA, Bboxx, and d.light are delivering power directly to homes and businesses through pay-as-you-go solar systems, enabling even low-income households to access energy for as little as 50 cents a day. Beyond lighting homes, off-grid solar is driving economic growth—powering irrigation systems in Tanzania, microgrids in Uganda, and Kenya’s mobile banking boom. The World Bank projects that mini-grids could provide electricity to 380 million Africans by 2030, with countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania proving that decentralized models are not only viable but superior. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power project and its booming geothermal sector showcase the continent’s renewable potential. Yet Africa remains woefully underfunded in its energy transition, receiving just 2% of global clean energy investment in 2022. While Western policymakers debate subsidies, Africa is demonstrating that a decentralized, renewable-first energy system isn’t just an alternative—it’s the future.
In the heart of the Amazon, an AI chatbot named Tainá is redefining Indigenous knowledge preservation and environmental stewardship. Developed in the Inhaã-bé village of Manaus, Tainá serves as a digital memory vault, collecting oral traditions, botanical wisdom, and cultural practices from Mura, Sateré-Mawé, and Tikuna communities. Unlike conventional AI models built by Big Tech, Tainá is community-owned, with data stored locally and decisions made by Indigenous leaders. The initiative, spearheaded by the Zurich-based nonprofit GainForest, extends beyond cultural preservation—drones and mobile environmental DNA labs are equipping communities with tools to safeguard biodiversity and adapt to climate change. For Marina Gatto, an Indigenous Mura leader, Tainá is both a bridge between generations and a means of asserting autonomy in a digital age. “It is great to have technology that is tailored for us,” she says, reflecting on how AI is helping communities like hers navigate the future on their own terms.
Artificial intelligence is set to propel the secondhand fashion market, with online resale now accounting for $227bn—9% of global fashion sales—and growing five times faster than the wider industry. ThredUp’s latest report highlights the role of AI-powered search tools in refining the secondhand shopping experience, allowing consumers to effortlessly source pre-loved pieces or recreate entire outfits from reference images. Economic pressures, including looming tariffs on Chinese-made goods, are further driving demand as shoppers prioritize affordability. The shift is largely driven by younger consumers, with 68% purchasing secondhand last year via platforms such as Vinted, Depop, and eBay. While resale’s trajectory has fallen slightly short of initial projections, the sector remains commercially viable—Vinted saw a 61% sales increase in 2023, turning a profit for the first time, while ThredUp insists its business is now on stable footing despite posting a $40m loss. The sector’s momentum is evident: the U.S. secondhand apparel market grew by 14% in 2024, its strongest expansion since 2021, and is expected to reach $74bn by 2029. With AI-driven personalization making secondhand shopping as seamless as buying new, resale is poised to claim an even greater share of the global fashion market.
Culture & Design
The work of Polish artist Teresa Pągowska (1926-2007) comes to life in Shadow Self, the artist's first UK solo exhibition at Thaddaeus Ropac's 18th-century townhouse gallery in London. Pągowska's bold interpretations of the female form, animals, dreamscapes, and interspecies figures challenge traditional representations with emotional and psychological depth. The exhibition offers rare exposure to her work outside of Poland, where she remains better known. Pągowska's fragmented depictions of women, such as the haunting Untitled (1966), with its severed head motif, reflect a feminist outcry against the violence and erasure faced by women in postwar Poland. Her art explores gender consciousness and resistance to male-dominated narratives, as exemplified in Untitled (1969), where a neon pink crucifix divides the canvas, evoking dismemberment and sacrifice. Pągowska’s figures, caught between human and animal, evoke a sense of theatricality and intimacy, allowing viewers to engage with forgotten histories and unearth new layers within her provocative, alluring work. Shadow Self runs at Thaddaeus Ropac London until 2 April.
Macy’s is stepping into the world of television with plans to develop a scripted series inspired by When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow. The project, led by Macy’s chief marketing officer Sharon Otterman, will bring to life the pioneering women who shaped American retail, from Dorothy Shaver at Lord & Taylor to Geraldine Stutz at Henri Bendel. The adaptation will weave a fictionalized narrative around these industry trailblazers, with Margaret Getchell—Macy’s own 19th-century retail visionary—added to the storyline. Satow’s book chronicles how these women transformed department stores into cultural powerhouses long before they had a seat at the corporate table, redefining fashion retail through innovation, branding, and sheer ambition. “These are stories of resilience, creativity, and vision—women who understood the power of storytelling before it was a business strategy,” says Otterman, who is currently securing a showrunner and cast. Satow echoes the excitement: When Women Ran Fifth Avenue is set to bring the legacy of these retail pioneers to a wider audience, inspiring a new generation of fashion and business leaders.
Maryland is the latest state to reckon with its past, introducing legislation to exonerate those convicted of witchcraft centuries ago. The effort, led by Delegate Heather Bagnall, aims to clear names tarnished by hysteria and scapegoating—echoes of which, she argues, persist today in social and political battles. Moll Dyer, a local legend believed to have inspired The Blair Witch Project, was one such victim, driven from her home in 1698 and left to die in the wilderness. Her story lingers in Leonardtown, where her alleged final resting place remains a point of eerie fascination. Similar exonerations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Scotland reflect a broader cultural shift, as contemporary movements embrace witchcraft’s symbolism of resilience, autonomy, and defiance against persecution. While some dismiss the measure as symbolic, its advocates see it as a necessary correction—proof that history’s injustices still demand redress.
Margaret Brent (1601-1671) was a formidable figure in the early history of colonial America, shaping the trajectory of Maryland’s development with a level of influence rare for women of her time. Born into a well-connected English family around 1601, she immigrated to the colony with her siblings in 1638, securing land grants and establishing herself as a shrewd landowner and political actor. When Leonard Calvert, Maryland’s governor, named her executrix of his estate in 1647, Brent took swift action to stabilize the colony during a period of political and military unrest, ensuring that soldiers were paid and provisions were secured. However, her decisive management was met with disapproval from the colony’s absentee proprietor, Lord Baltimore, who ultimately forced her departure—an outcome that underscored the precarious position of women, even those wielding considerable power.
Brent’s legacy is marked by both legal prowess and an unwavering sense of autonomy. She was the first woman in the English North American colonies to appear before a court of common law, asserting her property rights with an astuteness that many consider a precursor to later feminist movements. In 1648, she made the unprecedented request for a vote in the Maryland Assembly, citing her status as both a major landowner and Lord Baltimore’s legal representative (the first woman to request the right to vote in the colonies). Though her appeal was denied, the Assembly later acknowledged that her stewardship had been vital to the colony’s survival. Her ability to navigate the harsh realities of colonial life and the male-dominated legal system reflected a rare blend of pragmatism and defiance.
Following her forced exile from Maryland, Brent relocated to Virginia, where she continued to acquire land and manage her affairs with characteristic acumen. She and her sister Mary, both of whom remained unmarried—a rarity in the Chesapeake colonies—established a plantation named “Peace” and expanded their holdings into what would later become Alexandria and Fredericksburg. Though the precise details of her death in 1671 remain uncertain, her impact endures. Today, Brent is recognized not only as a pivotal figure in Maryland’s history but as a woman who, despite the constraints of her era, carved out a space for herself in law, governance, and commerce.
Any interesting articles you have read recently? What global stories are you most invested in right now?
Jennifer
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