We discuss affirmative action policies in US colleges and how we can keep working to make university admissions fairer. We also indulge in a Vana-mini-rant about Theresa May’s glass cliff, find out why Simmy is not bothered by imposter syndrome, and learn a bit more than we wanted to know about Teresa’s reading habits when we reclaim our time.

We mention some distressing news stories. This guide provides some suggestions for how to cope with traumatic news events.

 

In the news

Two cyclones have caused mass flooding in northern Australia and thousands of people were evacuated out of the path of the storms.

The aftermath of Cyclone Idai is still being felt with cases of cholera being reported in Mozambique.

In Mali, a village has been attacked and 134 people killed.

Brunei is bringing in a punishment of death by stoning for people who either have gay sex or commit adultery.

The European parliament has voted to ban single use plastics and reduce the use of plastics for food and drink packaging.

Facebook has (finally) decided to treat white nationalism and separatism as hate speech.

The European parliament passed a draft resolution which would eliminate daylight savings time in the EU.

Update on a story from an earlier episode: Venezuela is still experiencing mass blackouts. Currently in its fourth blackout in three weeks, half the country is without power and water.

Female activists in Saudi Arabia, who were heavily involved in getting the ban on women’s driving lifted, have appeared in court last week on unspecified charges, with claims they have been physically and psychologically tortured while in detention.

The Space Telescope Science Institute, who evaluate proposals for research time on the Hubble space telescope, have reversed a long-standing trend for men to get more proposals accepted than women by using a double-blind evaluation process.

Theresa May is facing a glass cliff, with reports she might resign as leader if hardline Brexit members of her party will agree to vote for the proposed withdrawal deal.

Al Jazeera has released a two-part documentary (Part 1 and Part 2) outlining the<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-26/secret-recordings-show-one-nation-staffers-seeking-nra-donations/1...