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More than half of factory workers who produce garments for the fashion industry are women. This means that when we talk about protecting human rights in the garment and fashion industry, we must also specifically consider the rights of women. Many of the issues facing garment workers, like low wages and precarious employment, disproportionately affect women.

Gender discrimination is rife in the garment industry. Women face a persistent wage gap, earning less than men for comparable work. They also endure rampant gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace.

Empowering women workers is crucial for combating gender discrimination. When states and companies suppress labour rights, such as the right to form unions, they not only undermine workers’ rights but also specifically impede women’s ability to advocate for change. The garment industry lacks sufficient safeguards for workers, especially women. Empowering women workers with greater authority and decision-making opportunities ensures that any new safeguard introduced by employers are designed and implemented based on the genuine, lived experiences of those it aims to protect.

A new report finds 24 states have yet to establish an “energy efficiency resource standard," which has been shown to curb demand, lower costs and reduce emissions.

State trust lands send millions to carceral facilities and programs every year.

• Scientists found unusually high concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in marsh soils near Vistra Corp.’s (NYSE $VST) energy storage facility in Moss Landing, California, after a lithium-ion battery fire burned for several days.
• The company had said that no harm to the public from chemical exposure had been detected, citing air quality tests conducted by the EPA and a third-party consultancy.
• People living close to the fire site report symptoms ranging from burning eyes and sore throat to headaches and nosebleeds. Several say they have experienced a “metallic taste.”
• The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing. An emergency response plan published by Vistra shows the company may have significantly underestimated the risk of a fire at its facility.
• Monterey County officials have declared a state of emergency and started collecting soil and water samples in the area around the Vistra facility to test for toxins. Residents have started taking their own soil samples and are planning to send them to an independent lab for testing.
• A bill introduced in the California State Assembly in response to the fire aims to put stronger restrictions on battery storage facilities in the state. If passed, it could derail Vistra’s 600-megawatt project near San Luis Obispo.

Astronomers have taken a crucial step in showing that the most massive black holes in the universe can create their own meals. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) provide new evidence that outbursts from black holes can help cool down gas to feed themselves.