“Last month, senior U.S. health official Garrett Grisby claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) was not sharing enough information on an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Despite the WHO’s shortcomings, it would be a major policy blunder for the United States to limit their involvement in the organization. Permanently cutting all funding to the WHO as Trump vowed in May and permanently withdrawing from the organization would be ceding influence to China, which would dramatically increase their power on the world stage.”
Read More“On November 3, four hours before the scheduled nationwide COVID-19 shut-down, shots rang out in Vienna, Austria. A shooter opened fire near Vienna’s main synagogue, an area with many bars and restaurants sometimes deemed the “Bermuda Triangle,” around 8pm, injuring more than 20 people and killing four.”
Read More“Ouattara’s two election opponents, Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Henri Konan Bédié, have spoken out against Ouattara, reminding everyone that the Ivory Coast’s constitution says an eligible candidate can only hold the presidential office for two terms. In order to further discredit the vote, N’Guessan and Bédié encouraged their constituents to not vote in the poll on October 31. N’Guessan and Bédié have also promised to set up a transitional government after the skewed vote, to ensure fair and new elections in the future.”
Read More“In early November, a federal government military base in Mekele, the capital of Tigray, was attacked. President Ahmed blamed the TPLF. The country declared a state of emergency for six months and the parliament proposed a terrorist designation for the TPLF, with Amed stating that the attack crossed “the last red line." Ethiopia’s parliament voted to give the President power to appoint new officials in the Tigray region as he authorized airstrikes throughout the north.”
Read More'“With the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA and construction commencing at the Natanz nuclear facility, the necessity of further discussions between the remaining signatories of the JCPOA is brought to the forefront of the international consciousness.”
Read More““Despite these past grievances, the collapse of the USSR and rise of China as an economic and military power has caused a realignment of interests that strongly favors US-India cooperation. As has been stated in the past by American leaders, the United States and India would appear to be natural allies - the world’s oldest democracy, and the world’s largest. With Chinese actions both within its borders and in the broader world causing concern as the world enters a state of heightened tension between bipolar centers of power, both nations see the need of enhancing military cooperation in the world’s most populous continent.”
Read More“After months of delay, the referendum for a new Chilean constitution went before the voters two Sundays ago, October 25th. The Chilean voters overwhelmingly approved of drafting a new constitution, written by a constitutional assembly made up of everyday citizens.”
Read More“Greece has made it clear that they are not open to letting in Syrian migrants. In addition to building a wall, Greece has fired tear gas at refugees, shot at the sea near dingeys, and recently suspended registration of asylum claims - a violation of 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees. The anti-refugee action in Greece has been supported across the EU, with the President of the European Commission describing Greece as Europe’s “shield” from refugees entering.”
Read More“Inspired by the protests in Hong Kong, Thailand has begun to revolt. What started as protests run by students at campuses steadily grew into a movement that touches on deeply-rooted problems in Thailand’s government, monarchy, and constitution.”
Read More“Steeped in a bedlam of uncertainty and fear over how intensely a hard exit from the European Union (EU) will crater the UK’s economy, the center of the world’s financial services industry stares at a recession that could dramatically shrink the might of one of the most powerful nations in the world.”
Read More“The International Monetary Fund’s newest estimate is that the global economy will shrink 4.4% in 2020: the worst annual drop since the Great Depression. Policy interventions such as unemployment benefits and paid-parental leave must be undertaken by countries around the world in order to help vulnerable populations. This will help ensure that this crisis does not contribute to a widening gender and intergenerational economic inequality.”
Read More“The recent conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan appeared to be de-escalating after a Russian-brokered ceasefire on October 10th. However, armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has continued, with both sides accusing the other of breaking the ceasefire. To further complicate matters, the tangled web of competing geopolitical interests by major powers threatens to further escalate the situation into a regional conflict.”
Read More“The strike is set to begin this upcoming Sunday, but it is currently unclear if Tsikhanouskaya’s supporters are capable of the organization required to shut down the country at the scale Tsikhanouskaya is hoping for”
Read More“Violations from all parties to the R-ARCSS make it clear that an international organization must step in and introduce mechanisms to establish harmony, promote justice, and provide humanitarian aid to areas of South Sudan decimated by conflict and natural disasters.”
Read More“In 1978, China was a struggling country with a low GDP of only $150 billion. In 2020, China is a rising superpower with a GDP of $14.3 trillion. With its growing power, China has been attempting to change the previous world order with its strategies. Now, China’s rivals believe it is time to retaliate.”
Read MoreSPECIAL ESSAY - “Maybe you have seen Instagram posts highlighting the oppression of Uyghur Muslims or headlines criticizing Disney for shooting Mulan in Xinjiang. But who exactly are the Uyghurs, and why has their oppression led to calls for a United Nations crimes against humanity investigation?”
Read More“A U.S. district court ordered Iran to pay $1.4 billion in damages for the 2007 capture and likely death of former FBI agent Robert Levinson who was on a rogue mission with the CIA… Judge Kelly is therefore officially holding Iran responsible for Levinson’s capture and likely death, a fact they have long disputed. A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Minister decried the judgement calling it “another example of the American's extravagances and bullying.”
Read More“A core of Vaccine trials, recently advancing to phase 3, offer hope for critically needed respite within the next year. Yet their success and accessibility will be determined by questions of international politics, equitable and moral desert, and Godspeed.”
Read More“The arms-embargo has been renewed multiple times, but nations have been continuously violating the agreement, supplying the warring sides in Libya with resources. The U.N. first established an arms-embargo on Libya in February of 2011. The embargo restricts the supply of military equipment to or from Libya, while their country remains in conflict.”
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