Posts in Global
Why U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization is critical now more than ever

“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.”

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Ivory Coast Election Spurs Violence as President Ouattara is Re-Elected for a Third Term

“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.”

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Why Ethiopia is on the Brink of Civil War

“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.”

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India Finds its Footing in a New Era of Bipolarity

““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.”

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Greece Heightens Turkish Border Security over Refugee Concern

“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.”

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Looming global recession means we need social programs now more than ever

“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.”

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Despite Russian-Brokered Ceasefire, Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Continues to Escalate

“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.”

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U.S. Court Finds Iran Culpable for American Hostage’s Death

“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.”

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