Posts in Global
China and Iran Settle on A $400 Billion Economic Partnership Agreement
China and Iran Settle on A $400 Billion Economic Partnership Agreement

“This maneuver will directly undercut America’s influence in the Middle East as China is opting in to buying Iranian oil, who is currently under American sanctions. These sanctions have isolated Iran in the Middle East and have limited Iran’s opportunities for foreign investment. Historically, sanctions have been an effective form of punishment as long as the nation has no one else to turn to economically. With China’s economic extension to Iran through a 25 year deal, this offers both a relief to Iran economically while also allowing it to think freely concerning other issues such as the Iran Nuclear Deal.”

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GlobalAllison HolbrooksChina, Iran Comment
UN Special Envoy to Syria Says There is A Rare "Window of Opportunity" to End Fighting
UN Special Envoy to Syria Says There is A Rare "Window of Opportunity" to End Fighting

“Ten years after the conflict began, the United Nations special envoy to Syria now claims there may be a ‘window of opportunity’ to end the fighting. In an interview with the BBC, Geir Pedersen has pointed to the fact that there is a fragile ceasefire in place between Assad’s forces and rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib. Idlib is the last province under rebel control. ‘For the first time in 10 years, the frontlines in Syria have not changed,’ Mr. Pedersen said. ‘This creates an opportunity.’”

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GlobalKay LangleySyria, United NationsComment
Iran’s Nuclear Program Advances Amid Fallout from US Nuclear Deal Withdrawal
Iran’s Nuclear Program Advances Amid Fallout from US Nuclear Deal Withdrawal

“President Joe Biden has come forward saying that he intends to move the United States to reenter the Iran Nuclear Deal as soon as Iran resumes compliance with the stipulations. Biden has also suggested that, upon reentering the deal, he plans to negotiate a successor agreement that will also address Iran’s missile program. In response, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated in September of 2020 that Iran would “absolutely not” renegotiate the deal’s terms from scratch, and expects the United States to compensate Iran for the monetary damages from the oil and banking sanctions under the Trump Administration which amount to USD $1 trillion.”

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GlobalAllison HolbrooksIran, Security Council, P5+1Comment
New Intelligence Report Alleges Russian and Iranian Interference in the 2020 Election through Media
New Intelligence Report Alleges Russian and Iranian Interference in the 2020 Election through Media

“While much disinformation comes from inside the U.S., Americans must also note an ever-present strategy for impacting elections adopted by both interveners, and that is dividing the population and undermining faith in our election systems. Distrust in our democracy generally, is not only damaging in election time, but damaging to the cohesion of the nation broadly.”

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Global, 2020 ElectionCourtney HalversonRussia, Iran, 2020 ElectionComment
Blind to Racism, not Race: The Myth of French Égalité
Blind to Racism, not Race: The Myth of French Égalité

“The first article of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic states: “France shall be an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion.” However, during his 2012 presidential campaign, François Hollande promised to remove the word ‘race’ from the constitution. From Hollande’s point of view, race does not exist, and therefore should not be mentioned in any official text. While this may sound surprising to American ears, 33% of French citizens do not believe that race exists.”

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Essays, GlobalKay LangleyFrance, Race, Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood, Editor's PickComment
The Kremlin Takes Aim at Social Media in Russia
The Kremlin Takes Aim at Social Media in Russia

““It remains to be seen whether further, more serious action will be taken by the Russian government amid their efforts to send a message to large social media conglomerates; however, it appears that this route of potential censorship has been building for quite a while and would not be totally out of the question. The further question that remains is what the backlash of younger generations would be should Russia pursue this route.”"

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GlobalMichaela AusbrooksRussiaComment
What Happens When the Ice Melts? A Look at Russian and Chinese ‘Arctic Strategies’ and their Implications for the U.S.
What Happens When the Ice Melts? A Look at Russian and Chinese ‘Arctic Strategies’ and their Implications for the U.S.

“Receding sea ice and melting permafrost in the Arctic are reshaping the security and economic landscape of the far north. New shipping lanes, previously un-navigable because of ice, could be available for commercial shipping year-round by 2030. While the Arctic Council has created a space for collaboration and exchange amongst Arctic states for the past 25 years, the potential for economic gain and unique national security concerns could erode cooperation and add a new dynamic to power competitions in the Arctic.”

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Essays, GlobalMadison UrbanArctic, Arctic Circle, Security, International Relations Comment
The Pandemic Will Never End Without Global Vaccine Cooperation
The Pandemic Will Never End Without Global Vaccine Cooperation

“It is easy for those of us who live in wealthy nations with high vaccination rates to think of those in poorer or war-torn countries as pitiable but distant. Something to be concerned about, though lacking any real impact on the success of our own COVID eradication efforts. This, however, is a grave misjudgment. Not only is vaccine nationalism and the zero-sum prioritization of one’s own population a moral failing, it is scientifically counterproductive.”

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GlobalEmma CohnCOVID-19, Vaccination, WHOComment
Biden & Blinken’s UN Human Rights Council Plan
Biden & Blinken’s UN Human Rights Council Plan

“Last Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would be seeking a seat on the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, a council that President Trump pulled out of in 2018. In Blinken’s video announcement, the diplomat stated that the U.S will be looking to be on the Council for the 2022 to 2024 period, even though it admittedly needs reform.”

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GlobalManav ShahUnited NationsComment
Syrian Refugee Runs for German Parliament
Syrian Refugee Runs for German Parliament

“Alaows explains how, after arriving in Germany, he was stuffed into a gym with 60 other people, prohibited from working, and not given German language lessons. While he organized protests against these shocking conditions, he ultimately realized that the main issue was that migrants like him did not have a voice representing or advocating for them in the German Parliament. This is what he aims to change in his political run. Alaows is running as a part of the Green Party, which he joined a year ago. The Green Party focuses on human rights and social justice issues along with environmental concerns and Alaows has found a comfortable position amidst their ranks.”

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GlobalMichaela AusbrooksGermany, Tareq Alaows, Reichstag, RefugeesComment
Postponed Olympics Still Facing Political Roadblocks
Postponed Olympics Still Facing Political Roadblocks

“Health officials point to vaccination as the single biggest requirement for a successful games. However, Japan approved its first vaccine just last week, citing concerns that Pzifer’s trial did not include enough Asian, and specifically Japanese, participants. This delay put the country two months behind the United Kingdom and America - which worries some experts given the time crunch.”

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GlobalAbbey KormanOlympicsComment
Starvation Plagues the Tigray Region of Ethiopia Amidst Internal Conflict
Starvation Plagues the Tigray Region of Ethiopia Amidst Internal Conflict

“Although the conflict is relatively new, it is suspected that both the TPLF and the federal government had already made preparations before the first violence erupted in early November. Now the international community is extremely worried that this conflict will last for a damaging amount of time. Already in the course of months, most of the people within Tigray are in dire conditions.”

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GlobalAllison HolbrooksEthiopiaComment