Author: Isabel Slingerland

What’s Next For Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Movement?

On July 1st, 1997, the United Kingdom regifted Hong Kong to China after receiving it in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 at the end of the first Opium War. This year, instead of celebrating, protesters stormed the Legislative Council Building, graffitiing portraits of unpopular leaders, breaking windows, taking over

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Ebola Outbreak In Eastern DRC Reaches 2,000 Cases

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading at an alarming rate. Since the outbreak began approximately 10 months ago, there have been 2,000 cases recorded. Of those, 1,300 cases have been fatal. According to the DRC’s health ministry, it took seven months for the outbreak

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Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and Iran           

On Wednesday 15th May 2019, the U.S. State Department released an urgent message calling all “non-emergency” U.S. government employees to leave Iraq. U.S. citizens were advised not to travel to Iraq because of the “high risk of violence and kidnapping.” This order was given amidst rising tensions between the U.S. and

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6,000 Palestinian Children Jailed By Israel Since 2015

A recent report released by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association details how Israeli troops have been subjecting a large number of Palestinian children to unwarranted arrests and maltreatment. The report discusses one number that has been especially shocking to readers: 6,000 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli police forces since

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Venezuela Crisis Intensifies

Crowds of people have taken to the streets in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, this past week in support and opposition of President Nicolas Maduro. After a recent nationwide blackout, anti-government protesters answered opposition leader Juan Guaido’s call for action against the president. Guaido urged protesters to demand that Maduro step down

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Trump In No Hurry For North Korea To Denuclearize

While speaking to reporters at a White House event on 19 February, President Donald Trump made clear that he wants North Korea to end its nuclear program. Shortly after, however, Trump added that he has “no pressing time schedule” for denuclearization. The only condition he imposed on North Korea was

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India’s Lower House Passes Citizenship Bill That Excludes Muslims

On Tuesday, January 8th, India’s lower house of congress approved a bill that would grant residency and citizenship to a number of currently illegal migrants. The bill seeks to gain rights for people who migrated illegally to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This bill amends the preexisting law in

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Salvadoran Woman Accused of Trying to Abort Rapist’s Baby Freed

             On Monday, December 17th, Imelda Cortez, a rape survivor, was released from prison after a judge found her not guilty on reduced her charges. Imelda was initially found guilty and charged with attempted aggravated homicide after doctors thought she had tried to have an abortion. The law in El

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Ukraine Anti-Corruption Activist Killed In Acid Attack

            On July 31st, 2018, prominent Ukrainian anti-corruption activist, and previous Kherson city council member, Kateryna Handzyuk, was assaulted and doused with a liter of sulphuric acid when leaving her house. As a result of the attack, Handzyuk suffered severe burns to over 40% of her body, including devastating eye

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Young Black Portuguese Men Take Police Brutality To Court

In February 2015, six young black Portuguese men were accused of storming a police station after a police operation in Cova da Moura earlier that day. Their case was overturned this year. After hearing the decision of their case, Flavio Almada, Celso Lopes, Rui Moniz, Miguel Reis, Paulo Veiga, and

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Bolsonaro Wants To ‘Cleanse’ Brazil of Left-Wing ‘Criminals’

On Sunday, October 21st, Jair Bolsonaro, the frontrunner in Brazil’s presidential election, gave a chilling 10-minute speech that detailed his plans to rid the country of left-wing “criminals.” Bolsonaro is a former army captain whose campaign is supported by the disillusionment and anger felt by Brazilian voters towards the political status

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Deadline Passes For Syria’s Idlib Buffer Without Fighters Leaving

On Monday, October 15th, the deadline for militant groups to move out of the rebel-controlled area of Idlib, Syria passed. The radical military groups there did not move, and the Russian-Turkish deal that created this deadline was disregarded. This deal was implemented in order to weaken the offensive fronts of

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Swiss Region Votes To Ban Face Veil In Public Places

This past Sunday, September 23rd, Swiss voters in the region of St. Gallen joined the Ticino region of Switzerland in their vote to approve the recently proposed “burqa ban.” 67% of voters approved this ban which prohibits its inhabitants from wearing any face-covering garments in public. Under this law, “any

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Italy’s Pro-Refugee Mayor Arrested

On October 2nd, the mayor of the Italian region of Riace, Domenico Lucano, was arrested and put under house-arrest for fraudulently delegating local waste management to two co-operatives, rather than formally taking care of the problem. Prosecutors identified this action as “aiding illegal migration.” Lucano has been the mayor of

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Leaders of New Thai Party Charged Over Facebook Political Speech

The founder of the Future Forward Party, Thananthorn Juangroongruangkit and two other prominent members of the party are facing up to five years in jail and fines for the dissemination of false information on the ruling military government on Facebook. The Facebook post contained a speech by Thananthorn discussing how

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In Basra, al-Abadi Condemns ‘Unacceptable’ Iran Consulate Attack

Protesters stormed the streets of Basra, Iraq, last week for five days in an effort to revolt against the alleged corruption of the Iraqi government. During the protest, demonstrators clashed with security forces, leaving 12 dead. Protesters also managed to torch the provincial headquarters, the Iranian Consulate, and the offices

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Deadly Suicide Blast Hits Offices And School In Mogadishu

Six people were pronounced dead, including two children, and fourteen others were critically wounded after a deadly suicide bombing Sunday, September 2nd. Among the injured were Ibrahim Hassan Matan, the deputy district commissioner, and six children. The attack occurred at a government office in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. Three who died

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Turkey Detains Two More Suspects Over U.S. Embassy Shooting

Two more people have been detained by Turkish Police on Sunday, August 26th for suspected ties to the recent drive-by shooting at the U.S. embassy. The shooting took place on Monday, August 20th at the U.S. Embassy’s Security office in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Six rounds were fired from a moving

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Cambodia’s Hun Sen Set For Re-Election In Largely Unopposed Poll

Cambodia’s long-time Prime Minister Hun Sen has claimed victory in the election held Sunday 29 July 2018. Al Jazeera reports that after 33 years in power, Hun Sen plans to maintain his position for another 10. His path to power was largely undisputed, with his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) candidates

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