Throughout the last decade, China has consistently expanded its presence in Africa and emerged as the continent’s largest source of foreign investment. With investments increasing from $210 million in 2000 to $3.17 billion in 2011, the country has demonstrated a sharp focus, and even surpassed the United States as the
Protests beginning in late June in the city of Nukus in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan in western Uzbekistan been met with violence, with the Uzbek government confirming that at least 18 people have died. A further 243 have been injured. Over 500 people were detained in relation to the
On July 4th, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric Font received a new constitutional draft. This new draft is intended to replace the country’s original Magna Carta, which was written during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The constitution’s ultimate fate lies with the Chilean people; Boric issued a mandate calling for a
Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom and occupying the northern six counties of the island of Ireland, shares a land border and a long history with the Republic of Ireland to its south. Decades of violence and political strife between the two principal groups in Northern Ireland – the
Since the 2015 and 2016 migration crises, Mediterranean countries have been at the frontline of dealing with millions of refugees fleeing war, poverty, and persecution from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. While it’s unknown how many asylum seekers cross through Greece undetected each year, according to Pew Research, Greece was the
In June 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States passed down its opinion on the landmark case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health (2022). In a 5-4 ruling, the court held that there was no constitutional right to abortion in the United States, overturning Roe v. Wade (1973) and
On July 15th, President Joe Biden traveled to Jeddah with the goals of finalizing international agreements and promoting a more stable and prosperous Middle East, according to a White House press release. Though many American presidents have traveled to Saudi Arabia, Biden’s visit was particularly contentious due to his fist-bump
On Tuesday, August 9, the opposing sides of Yemen’s civil war agreed to renew a two-month truce due to expire, according to a United Nations envoy. The agreement continues the nation of 30 million people’s longest period of peace since the Iran-aligned Houthi movement began fighting the Saudi Arabia-led coalition
On July 2nd, Syria accused Israel of launching an “air aggression” from the Mediterranean, West of Lebanon’s second-largest city Tripoli, with numerous missiles aimed at an area to the south of Tartous. On July 4th, Russia’s foreign ministry called the strikes on Syria absolutely unacceptable and demanded the termination of
During the lead-up to the NATO summit in Madrid from June 29-30, NATO diplomats disclosed that NATO’s new Strategic Concept would directly reference China as a “systemic challenge” for the first time, according to Reuters. However, member states were also said to be in dispute over how to describe the
Going Beyond the TPS in the Context of the Cameroon Anglophone Crisis In April 2022, the United States government designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Cameroonians for the next 18 months. This came following persistent calls from some lawmakers and lobbyists on the risk of deporting Cameroonians to their country
Ecuador’s government and its largest Indigenous rights organization, The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE), signed an agreement on Thursday 30 June 2022, to end 18 days of mass protests in the country. It promises a 15 cent USD reduction to diesel and petrol prices. Additionally, this deal also places limits
Discussions in Geneva have ended unsuccessfully after the United Nations organized negotiations between Aguila Saleh and Khaled al-Mishri, representatives of opposing factions in Libya. The two factions are an eastern based parliament, led by Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha, and the Tripoli based State Council, led by incumbent Prime Minister Abdul
The decision made by the US Supreme Court to overrule the 1973 Roe v. Wade case, thereby revoking the federal right to an abortion, is now raising suspicion in the public eye about what may follow. There are growing concerns that the use of contraceptives and birth control will be
The summer of 2022 is gradually becoming more of an environmental concern worldwide. Earlier this year, Australia recorded its hottest summer day at 50.7 degrees Celsius (134 Fahrenheit), and in May India recorded its highest temperature at 49 degrees Celsius (120.2 Fahrenheit) in Delhi. More recently, the UK broke its
“We must take actions and we believe it is right to do our part,” publicly stated Beppe Sala, mayor of Milan, referring to the declaration of the state of emergency and the decision, taken by the local authorities, to turn off public fountains and to introduce daytime water rationing (on
A new government has ascended to power in the Philippines, led by Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.. There is hope this transition from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership will also mark a transition from his record of human rights abuses. However, concerns remain about the possible treatment of Filipinos under Marcos
On Monday, June 20th, the chairman of DAL Group, a private Sudanese conglomerate and the largest private company in the country, revealed that he and the United Arab Emirates will build a new Red Sea port in Sudan as part of a $6 billion investment project. Osama Daoud Abdellatif, DAL
On June 27th, President Joe Biden signed a National Security Memorandum to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (I.U.U.) fishing practices. This is part of a pledge by U.S. officials to introduce policies against illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s growing influence. Several countries in the region contend that
According to Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party, the African Union (A.U.) should be the facilitator of peace talks between their government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (T.P.L.F.) after nearly two years of violent conflict. However, the Tigray government has concerns with this proposition. In an open letter written in June,
