Mali’s ruling military junta is poised to sign a security deal with a supposed Russian private military contractor (PMC). The Wagner Group, to which the Russian state denies affinity, has been accused of mercenary involvement in conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, and eastern Europe. Now, the Russian PMC is
In the 2018 Pakistani election, Imran Khan, the now 22 Prime Minister of Pakistan from the Tehreek-e-Insaf ( PTI) political party, vowed to protect ”the civil, social and religious rights of minorities; their places of worship, property and institutions as laid down in the Constitution.” This was an effort from
The UN Security Council encouraged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to resume negotiations on the contentious issue of water availability from the dam that the Ethiopians are building on the Blue Nile tributary of the Nile River. The statement, approved by all council members, said tripartite negotiations should resume at the invitation of
On Sunday, around two dozen activists protested outside of the women’s bureau in the city of Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan that occurred last month. The department’s female employees had attempted to return to their jobs, but were told to go back to their homes by the new
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, governments across the Pacific Islands have implemented school closures to curb transmission and protect the lives of children. These measures are consistent with lockdown measures used in numerous countries worldwide and reflect a strong government interest in protecting the lives of citizens. However,
On 11 and 12 September North Korea successfully tested long-range cruise missiles. The missiles were launched ahead of a trilateral meeting between United States, Japanese, and South Korean officials to discuss the DPRK’s stalled denuclearization. They flew 1,500km before plummeting into the ocean. On the 15th,, the DPRK fired-off two ballistic
On Saturday, September 18, around 200 neo-nazis took to the streets of the historically-gay neighbourhood of Chueca in Madrid to harass gay people living there. Supposedly organized to protest the recently released plans for sustainable development in Spain, the 2030/2050 Agendas, the “protest” quickly devolved into homophobic and racist attacks,
North Korea reported a successful test of its new long-range cruise missile systems on Monday. North Korea’s new missiles are able to reach most of Japan, possessing a range that is several orders of magnitude larger than their older systems. The first missile test in six months, North Korea’s actions
On September 15, 2021, three people were killed during violent protests in different cities in Yemen. These protests are linked to widespread poverty and electricity outages since public services have collapsed within areas controlled by the Saudi-backed alliance. Two of the protestors died in Aden and Mukalla when tensions turned
Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, more than half the population is suffering from starvation and poverty. With a healthcare system on the brink of collapse, food shortages, and malnourishment rising, Afghans need urgent aid. The World Food Programme stated that over half of Afghanistan’s population currently lives under
Last Thursday, September 16th, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison jointly announced the launch of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership with the U.S. and U.K. This agreement is a watershed moment for Australian defence strategies in the Indo-Pacific. It marks a dramatic shift from John Howard’s doctrine of “not having to
During a visit to Kigali, Rwanda, French president Emmanuel Macron stated that France acknowledged its role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus. The acknowledgment came during a speech made May 27th, on the genocide’s 27th anniversary, at the Kigali Genocide
Gun violence is a tragedy that many have lived through in their daily lives or encountered an incident including gun violence as a child. It is not just the terror of experiencing an attack but the experience of being stripped of the right to live. The perpetrators of gun violence
On September 14, 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released an article calling attention to the discrimination and bullying of LGBTQ+ youth in South Korea. Accounts from LGBTQ+ students show that stigma surrounding non-heteronormative identities in South Korean society has caused great disadvantage. This stigma has taken a toll on their
The Pope emphasized the importance of the common good and humility on Monday during his visit to Slovakia, referring to the country’s communist past. His speech aimed to oppose the increased nationalistic attitude and hatred towards immigrants that are currently on the rise across Eastern Europe. Pope Francis gave a
This past week has marked one of the most eventful in months for North Korean (D.P.R.K.) nuclear activity: the country has successfully launched two long-range missiles, and recent satellite images show the expansion of a uranium plant at its main nuclear complex. These are clear indications of intent to boost
The government of the Czech Republic is set to sign a $395.6 million contract with the French defense group known as Nexter Systems. According to Reuters, the contract includes the purchase of 52 new CAESAR (8 x 8 155 mm) artillery pieces that will replace Soviet-era howitzers. Reuters also reports
Last month, the Lithuanian government announced plans to fence off a 70-mile stretch of their border with Belarus to keep out migrants. Reuters has reported that 4,100 migrants, mainly from Central Asia and the Middle East, have entered Lithuania. These migrants have arrived from the Belarusian side, and the European
On 17 August New Zealand’s Prime Minister informed the public that the country would be going into full lockdown, alert level 4, after a case of Covid-19 (later found to be the more transmissible Delta variant) was identified in the community outside of managed isolation. Although the initial time period
President Biden announced new sanctions against the prolonged fighting and humanitarian crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia. This Friday, an executive order was signed to allow the U.S. Treasury and State Department to sanction parties involved in the crisis if they do not soon take any steps to stop the violence, according
