Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s efforts to suppress dissent and cling to power ahead of the November 7th presidential elections have intensified, pushing the country still further toward dictatorial rule. At least six high-level opposition leaders have been arbitrarily detained, including four would-be challengers who had intended to run against Ortega.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, far-right activity has increased throughout the developed world. The ideologies these activities fall under range from anti-Islamism to neo-Nazism and anti-government to anti-science, and many are capable of and involved in tremendously violent practices. While various countries and regions
The United Nations (UN) called for more action from the international community to end AIDS and adopted a set of specific targets at the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AIDS on June 8th. According to The Associated Press, the General Assembly concurred that the COVID-19 pandemic set back
The night sky over eastern Democratic Republic of Congo glowed a bright red colour as the Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted the night of Saturday, 22 May. Lava spewed east into the surrounding areas, destroying homes and other buildings. The river of lava stopped just a few metres away from the neighbouring
Amid recent concerns about a possible lab origin as being the initial contact with the COVID-19 virus, World Health Organization (WHO) official Mike Ryan reported that the international agency does not hold the power to compel the Chinese government to reveal more data on the outbreak in Wuhan. China’s lack
In December 2020, the Brazilian government withdrew a series of welfare packages intended to offset unemployment and healthcare costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package was one of the most generous internationally and was intended to reduce the economic crisis and the socioeconomic turmoil among the Brazilian population. Since
On June 17th, former President Laurent Gbagbo returned to the Ivory Coast after being acquitted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Arrested nearly 10 years ago and taken to Brussels, his arrival was marked by large crowds of supporters and celebrants. But considering the violence that ensued
On Thursday, June 17th, the Birnin Yauri Public University in the Kebbi State of Nigeria was attacked by armed bandits. Three teachers and several students have gone missing following the attacks. According to Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu, one policeman was killed during the ambush. During the attack, at least
The U.K. government announced last year that it would reduce the foreign aid budget by 30%. However, recent reports by Open Democracy and Global Citizen reveal the extent and impact such a loss in funding will have on the most vulnerable people and communities across the globe. This comes at
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Nestlé and Cargill cannot be sued in the U.S. for child slavery that takes place on farms they buy cocoa from in Africa. The lawsuit details the claims of six men from Mali who were trafficked to the Ivory Coast as children and
As Pride Month continues in India, we can look internationally to see the strides being made to advance the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and others (LGBTQ+) community. Recently, in India, a High Court called for reforms that create safer spaces and more respectful rules for the
On 24 May, a Ryanair plane heading to Vilnius, Lithuania, was forced to change course and land in Minsk, Belarus. The cabin personnel was informed that there was a potential security risk on board the plane, and was then escorted by two Belarusian fighter planes to Minsk. The order reportedly
An estimated 4,000 Rohingya refugees on the remote island of Bhasan Char, off the coast of Bangladesh, have protested their inadequate living conditions and desires to leave the camp during a recent United Nations visit. Protestors were upset at the lack of access to the visiting UN members, and reportedly
U.N. has this weekend warned for famine in the north Ethiopian region, Tigray, that borders Eritrea. Reuters reports that about 350,000 people are currently living in famine conditions in the Tigray region. Moreover, 2 million people are close to living in famine. The food insecurity is partly due to the
Climate change is a threat facing humankind and all life on earth as we know it. Although the most catastrophic effects will occur in the future unless we drastically act now, human deaths caused by global warming are already a reality. Thanks to developments in attribution science and other modern
As reported by MindaNews, The Senate Committee on Local Government in the Philippines is requesting to postpone the first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 2022 to May 2025. This may prolong the peace resolution in the long-standing Moro conflict. After decades of
Plan International has come forward following allegations of misleading the public and donors, as well as failing 20,000 needy children across the world, after shockingly leaving Sri Lanka last year. After four decades on the island, Plan International announced its departure in December 2019, due to the country’s significant economic
Senior Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb has been summoned by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened the hearing with presentations outlining the crimes against humanity allegedly ordered by Kushayb during the 2003-2004 crisis in Sudan. Speaking to the court, Bensouda said, “It is my great privilege to be
Early in the week of June 7th, Vice President Kamala Harris travelled to Central America, focusing her speeches on U.S. migration concerns. In particular, she told Guatemalans, “Do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border.” Al Jazeera reports that
Brussels is losing patience with London over Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, said European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic after meeting with his British counterpart Lord David Frost on Wednesday, 10 June. A key part of the Brexit deal that took effect in January requires inspections for various goods coming
