The political climate in the middle east has in recent years been in a vulnerable state. The country of Iraq is getting close to going bankrupt due to the decrease in oil prices in recent months. Also, the politics in the country are unstable due to the parties not being able to agree on who […]
How COVID-19 has Pushed Iraq’s Government Over the Edge Read More »
On February 8, the Nicaraguan government lifted the ban on imported newsprint to the country’s best known newspaper company, La Prensa, after an 18-month blockade. The stranglehold had threatened to leave the country with no newspapers. The editors of La Prensa claimed that newsprint and other supplies were held up in customs because of the
Nicaragua Lifts Ban on Imported Newsprint Read More »
Last month, speaking to a crowd of avid supporters in the Wuhan region of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping sounded confident about the decade to come. He boasted about China’s ever-growing economy and fortitude as a nation. Now, only four weeks later, we realized that Xi’s confidence was shortsighted. Since his speech, the Coronavirus outbreak
On January 28, 2020, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, was indicted on corruption charges with a number of allegations against him. This has a number of implications as we think of the third round of elections in Israel and the Trump Peace Plan signed by United States President Donald Trump and Netanyahu on January
On February 10th , 2020 a longstanding “terrorism” case involving seven men reached a verdict in Penza, Russia. Arrested in October 2017, these men were accused of founding and participating in a terrorist organization named “Set” or “Network” that aimed to “overthrow the government” along with possession of arms and drugs (“Russia jails…”). However, there is evidence
Russian “Terrorism” Case Reaches Verdict Read More »
On Monday, February 3, the African country of Malawi nullified its presidential election from May 2019. This decision was due to “irregularities,” like discernibly altered return sheets, that could have altered the results of the election. The country now has 150 days to institute a rerun. Among other things, this decision set a major precedent
Malawi’s Election Annulment: A Sign of Change? Read More »
Mass anti-government protests over unemployment, poor public services, and corruption continue in Baghdad and other southern cities in Iraq. Tens of thousands of protestors have mobilized against the government. The Iraqi security forces have used tear gas, stun grenades, and even live bullets in an effort to disperse the protesting crowd, resulting in at least 319 people dead
A New Era in Iraqi Politics? Read More »
The status of Taiwan is a puzzling and complicating factor in international politics. Although a functionally independent entity, the nation is technically under the control of China. China’s large international presence and sway in the global economy makes it a difficult country to seek independence from; other international powers struggle with which nation to side
El Salvador has a very serious gang violence problem. Their crime rate is one of the highest in the world, and there are an estimated 70,000 gang members in the country.[i] This has been a hot political issue and President Nayib Bukele, elected in February of 2019, seeks to put an end to the bloodshed.
The Salvadoran President’s Authoritarian Display of Force Read More »
