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Youth in action. world in focus.

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Youth in action. world in focus.

November 2024

Breaking news - asia

Putin visted Mongolia: Why is this an issue?

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin just paid a controversial visit to Mongolia as he is currently under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. He came to discuss a power plant upgrade for the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar. The governments also plan to conduct environmental research and build railroads between the nations. This visit was important for Mongolia as they have become economically dependent on Russia. Currently, much of Mongolia’s fuel and electricity are supplied by the giant nation.
However, the warm welcome Mongolia gave Putin received much criticism. Since 2023, Putin has been under an ICC warrant for war crimes after invading Ukraine. He has been accused of the unlawful transportation and deportation of Ukrainian children. Therefore, as required by the ICC, all member states must arrest Putin if he enters their territory.
Putin defied this arrest warrant and still traveled to Mongolia, which is an ICC member. Mongolia did not arrest Putin, which was frowned upon by the international community. Ukraine condemned the nation’s failure to detain the Russian president. Amnesty International, a human rights organization, also disapproves of Mongolia’s actions. In Mongolia, protests sparked as people demanded to, “Get war criminal Putin out of here”.
Some parties saw the complexity of this issue as Russia mocking the ICC while others viewed it as Mongolia having a lack of respect for international law. This situation was explained by US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, who said, “We understand that position that Mongolia is in, you know, sandwiched between two much larger neighbors, but we do think it’s important that they continue to support the rule of law around the world.”

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/mongolia-russia-putin-international-criminal-court-warrant-4c79850ecf409287924e3d96218abc78
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/03/putins-mongolia-trip-defies-icc-arrest-warrant-what-could-happen-next.html
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/09/mongolia-putin-must-be-arrested-and-surrendered-to-the-international-criminal-court/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/03/ukraine-condemns-mongolia-over-failure-to-arrest-putin-on-visit
https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/09/03/putin-challenges-international-warrant-for-his-arrest-with-visit-to-mongolia/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/3/putin-shrugs-off-war-crimes-warrant-on-visit-to-mongolia

Youth in action. World in focus.

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Udeeta B.

Udeeta Borpujari is a young writer and author. She has won many awards for her work. She loves books and poetry that are thought provoking and insightful. She is a humanities student and wants to make the world a better place.

Hebe W.

Rooted in New York, Hebe is a high school student with a passion for poetry, law, and politics. She aspires to become a lawyer, finding inspiration in the quiet corners of city cafés where she studies, writes, and enjoys a good pastry or an iced caramel latte. For her, writing is not only a creative outlet but also a means of activism and self-expression.

Ari T.

Ari Tom (her/him) is a teen author and advocate based in the United States, writing essays, short stories, and poetry to bring more awareness to mental health and human rights issues.Although she is most known for her 2024 project “Ari For Writers”, a blog to help and support aspiring authors, and her poetry, she has been writing ever since the first grade.Ari hopes to make the world a better place with her writing, even if it makes only a small difference.

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Madeleine Leigh “Marcy” Wang is an incoming 10th grade student from De La Salle Zobel who gained her sense of political literacy and diplomacy through both debate and model UN. Aside from her evident passion for public speaking, she’s been writing for several organizations and has even won awards for such pieces. As she enters foreign focus as a staff writer, she hopes her publications reach further audiences as the need for global and political awareness rises in this day and age.

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Aatish Patro is a recent high school graduate passionate about international relations, viewing geopolitics not just as policy, but as the vibrant dinner-table debate central to his upbringing. Eager to bring this accessible, conversational lens to complex global issues, he combines analytical skills from coding with a love for writing and creative exploration. Enthusiastic, eager to learn, and daring in thought, Aatish is excited to contribute fresh ideas.

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Kaylee is one of Foreign Focus's staff writers. She loves animals (currently has 5 cats) and her favorite song is Cherry Wine by Hozier. She’s also super excited to be working as a staff writer!

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This is Dyuti - she's super excited to be part of the team! As a writer, she’s all about capturing this era of global politics in a way that everyone can connect with. Through stories that sit above, in between, and beneath the surface of human experiences, she brings a mix of empathy and sharp insight to everything she writes :)

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Sophia Dimdam is an aspiring writer, often jotting down her thoughts and experiences, even as a child. She used to write for herself, but now, she has decided to share a puzzle piece of her world‘s jigsaw with others. Even in the midst of offering unique perspectives and social awareness of the events taking place around the world, she prioritizes truth in her work.

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In a world where common knowledge is, quite frankly, not common at all, Chloe understands the difficulties in learning about today's current affairs around the world, picking apart seemingly complex political and social issues as reported in the media. As a recently established foreign relations enthusiast herself, Chloe hopes to explore said topics and communicate their importance to the Foreign Focus community, in simple, objective terms, particularly in relation to topics of ethics and their impact on individuals. When she's not writing for Foreign Focus or getting through coursework and revision, she can be found reading, doing creative writing, and dabbling in foreign languages.

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Elizabeth is a former staff writer at Foreign Focus. She enjoys spending time working on her personal blogs, writing songs, and reading. She is also an advocate for human rights and hopes to continue her advocacy in a future career down the road.

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Kristina is a high school junior from Houston, Texas, with a passion for public policy and foreign affairs. An aspiring lawyer, she hopes to inform readers about underreported issues around the world and inspire action through awareness. When she’s not buried in a good book, she enjoys running, baking, and spending time with friends and family!

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Hani Aileen is a high school student based in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. She is passionate about international relations and is currently focused on a passion project built around women empowerment. She enjoys writing essays and poems in her free time.

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Farah is a 17 year old student from Egypt with a passion for literature, photography, and cinema. She is dedicated to providing accurate information on contemporary issues and willing to explore ideas related to these topics in her writings.

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Erena is a creative and driven high school student who’s always looking for ways to make a difference. During her free time, she loves to read fantasy novels and write poetry. Whether she’s volunteering, leading projects, or connecting with friends, she brings energy, heart, and thoughtfulness into everything she does.

Fatema Z.

Fatema Z. is an AI major at university with a passion for problem-solving and technology. She’s particularly interested in motorsports, where innovation and strategy go hand in hand. Fatema is committed to advocating for Palestinian freedom and ensuring true justice is served, using her growing skills to contribute to a better future. In her downtime, Fatema enjoys video editing, crafting, and diving into a good book. She’s known for getting attached to TV shows that end too soon, defending Max Verstappen like she’s on his payroll (she’s not… yet), and having an unwavering love for chocolate.

Rose S.

Rose Soltani Shirazi is an Iranian student. She is the founder of the Iranian Afghan Student Union, NHS-CSF member, and MUNer of her high school, a Red Cross volunteer and soon-to-be youth officer, and more! Her dream is to get into the medical field and become an Emergency room doctor. Her goal in Foreign Focus is to spread health and medical research writings, to raise awareness towards different health topics happening globally.

Alyssa C.

Alyssa was a previous Foreign Focus staff writer. She enjoys making jewelry and learning new things in her free time. If you would like to see more pieces from Alyssa, please email Foreign Focus.

Sel F.

Text

Sel is in her senior year of high school, pursuing accountancy and business management. She often expressed herself through writing. She is a cook in their home and loves talking about literature, philosophy, and politics. In her spare time, she used to do crochet while sipping on her favorite coffee.

Ysabella D.

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Ysabella Doo is a current sophomore student in California. Ysabella is an aspiring architecture and engineering manager, with a focus on management and coordination. She especially loves writing about the economic and interpersonal side of global politics, looking at impactful individual stories from around the world. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and trying out new pasta recipes.

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Alexis is a high school student from California and aspiring attorney. She enjoys sketching, drinking matcha lattes, and playing the drums. As a staff writer and submissions director, she's thrilled to delve deep into the world of international relations and global politics!

Katie Ong

Katie Ong is a high schooler from California, who spends her days researching for Model UN competitions and scrolling through Pinterest for graphic design inspiration. In her free time, Katie enjoys baking, photography, traveling, and (of course) writing. Aspiring to work in the UN, Katie founded Foreign Focus to bring international relations to teenagers.

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breaking news - asia & pacific islands

Campus Knife Assault at Taylor’s University

7/17/25

Earlier on the evening of Monday, July 14, a 21-year-old foreign student was arrested for slashing his ex-girlfriend’s neck with a knife at Taylor’s University’s Subang Jaya campus. The attack, which took place on the campus of the university, sent shockwaves through the campus community and quickly gained attention online. This incident has also sparked urgent conversations surrounding campus safety, support services, and the handling of interpersonal violence in educational institutions.Videos circulated on platforms such as Reddit and Xiaohongshu, capture the immediate aftermath of the incident. In the footage, the victim’s friends are seen applying pressure to her injuries on the left of her neck in an attempt to stop the bleeding while waiting for medical assistance. While other students stepped in to help restrain the suspect, preventing him from causing further harm.The victim was rushed to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, where she is currently receiving treatment for her slash wounds in the intensive care unit. Police confirmed that she is still under close medical observation but in stable condition.According to Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat, the attack was allegedly driven by the suspect’s anger over a false claim made by the victim. Specifically that he had prevented her from leaving their shared house. He was reportedly upset that this statement had been spread among others. The perpetrator has been remanded for seven days pending further investigation under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. Taylor’s University has released an official statement saying, "The injured student is currently in stable condition. The student's family has been informed, and our priority remains on supporting their well-being and respecting their privacy. We are working closely with the relevant authorities in their investigation and urge everyone to refrain from speculation."

Sources:
https://says.com/my/news/heres-what-we-know-so-far-about-the-knife-attack-at-taylors-university
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2025/07/1245039/man-allegedly-attacked-ex-girlfriend-over-false-claim-remanded
https://www.asiaone.com/malaysia/man-arrested-slashing-ex-girlfriends-neck-knife-malaysian-university
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3318227/viral-knife-attack-chinese-student-shocks-malaysia

nonfiction - asia & pacific islands

The 2025 India-Pakistan Crisis: A Strategic Assessment from New Delhi's Perspective

7/10/25

Screamed those voices, at the sight of their loved ones getting shot for practicing what they believed in. News spread like wildfire, 26 dead and more injured. This is the piece on Pahalgam's horror, a story of genocidal tendencies targeted at the ironical majority population of India.
The attack took place in Baisaran, known as Little Switzerland in India's own valley of pride, Kashmir. This state has transformed its facade in both political and physical dimensions through the twentieth century spanning to 2025. What began as a Muslim-majority region with a Hindu ruler has devolved into a theater of targeted violence against India's Hindu majority population. The April 22, 2025 terrorist attack represents not merely another incident of cross-border terrorism but a calculated assault on religious minorities visiting their own nation's territory, marking yet another chapter in the decades-long struggle over Kashmir that has defined South Asian security dynamics.Historical Context and Escalation PatternsThe 2025 crisis is part of well-established trends of cross-border terrorism and military retaliation that have defined India-Pakistan relations since partition. India's Foreign Secretary laid blame for the attack at the on the Lashkar-e-Taiba handlers, underscoring Pakistan's persistent tolerance of terrorist infrastructure. This assessment reflects New Delhi's consistent position that Islamabad uses proxy groups to maintain pressure on Indian-administered Kashmir while maintaining plausible deniability.Indian retaliation in Operation Sindoor is a shift in strategic thought since the 2019 Balakot attacks. Launched after midnight on May 7, this began a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7-10, which became the most serious military crisis in decades between the two rival nuclear states. Both sides have declared victory amid considerable misinformation and disinformation about what occurred.The conflict represented several military firsts as well:

  • This was the first time India used cruise missiles on Pakistan, both the BrahMos cruise missile (co-developed with Russia) as well as the European SCALP-EG.

  • This was the first time Pakistan used conventionally armed short-range ballistic missiles on India, in the form of the Fatah-I and Fatah-II missiles and possibly other missile types.

  • While drones have been used sporadically along the Line of Control in Kashmir and elsewhere for smuggling, this is the first instance of drone warfare in the India-Pakistan rivalry where both sides employed drones with the intent of causing damage on the other.

American Strategic Calculus and Regional ImplicationsThe United States' response to the 2025 crisis reveals the complexities of Washington's South Asian engagement. Experts noted that Operation Sindoor "exposed an imbalance in US policy toward South Asia" and highlighted the need for America to pressure Pakistan's establishment to curtail terrorist activities. Senior analysts emphasized that effective mediation requires full US involvement with sincere commitment, reflecting frustration with America's historically inconsistent approach to Pakistan's dual role as both ally and sanctuary for terrorist groups.The absence of strong US backing may have actually tempered India's aggressive posturing, suggesting that American restraint, rather than active intervention, played a moderating role in preventing full-scale escalation. This passive approach reflects Washington's broader strategic pivot toward great power competition with China, where Pakistan's cooperation remains valuable despite its problematic relationship with terrorist organizations.Confusion in Crisis: Misinformation and the Fog of WarThe crisis has been characterized by exceptional disinformation and misinformation in both social and traditional media. The Government of Pakistan has made many claims that cannot be substantiated. Some are plausible (albeit largely unsupported), such as claims of successful attacks against Indian bases or radar systems. Others seem fictitious, such as an allegation that an attempted Indian missile attack on Pakistan had resulted in numerous missiles falling short and landing near Amritsar.The Government of India has been more restrained in making public claims that it could not substantiate with evidence. Yet India, too, has made plausible (but unsupported) claims such as downing Pakistani aircraft. Importantly, India has refused to answer whether the Indian Air Force (IAF) lost planes of its own, though its “non-denial denial” seems to imply at least one aircraft may not have landed safely.8 (India has been clear in stating that no pilots were lost in the conflict.)Impact on India's National Security FrameworkFrom New Delhi's perspective, the 2025 crisis underscores several critical national security challenges. The targeting of Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir represents not merely a terrorist attack but an assault on India's secular fabric and territorial integrity. The Modi government's decision to respond with Operation Sindoor reflects domestic political pressure and strategic necessity to demonstrate resolve against cross-border terrorism.The crisis also highlights the limitations of India's deterrent capabilities against sub-conventional warfare. Despite maintaining significant conventional military superiority over Pakistan, New Delhi continues to struggle with the challenge of imposing costs on Islamabad sufficient to alter its calculus regarding terrorist proxies. The precision nature of Operation Sindoor suggests India's attempt to calibrate its response to avoid nuclear escalation while still demonstrating capability and resolve.Strategic Implications for Regional StabilityThe 2025 crisis illuminates the enduring structural problems in South Asian security architecture. Pakistan's continued reliance on terrorist proxies reflects its assessment that nuclear weapons provide adequate deterrence against Indian conventional retaliation, while India's measured response suggests recognition of escalation risks in a nuclear environment. Declassified US intelligence from previous decades consistently highlighted the nuclear risks inherent in India-Pakistan conflicts, concerns that remain relevant today.For India's broader strategic positioning, the crisis reinforces the importance of building international consensus against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism while maintaining strategic autonomy in security decisions. The measured international response, particularly from the United States, suggests that global powers prefer stability over justice, placing the burden of managing terrorist threats primarily on India's shoulders. This reality necessitates continued investment in both defensive capabilities and diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan's terrorist infrastructure while avoiding escalation that could destabilize the broader region.

breaking news - politics

They Carried Relief, not Resistance: Israeli Navy Intercepts Gaza-Bound Flotilla in International Waters

7/10/25

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN — Can a ship carry just cargo? Or can it also carry intent? In a high-profile maritime standoff that has reignited global debate over Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, the Israeli Navy intercepted a humanitarian flotilla led by climate activist Greta Thunberg on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The flotilla, carrying over 120 international passengers and 400 tons of medical supplies, food, and water purification equipment, was stopped in international waters roughly 65 nautical miles off the Gaza coast.The convoy—dubbed the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla"—set sail from Antalya, Turkey, three days earlier and included vessels registered in Norway, Sweden, and Ireland. The Free Gaza Movement organized it in coordination with several European humanitarian NGOs and civil society groups. Among those aboard were doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, and peace activists from more than 20 countries, all showing immense courage in their mission.Greta Thunberg, known globally for her climate advocacy, joined the mission to "amplify the humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and "call attention to the blockade's impact on over two million Palestinians." Her urgency in addressing this crisis is palpable. In a livestream broadcast from the deck of the Norwegian-flagged vessel Hope, Thunberg called the flotilla "a peaceful act of resistance," emphasizing that "breaking a siege with food and medicine should never be a crime."The Israeli military confirmed the operation in a statement released Saturday night. "The flotilla attempted to violate Israel's lawful naval blockade of Gaza," the statement read. "The vessels were redirected per international maritime protocols. No force was used beyond that which was necessary." Footage released by the IDF showed commandos boarding the ships via speedboats and helicopters in what appeared to be a coordinated nighttime raid. The IDF maintains that the interception was a necessary security measure to prevent potential arms smuggling into Gaza, a territory controlled by Hamas, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by Israel and several other countries.All passengers were taken to the port of Ashdod in southern Israel, where they were detained for questioning. Greta Thunberg and 26 other nationals from countries with diplomatic agreements with Israel were deported within 48 hours. As of June 24, over 70 passengers remain in detention, some of whom may face charges for "unauthorized entry into a closed military zone" under Israeli maritime law.The flotilla's organizers assert that the mission complied with all relevant international laws. "Our ships were inspected before departure and carried only civilian goods—no weapons, no materials that could be used for military purposes," said Dr. Leila Mansour, a Lebanese humanitarian worker and spokesperson for the flotilla. "Our only goal was to bring help where it is desperately needed."International reaction was swift and sharply divided, underscoring the importance of the international community's involvement in such matters. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a statement urging Israel to release the detainees and permit the aid to enter Gaza, stating, "Under international humanitarian law, civilians have a right to provide assistance where state delivery mechanisms have failed or are insufficient."Meanwhile, Israeli officials defended the interception as both legal and necessary. Defense Minister Benny Gantz insisted the blockade is "a critical security measure" aimed at preventing arms smuggling into Hamas-controlled Gaza. "This was not a humanitarian convoy," Gantz stated. "This was a deliberate political provocation exploiting the language of peace to undermine Israeli sovereignty and security."Israel's blockade of Gaza—imposed in 2007 following Hamas's takeover of the territory—has long been a subject of international contention. A 2011 UN report concluded that the blockade was legal under international law, though it acknowledged severe humanitarian consequences. The report's findings have been a point of debate, with some arguing that the humanitarian consequences should outweigh the blockade's legality. Since the onset of the 2023 Gaza conflict, restrictions have tightened, and humanitarian access has been further limited.In Brussels, thousands gathered on Sunday to protest the flotilla's interception, chanting "Let Gaza Live!" and waving flags of Palestine and Norway. The European Parliament scheduled an emergency debate for June 26 to discuss the incident and its implications. In response to the interception, Turkey, Ireland, and Sweden have all summoned Israeli ambassadors for formal explanations, which signals the diplomatic tensions sparked by the incident.Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the boarding operation and the treatment of passengers in custody. "Interfering with nonviolent humanitarian missions in international waters may amount to a violation of the right to life, movement, and freedom from arbitrary detention," said a statement from the group.Back in Sweden, Greta Thunberg spoke to the press upon her return: "We didn't reach Gaza. But we did break through the wall of silence. This mission was never about one boat. It's about all of us refusing to look away."As legal inquiries begin and diplomatic tensions sharpen, the interception has left observers asking a difficult question: When state security meets civil resistance at sea, who gets to define the line between humanitarian aid and political confrontation?

References in APA Citation:Al Jazeera. (2025, June 22). Israeli navy intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla led by Greta Thunberg.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/22/israeli-navy-intercepts-gaza-flotilla
The Guardian. (2025, June 22). Greta Thunberg among activists detained by Israel during Gaza
aid flotilla. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/22/greta-thunberg-detained-israel-gaza-flotilla
UN OCHA. (2025, June 23). UN urges restraint after interception of humanitarian flotilla.
https://www.unocha.org/news/2025/gaza-flotilla-interception
Israel Defense Forces. (2025, June 21). Statement on the interception of unauthorized flotilla in
Mediterranean Sea. https://www.idf.il/press-releases/2025-flotilla
Human Rights Watch. (2025, June 23). Israel: Investigate flotilla incident.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/23/israel-investigate-flotilla-blockade

nonfiction - politics

UBI: A Potential Solution to Poverty and Unemployment

7/10/25

Universal basic income is more than a theory, it is a proposal that could eradicate poverty and inequality. It’s a proposal that allows for machines to take over our jobs, making unemployment the new normal — a proposal that could be our future. Universal basic income, or UBI, is a form of income where all citizens regularly receive unconditional payments from the government, regardless of their employment status, family background, or financial situation.
A key reason for UBI gaining traction is the growing threat of technology displacing humans from their own jobs. Simply put, artificial intelligence and automation are becoming more capable of performing many jobs more efficiently and less costly than hiring, well, human workers. Unlike previous technological revolutions that lead to new employment opportunities, such as the Industrial Revolution, this wave of advancements could eliminate jobs faster than new ones can be created.
This is where UBI comes into play, as it provides a pivotal solution by ensuring citizens can continue their standard of living, even when employment becomes unavailable. This concept has been tested, and has highlighted a number of benefits. When basic income trials were conducted in Indian villages, education rates among young people increased by 25%.
Surprisingly, UBI could offer benefits beyond simply addressing unemployment. With a guaranteed income, workers would gain a stronger voice in industrial disputes, forcing employers to improve wages and conditions for less desirable positions that still require human workers. The policy could also encourage creativity and entrepreneurship by removing the financial pressure that keeps people in jobs they do not enjoy. Furthermore, people would have the freedom to pursue education, open businesses, or focus on family care and community work. These are all activities that benefit society but unfortunately are currently undervalued and underpaid.
However, UBI faces significant funding issues that question its viability. Implementing UBI would require tax increases, potentially adding trillions of dollars to government spending annually. Policy experts warn that if UBI replaces existing welfare programs rather than aiding them, it could increase poverty by distributing income to middle and upper-class recipients who do not need assistance.
Despite these challenges, several methods could make UBI more achievable. Significant savings could be made by reforming healthcare systems, potentially saving over a trillion dollars annually based on countries' and their models. Reducing prison costs through poverty reduction could save additional hundreds of billions. The economic multiplier effect is also worth considering: when low-income individuals receive financial support, they tend to spend it right away. This boosts business profits and generates tax income which helps to partially recover the original investment.Universal basic income represents one of the most significant social policy proposals in recent history. While testing programs demonstrate many advantages in education, health, and social mobility, the financial cost for full implementation remains high. The real question is not whether we can afford to implement UBI, but whether we can afford to overlook a potential solution to rising risks of unemployment and the growing rates of economic inequality.

opinion - united states

The Future of Gay Rights in America

7/10/25

With Trump's previous actions in the United States, many people fear for the future of LQBTQ marriage. In 2015, a case known as Obergefell v. Hodges, which was a series of lawsuits that challenged state bans against same-sex marriage, was brought to the Supreme Court. This led to the legalizing of same sex marriage nationwide, considering it a fundamental right, invalidating local state laws that banned same-sex marriages.
However, with the Trump administration publicly criticizing same-sex marriage, stating in 2024 that they “promote a culture that values the sanctity of marriage, the blessings of childhood, [and] the foundational role of families,” many people fear for their future.
A study done in 2025 states that 54% of respondents believed that there’s a chance the high court will rule that the state has the power to legalize same sex marriages, 30% said it's a 50/50 chance that Obergefell v. Hodges will be overturned, 17% said it's likely, and 7% said it will definitely be happening. So, how likely is it actually? And what does it mean for same sex marriages?
Many people fear that Obergefell v. Hodges will return to the Supreme Court, comparing it to Roe v. Wade. In fact, following the overturing of Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas stated that they should “reconsider” their decision on same-sex marriage, specifcally referencing Obergefell v. Hodges. He claimed that they “were wrongfully decided under the concept of substantive due process.” He also wrote in a separate dissent that the case “stretched the doctrine.. In the Fourteenth amendment too far and in doing so distorted the democratic process.”
Despite this, many legal experts say that this case is not on the same footing as Roe v. Wade was. Brad Sears, a legal expert, states “There are significant differences between marriage equality and abortion. Obergefell rests on both the due process clause and the equal protection clause. Roe was based squarely in privacy rights under due process. There's room for the court to say, ‘This is different.’”
Additionally, same sex marriage has brought on benefits for the US economy, with same-sex marriage nuptials bringing in an estimate of $5.9 billion for state and local economies and $432.2 million in tax revenue. This gives Obergefell v. Hodges an extra layer of protection, and another reason that it's unlikely to go to the supreme court anytime soon.
In the end, the case is classified as “vulnerable, but not imminent” in regards to it being overturned. However, it's still important to consider the ramifications if it were to be overturned. If Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned, it means that LGBTQ+ people no longer have a national right to marry those of the same sex. It would make the issue of same sex marriage a state by state issue, and currently there are 35 states that have either statutory or constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.
This means that most of those bans would go into effect if Obergefell v. Hodges were to be overturned. However, other cases, the United States v. Windsor case and the Respect for Marriage act would still protect some same-sex marriage rights. Windsor requires the federal government to recognize any marriage legally performed in a state. This means that if a same sex marriage occurs in a legal state, the federal governement has to recognize it. While couples would still be able to travel to a state where it is legal to marry, they might face challenges in their home state regarding marriage recognition, particularly for federal benefits.
In order to completely strip gay people of their rights, the Supreme Court would need to overturn Windsor as well as Obergefell v. Hodges, something that is highly unlikely to happen given their emphasis on state rights (as seen with abortion bans).
Overall, the notion of overturning Obergefell v. Hodges is a possibility, but it doesn't mean that same sex couples will be banned from marrying completely. At the end of the day, the right to marry should be a fundamental right; one that is afforded to every American citizen, regardless of who they chose to marry.

Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/16/donald-trump-stance-gay-same-sex-marriage/76426168007/
https://www.alhlaw.com/post/what-happens-if-obergefell-is-overturned
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/10th-anniversary-supreme-court-obergefell-marriage-equality-overturn-concerns
https://fedsoc.org/case/obergefell-v-hodges#:~:text=Justice%20Thomas%20also%20wrote%20a,the%20hands%20of%20the%20judiciary.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article308593640.html

nonfiction - global

Overpopulation: A Growing Concern.

7/4/25

In 2025, the world’s population will have reached over 8.1 billion people, causing discussions about overpopulation and its negative impact on the planet. Although the growth rate has slowed in recent years, experts say the number of people on Earth continues to increase steadily. Every second, about 4.2 people are born while 2 people die, adding around 2 new people to the world population every second. If this trend continues, the global population could reach 10 billion by the year 2085.Many scientists and environmentalists are worried about what this means for Earth’s limited resources. Overpopulation can lead to deforestation, water shortages, pollution, and the loss of animal habitats. Many people already need food, energy, and housing, which puts us under more pressure. In many cities, overcrowding already causes problems like traffic, poor air quality, rising prices for homes, and basic needs. However, not everyone agrees that population size is the biggest issue. Some say that our real problem is resources, and how it is used and shared. However, a small percentage of the world’s population uses most of the world’s energy, food, and water. This means that even if population growth slows down, wasteful habits and unequal distribution could still harm the planet.Although this is happening, a positive trend is that fertility rates are falling worldwide. In the 1960s, the average woman had about five children. Today, that number is around 2.3, which is helping with overpopulation. The decline is due to better access to healthcare for women.Overpopulation is still a serious global issue in 2025, but it’s not a simple problem that we can fix just yet. The world must work together to manage resources wisely, reduce waste, and create a fair and sustainable future for everyone.

Sources:
https://www.populationmedia.org/the-latest/overpopulation-cause-and-effect
https://earth.org/overpopulation-sustainability/
https://betterplaneteducation.org.uk/factsheets/overpopulation-why-is-overpopulation-a-problem
https://www.populationmedia.org/the-latest/understanding-the-overpopulation-crisis-in-kenya
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/04/why-we-shouldnt-cheer-earths-growing-population?
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/396708/world-us-population-projections-estimates-2050-2100?
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/reimagining-population-policy-from-demographic-anxiety-to-human-dignity/articleshow/122113774.cms?
https://what-if.xkcd.com/27/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clynq459wxgo
https://www.earth.com/news/global-population-will-peak-at-10-3-billion-by-2085/

Breaking news - technology

Untraceable & Unregulated Rise of Ghost Guns

7/4/25

These DIY firearms are easy to get with a 3D printer, as noted by Everytown Research & Policy. As 3D printing technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, making a deadly weapon no longer needs special knowledge, materials, or a background check. With just a digital blueprint and a basic 3D printer, individuals can create untraceable firearms at home.The popularity of 3D-printed guns has surged, largely due to the internet and social media platforms. Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and other websites have become common places for sharing blueprints and guides on how to print and assemble firearms. Some of these online communities not only offer technical support but also promote the idea of owning unregulated weapons. They attract individuals with violent views who see these printed violence as a way to arm themselves without being held accountable. The BBC reports that designs for popular models of guns have spread widely across platforms using advertisements to promote and encourage the development of these 3D guns which makes it easier for people with violent intentions to access dangerous weapons.One of the most concerning aspects of 3D-printed firearms is their ability to avoid and bypass security detection according to Everytown Research & Policy. Many of these weapons are made from plastic parts, which may not be detected by metal detectors or standard security scanners used in airports, schools, or public spaces. This raises urgent questions about how vulnerable our current security systems are to these advancing technologies. Unlike regular guns, which are usually tracked through registration and sales records, ghost guns leave no physical trail, making it very hard for authorities to investigate shootings or stop weapons from getting into the wrong hands.
Additionally, the legal system is still trying to keep pace with this fast-changing issue. Many countries, including the United States, struggle to regulate 3D-printed firearms effectively due to gaps in current gun laws. In some places, it is legal to download and own blueprints even if making the gun itself is banned. This grey area in the law makes it difficult for law enforcement to act before a printed weapon is used in a crime, creating a loophole for acts of violence and terrorism.As 3D printing technology becomes more popular, the risk of homemade weapons being used for criminal or terrorist activities also increases. A recent case involving a partially 3D printed gun allegedly being used in the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare shows this.
Without strong regulations, public awareness, and cooperation from online platforms, the threat posed by ghost guns will likely continue to rise. The growth of these untraceable weapons emphasizes the urgent need for updated laws and global collaboration to prevent future tragedies caused by technology that, while innovative, can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg84rke4ejo
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y79k8vg3lo
https://everytownresearch.org/issue/3d-printed-ghost-guns/

Opinion - Politics

Voting Rights or Voter Fraud?

6/21/2025

A democratic nation runs on the people, using them to elect their leaders. But even something as cut and dry as that has its complications, and there is a time in every country’s life where they have to choose between prioritizing voting rights, or protecting against voter fraud. But the answer isn’t the same for everyone.
In the United States recent election in 2024, “2.1 million mail-in ballots were disqualified due to minor errors such as insufficient postage, while more than 1.2 million provisional ballots were rejected. An additional 3.2 million new voter registrations were either rejected or not processed in time.” says the Chicago Crusader. Additionally according to the Sentencing Project, “4 million Americans, representing 1.7% of the voting-age population, will be ineligible to vote due to these laws, many of which date back to the post-Reconstruction era.”
The main reason the United States is so harsh on voters is because they are attempting to prevent voter fraud. However, within the U.S., voter fraud over the last 13 to 38 years is less than 1%. Additionally, according to Brookings, “The percentage of fraudulent votes in Arizona over the last 24 years of elections was a miniscule (.0000845%), and no election outcome in the U.S. has ever been altered by ballot fraud.”
While preventing voter fraud is extremely important, it’s time the U.S. started to prioritize protecting voting rights over preventing voter fraud. Prioritizing voting rights doesn’t mean that one can no longer prevent voter fraud, both can happen at the same time. But protecting against voter fraud is useless if people cannot vote in the first place. The United States has already protected against voter fraud, and they’ve set up a system that prevents it. Now it’s time for them to focus on protecting the rights of the people.
In other countries, however, this isn’t the solution. For example, in Russia, it’s more important to prioritize preventing voting fraud over protecting voting rights. For example, in their recent election, sources say that it has been the most rigged election in Russia’s modern history. Studies show that fake votes could have amounted to over 40 million votes, representing 46% of the voting population in Russia. Additionally, according to Kyiv Independent, “Apart from voting fraud, intimidation, the forced voting of state sector employees, massive state propaganda, and the exclusion of stronger competitors from the presidential race were used to ensure the desired result.”
In Russia, it doesn’t matter if everyone is able to vote, because no matter how many people voted, the people’s vote doesn’t matter. This makes Russia a case where protecting against voter fraud is absolutely necessary. Protecting voting rights wouldn’t mean anything because it would just be overshadowed by the massive amounts of voter fraud.
At the end of the day, a country needs to have a balance of protecting against voter fraud as well as protecting voting rights. Protecting against voting fraud means nothing if the people can’t vote, and protecting voting rights means nothing if the election is a fraud. The answer isn’t the same for everyone, but we can all get to the same outcome: protecting our elections.

Sources:
https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/locked-out-2024-four-million-denied-voting-rights-due-to-a-felony-conviction/
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-widespread-is-election-fraud-in-the-united-states-not-very/
https://kyivindependent.com/despite-no-opposition-and-predetermined-result-russias-presidential-election-was-heavily-rigged/

Breaking news - Middle East

The United States Intervenes on Iran-Israel Conflict

6/22/2025

21st of June, 2025. The United States launched B-2 bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear sites. The nuclear facilities of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were disrupted. According to President Trump, they were “obliterated,” although this has not yet been confirmed. These sites include facilities where Iran produces highly enriched uranium, its largest nuclear plant, and its large research facilities. Striking a
nuclear facility is particularly extreme; radioactive waste is dangerous, lingering for decades and possibly even forever. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports “no increase in off site radiation levels.” Radiation has been contained on-site for now.
Previously, Trump assured that he did not want to enter the conflict, engaging in months of diplomatic persuasion to end the war. Recently, he stated that he wishes to take two weeks to decide whether to engage with forces in Iran. Iranian officials tendered threats to the United States about entering the conflict. The implications of these threats, as with any war, are substantial. Although Hezbollah is reported to not retaliate, tensions between Israel and the group are high after the cease-fire last November, opening the possibility of a large military action from both Iran and Hezbollah. Senator Jack Reed, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a statement a few weeks ago calling for Trump to urge diplomatic de-escalation between the nations, warning about the impact of short-sighted violence.
Entering this conflict may harm China rather than the United States, however. John Feng, a contributing editor at Newsweek, argues that China is more affected by the war than the United States due to their oil imports. While the United States relies heavily on Canada for its oil, half of China’s crude oil imports are from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other countries in the region. One of the
nuclear facilities in Iraq struck by the United States yesterday, Isfahan, consisted of three Chinese reactors and laboratories, furthering Chinese involvement in the war. It is too soon to discern possible Chinese involvement in the war.
In our contemporary time, the world is interconnected through the internet; most notably, social media connects world leaders to the general public. Current U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson posted on X (formerly Twitter) antagonizing Iran, stating that Iran did not heed President Trump’s “consistent and clear” statements and have thus been met with force. The comments on this post are wide-ranging,
from supporters thanking both the speaker and the president to those denouncing their actions and words angrily. Interesting about this discourse, including others found throughout the platform and on X, is the return to attacking people rather than their opinions on this matter. On @teamtrump’s post announcing President Trump’s attack on the nuclear sites, one thread involves the conversation: “You don’t know much about current foreign affairs”
“And you don't have a brain, obviously.”
This discourse is echoed throughout the comments section, with other comments praising or denouncing the president’s actions. Some do have a point: one commenter describes how Israel attacked Iran first. There are nuggets of arguable evidence, yet the comments are littered with political caricatures and highly opinionated voices.
As commander-in-chief, the president has the right to act in emergencies. However, the right to declare war remains in Congress, who must be notified within 48 hours of an action by the president. Online, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemns the president’s actions, calling it a “disastrous decision” and “grounds for impeachment;” a fellow Democrat, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, describes it as “a violation of our Constitution.” Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene pushes for peace rather than conflict. These highlighted posts also include highly opinionated comments where people criticize rather than offer arguments to resolve the conflict.

Sources:
Roth, A. and Christou, W. (2025, June 21). Donald Trump says US has attacked three Iranian nuclear sites and ‘totally obliterated’ them. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/21/trump-us-nuclear-strikes-iran Associated Press. (2025, June 21). US inserts itself into Israel’s war with Iran, striking 3 Iranian nuclear sites. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news 06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579
Fang J. (2025, June 21). Why Iran War Hurts China More Than America. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/us-china-iran-israel-war-impact-crude-oil-import-export-persian gulf-2087830
O’Connor, J. (2025, June 22). Exclusive: Hezbollah Says Won't Join Fight After US Attacks Iran. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-hezbollah-says-wont-join-fight-after-us attacks-iran-2088889
Trump, D. J. [@teamtrump]. (2025, June 21). I warned them. I acted. America is safe again. [Post]. Threads. https://www.threads.com/@teamtrump/post/DLLpaQhvMpq
Ocasio-Cortez, A. [@AOC]. (2025, June 21). This is not defense. This is provocation and it endangers millions. [Post]. X. https://x.com/AOC/status/1936600627221565468
Greene, M. T. [@RepMTG]. (2025, June 21). President Trump did what Biden wouldn’t—protect America. [Post]. X. https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1936564082477531596

Opinion - Middle East

Liberty and Justice for All

The American Culpability in a Collapsing Yemen

6/22/2025

Since a 2015 blockade on essential goods– including food, medicine, and fuel– Yemen has been a victim of acute famine, destruction of infrastructure, and war crimes. This nine-year-long blockade has plunged millions of Yemenis into extreme malnutrition, thrusting the already failing state toward the brink of disaster. In efforts to mitigate insurgent rule in the region, the United States has played a pivotal role in the blockade.
To examine the impacts of U.S. involvement in this blockade, it is critical to understand the context wherein it originated. Much of Yemen’s political instability stems from a 2011 Arab Spring revolt that removed Former President Saleh and replaced him with Former Vice President Hadi in the fight for a more representative government. However, this proved ineffective; by 2014, Yemen had further collapsed into corruption, and as unemployment rose, so did prices, making essential goods unaffordable.
Subsequently, the Houthis, a Shi'a extremist faction in opposition to Saudi influence and Yemen's Sunni government, decided to take decisive action. After experiencing the effects of Yemen’s collapse, the Houthis entered the capital, Sana’a, and placed President Hadi on house arrest.
Following the Houthis’ invasion of the capital, Saudi Arabia and eight other Arab countries formed a coalition backed by several western nations– including the United States– in order to restore Hadi to power. Beginning in March of 2015, the coalition began conducting airstrikes and imposed a naval blockade against Yemen, indiscriminately targeting civilians and essential infrastructure. This includes 130 attacks on Yemeni medical facilities, constituting a war crime.
Throughout the blockade, the United States has provided unwavering military and financial support. The U.S. Navy has actively participated, preventing ships carrying humanitarian aid from reaching Yemen and even attacking these carriers. Moreover, the U.S. has given Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates $54.6 billion of military support for offensive technology such as helicopters, missiles, and small diameter bombs in the past year alone. Furthermore, America has refueled, provided spare parts, and performed maintenance on Saudi warplanes. Contingent on the United States’ assistance, the Saudis have conducted an average of six airstrikes per day for over a year on Yemen, causing horrific devastation and civilian harm.
Equally important to monetary and offensive support, though, is the logistical support provided to Saudi Arabia by the United States. Saudi Arabia relies on US intelligence operations and surveillance images in order to continue staging the blockade. In addition to intelligence, the U.S. has provided military training services for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to aid in this continued attack on Yemen.
Much of this crisis stems from a lack of accountability in American offices. According to the Government Accountability Office, the Department of Defense and the Department of State have not fully determined the extent to which U.S. military support
has directly contributed to civilian suffering in Yemen, despite several reports that airstrikes and other attacks by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have caused extensive harm to noncombatants. Furthermore, while the Department of State submitted an initial certification in 2018 that the Saudi and Emirati governments had made efforts to reduce harm to civilians in Yemen, it failed to submit the two subsequent required certifications. The failure to properly evaluate the impacts of American support on Yemeni civilians is indicative of America’s hand in taking their lives.
This lack of accountability has facilitated the famine in Yemen, as there have been incredibly limited checks on impacts of the blockade on civilians as opposed to the Houthis. In fact, the blockade has led to around three quarters of the population living in poverty while disease runs rampant as access to medical supplies is incredibly limited. The UN Development Program estimates that more than 370,000 people have died as a result of the blockade, with indirect causes such as lack of essential goods and services causing almost 60 percent of deaths. These factors have constituted Yemen’s incredibly low Human Development Index of 0.455, ranking the nation 183 out of 191 for humanitarian condition.
Despite the crushing impacts on civilians, the blockade and repeated airstrikes have yet to successfully undermine Houthi leadership. Since attempts at a ceasefire deal in 2022 fell through, the Houthis have consolidated their control over the northern region of Yemen and their authority has only become more powerful. While there is limited information, the most recent figures from 2022 estimate that the organization controls one-third of the land, where 70-80 percent of the population resides.
Although U.S. involvement in the blockade on Yemen may appear as a measure to deescalate the humanitarian crisis and curtail the Houthi’s influence, it has clearly proven to be ineffective. Rather than disempowering the organization, the blockade has only helped their authority grow and has ravaged the lives of far too many innocent Yemenis. Thus, the United States must immediately withdraw all ships engaging in the blockade, no longer aid Saudi Arabia with intelligence operations, and institute an arms embargo

Opinion - Culture

The LABUBU Craze

6/17/2025

In 2024, Chinese-based retailer “Pop Mart” generated more than double the figures of the previous years, which is approximately 13 billion yuan ($1.8 billion US dollars). In fact, for the past months, thousands of people were lining up in front of Pop Mart shops all over the world even before their opening hours—they reached the point of pushing, shouting and fighting each other for the one and only product: Labubu. What is Labubu? Why does everyone suddenly want to buy it? What does this new pop-culture obsession say about our society?From this description, it seems like Labubus should be an item of value or important usage—but in reality, Labubus are just small limited-edition collectible plush toys in the shape of small monsters, created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung.
It all started when BLACKPINK’s Lisa was spotted with one of those toys and spoke about how she likes them in an interview. However, it seems like Labubus have spread beyond K-POP fans and became a worldwide trend among consumers. It is truly astonishing to see an object this small get that many people on a chokehold—but why?There is no doubt that our society, over the past decade, has majorly shifted towards overconsumption. With social media being a huge part of our everyday lives, it is the most efficient tool of marketing and advertising. It deeply influences not only behavior but also purchase—-the algorithm is trained to be molded into your desires.
That being said, what people purchase reveals a lot more than we think about what preoccupies the majority of the public—-Labubus being a rather disappointing but not surprising preoccupation. Disappointing because it is essentially based on the infamous domino-like effect of trends—-the fact that one random object is randomly picked to become the worldwide hyperfixation of consumers not based on a meaningful criteria but just because everyone is buying it.It is true that people have free will with their money, but the direction by which this “free will” is going seems to be rather worrying, given how much trends influence it. Does this seem like “free” will to you?

Sources:
https://www.techinasia.com/news/pop-mart-hit-revenue

Breaking News - United states

Democracy in Uniform: U.S. Military Deployed Amid ICE Raids and Rising Civil Unrest

6/13/2025

LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of approximately 700 U.S. Marines and up to 4,000 federalized National Guard troops to Los Angeles. This swift and escalating domestic operation is a response to recent waves of protests triggered by large-scale ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids throughout Southern California.The federal action comes after targeted immigration operations conducted in neighborhoods, workplaces, and public areas. These raids, many of which were captured on livestream and social media, have drawn national attention for their intensity and scope. By June 6, the streets of downtown Los Angeles saw thousands of peaceful demonstrators gathering in protest, a clear indication of the public's strong reaction to the ICE raids.Major General Scott Sherman, who leads the federal deployment, clarified the military’s role: “Title 10 forces may temporarily detain an individual…to prevent interference with federal personnel performing their duties.” He stressed that the mission does not involve civil law enforcement but protecting federal officers and facilities.Using military forces within domestic borders, particularly during peacetime, has raised widespread concern. According to a report by Reuters, this marks the first instance since the George Floyd protests in 2020, which were a series of protests against police brutality and racial injustice, that active-duty Marines have been authorized for crowd control operations in a major U.S. city. The Guardian noted that the deployment was triggered after immigration raids near churches and schools sparked immediate backlash and impromptu rallies, organized mainly through TikTok and WhatsApp groups.Legal challenges swiftly followed. A federal district court ruled the deployment unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment and the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the federal government’s ability to use the military for domestic law enforcement, citing that the deployment violated state sovereignty and an overreach of federal power. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on that decision, allowing the federal control of National Guard troops to continue while a final ruling is pending.California Governor Gavin Newsom initially resisted the order, stating, “This is a fundamental violation of state sovereignty.” Nevertheless, following the appeals court’s decision, he affirmed that the state would comply with federal directives “until legal resolution is reached.”Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles condemned the presence of federal troops as “a show of force meant to terrorize” and announced that curfews would remain in place “as long as necessary to ensure public safety.”Protests have now spread beyond California, with solidarity demonstrations emerging in New York, Chicago, and Seattle. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, have filed emergency motions demanding the complete withdrawal of military personnel from all civilian zones, arguing that their presence is a violation of civil rights and a threat to democracy.As the debate continues in courtrooms, newsrooms, and public squares, the country faces a critical question: How far can federal power be stretched within a democracy when national security, civil unrest, and immigration collide?The unfolding situation in Los Angeles has become more than a local crisis—it is a litmus test for democratic boundaries in the 21st century. While proponents argue that the deployment ensures order and protection of federal agents, critics warn of the long-term precedent it sets. In a nation built on civilian oversight of the military, the sight of soldiers detaining citizens on American streets marks a profound moment in the country’s political memory.Whether this will be remembered as a decisive action for public safety or a constitutional overreach may depend on what happens next—in the courts, in Congress, and on the streets.

References in APA Citation:
Associated Press. (2025, June 10). Nationwide protests against immigration raids escalate, leading to arrests and curfews. https://apnews.com/article/049a611d47d0fc7656731e4f4c714e93
Gonzalez, O. (2025, June 13). Trump can deploy the California National Guard to LA after the appeals court steps in. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/06/13/trump-la-california-national-guard-deployment
The Guardian. (2025, June 12). Newsom says use of national guard for ICE raids ‘ends tomorrow at noon’ – as it happened. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/jun/12/la-protests-los-angeles-california-curfew-ice-immigration-marines-national-guard-donald-trump-latest-updates

Opinion - Technology

The Benefits and Risks of Using AI in Education

6/12/2025

When you think of ChatGPT do you automatically think of cheating? Do you think of students using AI to simply do all of their work for them? When most of us think about AI we’re viewing it in a very negative light; especially when it comes to the use of AI in education. While it's important to acknowledge the flaws with AI, it's also important to acknowledge how helpful it can actually be. Within education, generative AI can play a large role in not only the teaching process, but the administrative process as well.
According to a 2022 report by the U.S. Department of Education, 41 states and D.C. are facing [teacher] shortages in at least one subject area or grade level”(Teachers of Tomorrow, 25). With teacher shortages come a lack of personal instruction and student assistance, as “Traditional [education] methods typically entail one teacher instructing an average of 30 learners. [And] It’s a system that can easily overlook the needs of…a significant number of learners [who] require a more personalized approach. Unfortunately, the number of available educators and providers is a fraction of what is needed…”(Sinha and Moran, 23).
However different AI models can actually solve this issue. Kopp in 23 shows that, “By automating routine administrative tasks, AI could help streamline teacher workflows, giving them more time to build relationships with students and foster their learning and development. … Technology can help teachers reallocate 20-30% of their time toward activities that support student learning.”
Through the use of generative AI, students are able to have their questions answered as well as have feedback on assignments through generative AI platforms, without having to battle for the attention of an overextended teacher, thus providing a more efficient and budget friendly approach to promoting personalized learning.
Furthermore, generative AI platforms offer learning assistance to students while at home, which offers a sense of educational equity for students who can’t afford tutors or are homeschooled. As World Wide technology in 24 puts it, “AI can compile relevant details about individual academic and life circumstances, making it easier for student services staff to provide compelling and effective support for each student…and virtual assistants can provide 24/7 support by answering student questions, providing guidance” (The Rising Tide of GenAI in Higher Education - WWT).
By implementing AI into education, teachers are able to spend less time on administrative tasks and lesson plans and more time connecting with their students, fostering not only academic, but also social intelligence in their classrooms.
Overall, generative AI has the potential to transform education by addressing critical challenges such as teacher shortages, lack of individualized attention, and unequal access to academic support. It can reduce the burden on educators, help students receive timely feedback, and provide around-the-clock learning assistance regardless of a student’s background or resources.
But like any new invention it's not without its consequences. Knapp in 25 reports that “a team of researchers conducted a study involving 653 individuals ages 17 and up, … It first evaluated the extent to which each of them made use of AI tools, then tested their critical thinking skills. … the study … found that those who used AI tools a lot showed worse critical thinking abilities than those who didn’t use them often or at all”
A study by Michael Gerlich at SBS Swiss Business School “Statistical analyses demonstrated a significant negative correlation between AI tool usage and critical thinking scores … Frequent AI users exhibited diminished ability to critically evaluate information and engage in reflective problem-solving. … Younger participants (17–25) showed higher dependence on AI tools and lower critical thinking scores.”
He explains that since schools are where students learn critical thinking skills, they are the most harmful place to use generative AI. “Advanced educational attainment correlated positively with critical thinking skills, suggesting that education mitigates some cognitive impacts of AI reliance.”
These studies make it clear that while AI can support learning, it also carries the risk of weakening essential skills like critical thinking and independent problem-solving. Students who rely too heavily on AI tools may miss out on the deeper learning that comes from struggling through a question, analyzing sources, or crafting an argument on their own. As Michael Gerlich's research shows, younger students are especially vulnerable to becoming overly dependent on AI, which can result in long-term cognitive effects. And because schools are the primary space where students develop these skills, introducing AI without limits could unintentionally hinder their intellectual growth.
So AI can be both a benefit and a harm. But the clear distinction between those two rests on how we use AI. Just as calculators did not eliminate the need to understand complex math problems, AI does not eliminate the need for critical thinking. When the internet became widely available, people feared that students would stop using libraries. But over time, both tools found their place in education; as enhancers, not shortcuts. The same can be true for AI. If we teach students to use AI as a support tool rather than a shortcut, and if educators set clear boundaries and expectations, generative AI can become just another part of a well-rounded, modern education.

Breaking News - United States

Trump and Elon Musk’s Controversy: A Shattered Alliance

6/9/2025

What many saw as a troubling partnership from the beginning now seems to have reached its breaking point. “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill. I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.” Less than a week after deluging praise on each other in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, fell out unexpectedly and publicly. Both men took to their own social media platform to attack each other. The public war between the two men started to open up on Tuesday, when Musk took to X to criticize Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”. The bill which narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month but faces challenges in the Senate, including large tax cuts and the raising of the national debt ceiling. Musk who says the bill undermines all the savings made by DOGE, started to forcefully condemn it this week. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” Despite the strength of Musk’s language, it wasn’t until Thursday that the feud between him and Trump fully escalated. On Thursday morning, Musk reposted some old Trump social media posts, including one in which the now US president said that “no member of Congress should be eligible for reelection” unless the country’s budget was balanced. Musk wrote, “I couldn’t agree more,” in direct criticism of Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. At around midday on Thursday, Trump responded in the Oval Office during a visit from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump said he was “very disappointed” by Musk, before expressing doubts about whether their “great relationship” would continue. The dispute then became more personal with Musk who gave the Trump campaign hundreds of millions of dollars last year, indicating that the US president would not be in the White House without him. Eventually by Thursday evening, Musk was open to de-escalating the situation after Bill Ackman, a Trump ally and hedge-fund billionaire, wrote that the two men should make peace for the country's benefit. However, the real question arises from the citizens. How long would this “peace” last?

Opinion - Americas

PRÓSPERA: a billionaire's illegal paradise?

the future of cities with tech development

6/3/2025

Próspera is the name given to a "startup city,” part of ZEDEs (zones for employment and economic development), that takes up over 1000 acres of the island of Roatán in Honduras. Such cities were allowed decades ago but today, President Xiomara Castro has called for them to be abolished, claiming that they threaten the country’s sovereignty. However, Jorge Colinders, Próspera’s technical secretary, claims on AJ+ interview with Dena Takruri that Próspera is meant to bring economic growth and innovation to Hondurans. Obviously, such opposed viewpoints have caused controversy in Honduras but, can’t this also reveal a bigger-scale division in the conception of future cities with tech development? To answer this question we need to go over the characteristics of this so-called “startup” city.Próspera’s main idea is to be a “land of innovation” where many startups are grouped. Such as “Vitalia,” a biotech startup that experiments with genetics to "make death optional,” said the co-founder Nelson Milla. This city is distinguished by its “choose your own regulations” system as well as its own labor laws, private police, governing body as well as extremely low taxes.
In fact, these seemingly limited regulations are utopian for startups and therefore attract a large amount of foreign investors, coming particularly from the USA. This is exactly why the majority of Hondurans are opposed to this project–this same pattern draws back to Honduras' dark history marked by exploitation from USA large banana companies, taking over big land with the same promise of economic growth. Yet, Hondurans who got the opportunity to work in Próspera were mainly involved in construction and services with low wages and unpleasant conditions. Besides, many Honduran citizens expressed their feelings of concern over Próspera’s land-grabbing and how it seems like a city close in distance yet very far away, since it’s reserved to the rich.At surface level, the sole purpose of this project seems to be “innovation,” but if we analyze it well, this same pattern has been repeated throughout history–a false dream, an illusion of future prosperity to the poorest.While Próspera still has an undetermined future, it seems like this idea is spreading silently across different countries.
It is time to raise awareness about this issue that not only gets little to no attention from the media, but also reveals how the future of cities might be…

Examination

Germany's Far-Right:
A Threat to Democracy

2/22/2025

Nonfiction - Politics

Translating Politics, and the Politics of Translation

5/4/2025

As the name suggests, foreign relations deal with the communications and diplomacy between powers, whether that be on a microscale, or on the international stage. Yet, a major contributor to these interactions and relationships is languages - or, rather, translators, depending on your perspective.Translations allow individuals - regardless of their cultural or linguistic background - to access and indulge in ideas and communication. Whether this be through a layperson reading news on international politics, or diplomats interacting with each other, translation takes a huge part in maintaining smooth diplomacy; and, sometimes, causes international uproar and conflict.Consider general reading, whether that be in your native language or a foreign tongue. Either way, writers - authors, journalists, scriptwriters - manipulate words with carefully-selected connotations, perhaps with the intention of provoking emotion or eluding an air of professionalism and persuasion. In the context of everyday life - for instance, reading novels, instructions of a recipe, or the rules of basketball - this is rather insignificant, the most serious consequence likely being an unappealing casserole, or a penalty in a match.In politics, however, the stakes are much, much higher. For instance, the bombing of Hiroshima was partially caused by a mistranslation; on behalf of both powers, official translators’ interpretations proved to have vastly different implications in comparison to their original messages. By utilising words with connotations of a threat, danger, and control, this was potentially one of the factors that led up to the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Moreover, translation itself comes with a multitude of ethical questions. Depending on the intentions of the translator or original creator, language can be morphed, fuelled by or feeding biases or malicious motivations. Ultimately, whilst language serves as a tool for communication, an olive branch between people of different heritages, backgrounds, and cultures, they also play a deciding role in the stage of politics, with the power to contort international relations - and, consequently, the fates of our world.

Sources:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/pope-francis-funeral
https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/final-act-mercy-pope-francis-donates-entire-private-bank-account-prisoners
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98zxx13d3go
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-03/pontifical-yearbook-2025-priests-religious-statistics.html#:~:text=The%20global%20Catholic%20population%20increased,that%20of%20the%20previous%20biennium.
https://apnews.com/article/vatican-sistine-chapel-conclave-27a32119a225f7aff20cfe3619124b75
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-will-be-the-next-pope-list-of-possible-candidate

Breaking news - Culture

The Passing of the Pope: The Conclave, the Future of the Catholic Church, and Possible Candidates

5/4/2025

As the head of the Holy See, global leader of the Catholic church, and advocate for the less fortunate, Pope Francis was a highly respected spiritual leader and changemaker. His passing on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, left the Vatican and his followers in mourning yet opened the door to new possibilities for the future representative of the Catholic Church.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis set many “firsts” throughout his tenure, being the first pope to come from the Americas—specifically Argentina—as well as being the first Jesuit to assume the papacy. He left a lasting impact—not just on the church, but on the world as a whole, dedicating his life to spreading his faith and especially helping the poor and marginalized communities. Even in his last few days, he made generous gestures to help overlooked members of society, donating 200,000 euros from his personal bank account to incarcerated individuals. He passed away in his residence in the Casa Santa Marta, and his remains were transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica the Wednesday after his passing to allow others to pray before his body. His funeral was held in St. Peter’s square on the 26th, 6 days after his final public appearance for Easter, and was attended by over 100 delegations including global leaders and monarchs. The Vatican entered a 9-day period of mourning after his death, and are now turning their attention to the proceeding steps—preparing for a new pope.
The election of a new pope, known as a conclave, is one of the most secretive and sacred traditions in the Catholic Church. Following the death of a pope, the Camerlengo, who is currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, officially confirms the pope’s passing and oversees the period known as Sede Vacante (vacant seat). Catholic cardinals set the date May 7th as the start date for the conclave; once the conclave begins, all cardinals under the age of 80 will convene in the Sistine Chapel, completely blocked off from the outside world and forbidden from any external communication. From then on, the cardinals debate and vote to select the new global leader, with two-thirds majority required to elect the new pope. After each vote, the ballots will be burned—black smoke (fumata nera) means no decision has been made, while white smoke (fumata bianca) signals a successful election.
While eligibility for being pope technically extends to any baptized Roman Catholic male, cardinals have been chosen to fulfill this role for over 600 years. The current candidates for the future pope are a mix between more progressive cardinals who will follow in Pope Francis’s footsteps of church reform and social justice and more conservative cardinals who seek to return to the more traditional practices of the church. As of now, some of the leading contenders for the papacy are:1. Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)As the current Vatican Secretary of State, Parolin is known for his experience in diplomacy and governance. He is seen as a stabilizing figure whose policies could appeal to both traditionalists and reformers.2. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)As a progressive and charismatic voice from Asia, Tagle is popular among younger Catholics and seen as a global bridge-builder. His more liberal approaches to the church, such as putting emphasis on caring for the poor and welcoming LGBTQ and divorced Catholics, would help act as a continuation of Francis’s pontificate. His appointment would reflect the Church’s growing presence in the Global South and would be the first Pope to reign from the East.3. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)Known for his pastoral approach and social activism, Zuppi is the president of the Italian bishops conference and has been a leading voice on migration and peacebuilding. He’s also seen as aligned with the pastoral style of Pope Francis.4. Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea)A conservative favorite, Sarah advocates a return to more traditional Church teachings and liturgy. His election would represent a marked shift from Francis' progressive tone.5. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (Luxembourg)
As the Relator General of the Synod on Synodality, Hollerich is at the heart of ongoing Church reform. His theological openness and European stature make him a compelling moderate choice.
Ultimately, the passing of Pope Francis signals a state of mourning for the Church and the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. However, it also acts as a turning point for the Church—the election of a new pope can mean continuing Pope Francis’s progressive approach, or help the Church return to their more traditional practices. Either way, the world watches the Vatican’s chimney, waiting for the white smoke that will signal not just a new leader, but a new chapter in Catholic history.

Sources:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/pope-francis-funeral
https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/final-act-mercy-pope-francis-donates-entire-private-bank-account-prisoners
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98zxx13d3go
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-03/pontifical-yearbook-2025-priests-religious-statistics.html#:~:text=The%20global%20Catholic%20population%20increased,that%20of%20the%20previous%20biennium.
https://apnews.com/article/vatican-sistine-chapel-conclave-27a32119a225f7aff20cfe3619124b75
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-will-be-the-next-pope-list-of-possible-candidate

Poetry - Middle East

the rubble of unfinished dreams

5/29/2025

among the rubble i saw
the homework i was about to do
the unfinished bottle of shampoo
the mitts grandma was about to sewamong the rubble i found
my brother’s brand new shoe
my favourite scrunchie , lime blue
my dad’s hammer , pliers and screwsi see fragments of dreams
made out of bricks and stones
i see our future plans
brought down to dust and ashesmom’s apron covered in blood
and dad is nowhere to be found…
and my baby sister's teddy bear lost its eye!i stand up lifeless
like a wilted flower
titled
like a falling tower
yet i stand up , fearless
as strong as a willow tree
growing longer and stronger roots
because , what else is there to lose?among the rubble i feel
the sun rays caress my skin
like a divine message from above
telling me i was the chosen one
to pick up the rubble
and the gun…

Breaking news - current events

Katy Perry and her All-Female Crew Make History in Space. But Not Without Controversy.

5/4/2025

On April 14, 2025, Katy Perry and her female passenger team went aboard the historic Blue Origin spaceflight. Alongside Perry was Gayle King, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sanchez, who is a aviation pilot.Together, this team accomplished a major milestone, being the first all-woman space mission since 1963. Their goal was to inspire future generations of women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, showing that space exploration is not patriarchal. The crew completed an 11-minute flight, reaching space before safely returning to Earth. The group’s success was celebrated by many as a landmark moment for women worldwide.However, critics publicly thought of the trip as out of touch, questioning the importance and environmental impact of celebrity space travel during global crises like climate change. Environmental activists also criticized the flight’s carbon footprint. It is estimated that the mission produced about 15 tons of carbon dioxide per passenger, roughly equal to eight years of an average person’s emissions. Many users on X and Instagram accused Perry and her team of engaging in "elitist joyrides" rather than focusing on Earth’s problems.This backlash led to Katy Perry even publicly speaking out, performing in a silver bodysuit, and questioning if anyone has ever called them out for pursuing their dreams. Her message was clear, saying how she stood by her decision and encouraged others to chase their dreams no matter what judgment could come forth. Perry described the flight as a wonderful experience, second only to motherhood. She explained that the mission was never just about personal achievement, but it was about representation, inspiration, and being bold for one's dreams. While the controversy continues to stir online debates, the impact of the all-female crew’s historic mission will likely be felt for years to come.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/13/science/blue-origin-karman-line-space-mission/index.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/katy-perry-blue-origin-space-mission-criticism-career-marketin
g-2025-4
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14614411/Katy-Perry-video-resurfaces-claims-Bl
ue-Origin-climate-change.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/katy-perry-hits-back-at-haters-after-girl-squad-space-fli
ght-im-not-crazy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Poetry - Current Events

Lettered Pages

5/1/2025

Lettered pages, tales of the old,
the warnings, the ghastly cries.
Lettered pages, preached against,
prayed away, unforgivable stakes.
Lettered pages, flicker and flare,
falter and fuse into fresh ink.
Lettered pages, rewritten, but
never truly reread.
Lettered pages, cursed to
repeat themselves.

Note from author:
Across the globe, human rights are being stripped away, genocides are unfolding and corruption is dismantling entire countries before our very eyes. History, which we have vowed against, is indeed, repeating again. This raised the question, will we ever truly achieve world peace, and once and for all, learn from our history?

Opinion - technology

Artificial intelligence : a Threat to Art?

4/24/2025

"Why would I care? I don't consume the method, I consume the product," said a Canadian streamer better known as "xQc" on AI-generated art, after a trend of Studio Ghibli-like AI-generated photos sparked the outrage of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese animator himself. A statement like this leaves us with many questions: Can one consider AI-generated images to be a work of art? Is art a product to be simply “consumed”? How does consumerism impact our perception of art?For the artist, art could be the result of many things: a fusion of the memories, experiences, and emotions that pushed them to create, to emancipate. It could be an escape or a celebration of these memories. If we eliminate this process, will the art even exist? It is necessary to address that ignoring this process of art creation makes it lose a big part of its essence, since art is the result of a process that cannot be ignored.That being said, how could one call AI-generated images “art” while they completely disregard the whole core of it? It is not a product of a human, artistic process, but a product of already existing images on the internet, generated by a trained algorithm.Physical objects that are meant to be consumed, by nature, differ from art. While an object is precisely defined, art is left to interpretation. While a product, meant to be consumed, disappears, art prevails. It is an immortal creation, supposed to leave a mark on you or let you ponder on certain ideas.
Therefore, seeing it as something to be just consumed contradicts its own nature.However, consumerism, which is the growing tendency to consume more and more, leaves many people today unable to view beyond what the eyes can see. It pushes people to focus more on a final product, like a work of art, without particularly caring about the essence of it or the deeper meanings it could carry.In fact, with the implementation of AI in various creative sectors, this example is a perfect illustration of a bigger problem observed in today’s society: rather than thinking profoundly, people see a product, seize it, without caring to examine the creative process behind it.
Consequently, consumerism could be one of the reasons why curiosity is in decline among many young people nowadays.

Note from Executive Director Katie Ong:
Thank you for taking your time to read this article, as you can see in the image above, we did use ChatGPT to generate it. However, this was used in a symbolic manner to showcase ChatGPT's ability to emulate traditional art styles rather than condone or accept the use of AI in our writing and art. We hold a high level of integrity with all our submissions and staff writers and AI is never allowed in heavily aiding or fully creating any creative work.

Nonfiction - culture

Splash, Share, Support: The Ice Bucket Water Challenge

4/21/2025

The viral fundraising campaign that raised millions for ALS research in 2014 has been revived by a group of students from the University of South Carolina. These students recreated the challenge with a different aim this time, ‘Speak Your MIND Ice Bucket Challenge’, wanting to tackle a new issue and spark conversations of— mental health awareness. Videos of this challenge have been widely spreading all around social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram starting from around the end of March by using the hashtag ‘#speakyourmind’.It was originally an activity where an individual would pour a bucket of iced water over their head to promote the awareness of the disease ‘amyotrophic lateral sclerosis’ known as ALS. It is an irreversible deadly motor neuron disease where its fast progression can lead to muscle weakness until completely paralysed. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “there is no cure and proven treatment for ALS” but medicines given may “improve short-term survival or slow physical decline in people with ALS.” It is said to raise around $115 million in six weeks, with 67% of the fund going to research programs, innovative studies, etc.Now, back on the topic of the latest Speak Your MIND Ice Bucket Challenge, the Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club’s campaign launched on Instagram, reusing the challenge’s similar concept to raise funds for a nonprofit working with youth and young adults to address mental health issues, Active Minds. Participants follow the same procedure by recording them pouring ice water over their heads before posting the video and nominating others to join.The club founder, Wade Jefferson who is a USC junior said the campaign aims to normalise conversations around mental health and make them more accessible after losing two of his friends to suicide. After seeing this simplistic ice bucket water trend take off with thousands of views and the campaign surpassing over $100,000 in donations last Friday, Jefferson continues to express his gratitude by saying, “We wanted to bring that same energy to mental health. Watching it take off – seeing people we admire, like Peyton Manning, join in – has been surreal. We're proud, grateful, and just excited to see how far it's gone and continue to go,”Active Minds also continues to encourage youth and young adults to keep the momentum going, Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds, stated this campaign is what Active Minds represents. “To see youth and young adults take an iconic viral moment and breathe new life into it for mental health advocacy is incredibly powerful. It's proof that when young people rally together with passion and purpose, they don't just raise awareness—they ignite a movement.”This ice bucket challenge is truly beyond more than just a social media trend that will pass, it is a beginning. The start of a new chapter of mental health and the change of conversations about it.

Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/ice-bucket-challenge-mental-health-rcna201978
https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/students-revive-ice-bucket-challenge-for-mental-health-awareness-328673
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als
https://alsnc.org/ice-bucket-challenge-purpose-impact-and-legacy-in-als-awareness/#:~:text=The%20Ice%20Bucket%20Challenge%20achieved,of%20funds%20to%20research%20initiatives

Opinion - Current Events

The Red Pill: The Beginning or End of a Generation?

4/21/2025

The famous television series on Netflix, Adolescence, showcases the extent of the misogyny of a 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller. Although the effects of this have clearly and obviously been displayed to have an influence, recent reactions towards this series have been shockingly dismaying. People nowadays defend the actions of Jamie, who has murdered his classmate, Katie Leonard, for a combination of factors. One of them being the influence of corners of the internet that convinced him he was too "ugly" to receive attraction from a woman.Youngsters nowadays have a wide variety of content to consume on the internet, and sometimes it is shoved right in front of their faces to explore. Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and YouTube shorts are some of the main platforms young boys use, and are currently a place that is highly filled with podcasts from grown men who refer to themselves as "alpha males". This action is to convince boys that they are the superior sex, to man up, and bring back old traditions. Back in 2016, men ran to platforms such as Reddit to expose their vulnerability and howl nonsense about women. They have this complexity that tends to lead them to search for validation and a little ego booster, which causes the cycle of the most disturbing pandemic of misogyny: The Red Pill.According to Stephen Marche, the name derives from a scene in the 1999 film The Matrix, in which Laurence Fishburne offers Keanu Reeves a choice: “You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” The rabbit hole, in this case, is the delusion that women prefer dominant, handsome, rich, and cold men rather than the showcase of vulnerability. Thus, this leads to the misunderstanding that every woman is like this in general and deserves the same treatment. Any post a woman makes online, even if it hints towards a little controversy, is responded to with threats of violence and harm towards the woman.Boys are taught to approach women in impolite manners, which makes them uncomfortable, but they believe that it is the right thing to do because of male advice. The normalisation of this is incompatible with what women really value: love and care. Furthermore, boys believe that vulnerability should never be their trait, and they go so far as to degrade other boys who are sensitive. Nowadays, even teenagers are starting their own podcasts, complaining and misleading others to believe their mindset. Therefore, with the influence that The Red Pill has, this generation is considered to be either the beginning of a dysfunctional system for the future or the end of what little humanity we have left.

Breaking news - United States

Trump vs. Harvard: A Battle Over Autonomy and Billions in Federal Funding

4/21/2025

A major showdown is unfolding between U.S. President Donald Trump and Harvard University, centering on federal power, university autonomy, and billions of dollars in research funding. What began as a request from the Trump administration has escalated into a full-blown political and legal conflict, with high stakes for both Harvard and the entire landscape of American higher education.The situation began in early April, when Trump’s antisemitism task force sent Harvard a letter outlining a list of demands. These included banning face coverings at protests, eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and increasing cooperation with immigration authorities (The Harvard Crimson, 2024). While Harvard initially sought clarification, a second letter sent on April 11 delivered a far more aggressive set of instructions. This time, the administration called for the derecognition of pro-Palestine student organizations, mandatory federal audits for the next three years, and the reporting of international students who violated university conduct policies.Harvard President Alan Garber responded firmly, calling the demands an attack on institutional independence and constitutional freedoms. “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” he wrote in a message to the Harvard community (Harvard Gazette, 2024).The Trump administration later claimed the second letter was sent in error, calling it “unauthorized,” despite its signatures from high-level government officials. But by then, the fallout had already begun. The White House froze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts. More alarmingly, Trump also reportedly instructed the IRS to investigate Harvard’s tax-exempt status, a move that critics argue could be both politically motivated and legally questionable (The Guardian, 2024).This conflict isn’t just about Harvard. The university receives more than $9 billion in research support from the federal government, which funds scientific and medical advancements at institutions like Mass General Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Experts warn that cutting off this funding could seriously damage the U.S. research environment and innovation pipeline, especially in areas like biotechnology, medicine, and artificial intelligence.While Trump’s team argues that Harvard has failed to protect Jewish students amid campus protests, university officials contend that they have taken meaningful steps to combat antisemitism, all while respecting constitutional boundaries. Harvard says that the government trying to control what people think and believe on campus goes against the core values of free speech and independent learning.Some universities, like Columbia, have reportedly complied with similar demands to restore funding. But Harvard’s refusal to back down could set an important precedent. If one of the world’s most well-resourced and prestigious institutions can be pressured into submission, what might that mean for other, less powerful schools?What happens next in the Trump-Harvard conflict could reshape the future of higher education and redefine the limits of academic freedom in America.

Sources:
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/19/nyt-reports-trump-letter-error/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/18/trump-harvard-irs-tax-status
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/harvard-wont-comply-with-demands-from-trump-
administration/

Nonfiction - Medical

Antibiotics at Risk: The World’s Next Big Health Crisis

4/20/2025

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is known to be one of the most critical threats facing global public health, economies, and food securities today. This occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, adapt to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs that include antibiotics, antifungal, antivirals, and anti-parasitics. This renders treatments ineffective and signals that increases their risks of severe illnesses, death, and the spread of resistant pathogens.
There are many different global issues today that different countries are facing with AMR. It is a public health threat because AMR compromises the effectiveness of medical treatment, including surgeries, chemotherapy, and organ transplants that rely on antibiotics to prevent infections. The inability to treat infections effectively could result in a return to a pre-antibiotic era where minor injuries and infections could become life-threatening. It is also a global rising mortality rate by day. AMR is already responsible for 1.27 million direct deaths annually, with the projection that suggests that these numbers could rise extremely without urgent care.
There is also an economic burden that is happening due to this disease. This is because resistant infection requires prolonged hospital stays, expensive treatment, and intensive care, driving up healthcare costs globally. By the year of 2050, AMR can reduce the global gross domestic product, also known as GDP, by up to $100 trillion, affecting countries of all economic levels.
It can also impact food security. AMR in agriculture plays a larger role. This is because caused by the overuse of antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture, it threatens food security and sustainable production. Resistant bacteria can contaminate different food supplies and endanger both human health and agricultural economies.
The development of new drugs is being highly a problem because of the different initiatives that are being taken by this disease. Despite the growing urgency, the development pipeline for new antibiotics has stalled due to the economic and scientific challenges being faced due to this disease. This lack of innovation leaves humanity vulnerable without any treatment of this infection.
There are also global disparities in the low and middle-class income countries that are particularly at risk, as limited healthcare infrastructure and few resources are being contributed to the rapid spread and the resilience of this infection. Poverty and inequality are being faced throughout this way.
There are different pathways that we can combat AMR today which require global initiatives. With innovative researchers that are happening, it can accelerate the development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies and diagnoses through investments and collaborations.
Regulatory policies that implement strict regulations on the uses of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture are needed to be able to curb misuse and overuse. Public awareness to educate the population of dangers in improper antibiotic use and promote vaccination programs to prevent infections are being stable.
Global surveillance is a big part to be able to make sure that the low and middle-class countries are being supported as well, with the build of a robust monitoring system to track AMR trends and identify hotspots and respond quickly to the emerging threats that are happening.
Lastly, equitable access and ensuring that the low and middle-income countries have access to quality antibiotics, healthcare, and sanitation to reduce these inequalities in the AMR burden.

Nonfiction -technology

Jurassic Park in Person: The Dire Wolves Revived?

4/20/2025

The Dire Wolves have one thing in common with Hollywood: they’re in the spotlight. This past April, a private biotechnology company called Colossal Biosciences revealed a stunning project and huge advancement in science by “reviving” a previously extinct population called the Dire Wolves. This story has caused quite a stir, both in the media and in the science sector, specifically pertaining to the genuinity of these wolves and what it means for the future of genome editing.
Colossal Biosciences has had a history with trying to revive extinct animals in a process called “de-extinction”. Colossal has tried to revive other species before the Dire Wolf, but with birds such as the Dodo, creating a hard-shelled egg makes the process of revival much more difficult. Thus, the company’s team turned to the Dire Wolf, famed for its introduction in Hollywood through the book-turned-movie series “The Game of Thrones”. It starts with gene editing, “rebuilding the DNA” of lost species, according to Colossal’s own website. Using fossils of the Dire Wolf’s skull and teeth bones found throughout the US, Colossal retrieved DNA to introduce to gray wolf genes, following a framework previously used around a decade ago to clone and implant dog embryos. This framework allowed these 15 or so genes to become mutations in the embryo, eventually using large surrogate dogs to develop and eventually birth four of dozens of pups. Although one pup unfortunately didn’t make it, the other three, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, are living healthily in Colossal grounds in North America.
However, some scientists are hesitant to call these Dire Wolves actual de-extinction successes. While Colossal does label these animals as de-extinct Dire Wolves in a preliminary print paper posted on April 11th 2025, geneticist from Cornell University Adam Boyko tells New York Times that Romulus, Remus and Khalessi don’t live in a Dire Wolf pack, or even in an environment similar to their ancient ancestors. This means they are unable to learn Dire Wolf behavior and have profound differences in diet and thus interstitial microbes. Similarly, the Dire Wolves Colossal created only have around 20 edited genomes, but what sets Dire Wolves apart from regular grey wolves could be any number of genomes. Other questions are raised about what the reintroduction of the Dire Wolf would do to other wolf populations. Dire Wolves were known to hunt larger prey. Without an ecosystem to support this diet, Dire Wolves could turn to hunting the prey of grey wolves, putting the two against each other. This could cause a massive imbalance in the food chain Dire Wolves are reintroduced to.
The three young Dire Wolves are huge advancements, pushing the boundaries to what biotechnology can do. It is important to recognize the ethical drawbacks and scientific benefits processes of “de-extinction” could bring. Nevertheless, the world has a new challenge to face, either in support of recreation or accepting that “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”.

Sources:
https://colossal.com/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/science/colossal-dire-wolf-deextinction.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/dire-wolf-deextinction-colossal-paleontology

Opinion - Americas

Smiskis, Sonny Angels, and Small Luxuries: Simple Pleasures as Indicators of a Recession

4/13/2025

The rise in popularity of blind boxes—Labubus, Smiskis, Hironos, Sonny Angels, and more— have aided consumers in reviving their inner children and experiencing the thrill of uncovering a new surprise figure. While these collectibles may look cute placed in display cases or as a decoration for purses, they may be an indication of a deeper problem: economic recession.With global tariffs underway, the stock market decline, decreases in consumer confidence, and other indicators of economic turbulence, economists are looking towards a possible recession underway. However, the virality of these blind boxes can be attributed to a theory called the lipstick index— buying small luxuries like lipstick in exchange for luxury cars or houses in times of financial hardship— showing that Labubus being sold out nearly nationwide may not be the only upcoming crisis plaguing our generation.The term “Lipstick Index” was coined by Leonard Lauder, chairman of beauty brand Estée Lauder, in 2001 to describe the phenomenon of increases in purchases of lipstick and other cosmetic products during periods of economic instability. It seems almost counterintuitive that individuals would spend more unnecessary money when budgets are already tight. However, experts theorize that in times such as the current day when housing prices are skyrocketing and inflation is inevitable, consumers seek the quick gratification that comes from splurging on everyday goods like cosmetics.However, this theory isn’t only applicable to lipstick; other indulgences like purchases of fancy chocolates, artisan coffee, fragrances, and more simple luxuries have shown to increase during tough economic times. Thus, another simple luxury that can be seen as a temporary form of escapism is blind boxes. Other than trying to stay on top of trends, blind boxes are used as a tool by many of their buyers who seek a quick dopamine rush and want to feel a sense of excitement. The fact that the reselling of blind boxes has also been a rising trend can be an indication of people trying to make quick money during these periods of economic instability. The recent surge in these low-cost luxuries can be a sign that a recession may be in our midst; blind boxes not only act as adorable accessories on desks and bags, but as side hustles and temporary ways to boost consumers’ moods during difficult times.

Sources:
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/retail-distribution/consumer-behavior-trends-state-of-the-consumer-tracker/splurge-spending-inflation-lipstick-index.html
https://theweek.com/business/economy/the-lipstick-index-a-sign-of-the-economic-times

Breaking news - technology

Digitally Violated: The Weaponization of Deepfake

4/12/2025

Deepfake, a technology that uses AI-generated or manipulated media (images, videos, or audio) to convincingly mimic a real person. It mostly uses artificial intelligence algorithms which creates a persuasive simulation of individuals, audio manipulation, a technique called face swapping which is swapping one’s face overlapping onto another photo or video, and synthetic media where they can generate completely new and different content.Recent rise of news about this technology has been used in Johor, Malaysia by a 16 year old student to create sexually explicit content of his schoolmates which were then sold and uploaded on social media, occurred around the 8th of April. The high school has confirmed that they had received several complaints and reports about this matter on their Facebook.
The school effectively has started an internal investigation whilst cooperating with the police. It is also highlighted by them that such behaviour will not be tolerated and serious actions will be taken in accordance with the school’s policies.Teo Nie Ching who is the Deputy Minister of Communications for Malaysia, later explains that this Johor student misusing AI for personal gain should be seen as a stark reminder for the urgent need of stricter digital safety protocols in all educational institutions and should not be taken lightly . As reported by Teo, she says that the victim had informed the school prior but the situation was not treated with seriousness. Followed by their acknowledgment and apology for the delay in handling this incident, the school’s board has decided to expel the suspect from the school entirely. They have also reached out to victims and their families, providing them with full support which included counselling services from the school and other external support.The police have taken these reports against the teenager for using AI to create and sell these sexual content by using victims’ social media posts and has been arrested since. This case is investigated under the Penal Code for the sale, distribution, or circulation of obscene material and Communications and Multimedia Act for sharing offensive and inappropriate content.
According to The Star, the suspect has been detained for 4 days since the 9th of April for the investigation. They were also able to find a phone which they believe was used to edit and upload the sexual images and videos to sell for around RM2 each. It was said that there were 30 to 40 of the teenager’s schoolmates and his school’s alums who have been victims of this artificial crime where the majority of the victims’ age ranged around 13 to 24. The police continue to urge other victims to voice out and lodge a report to local authorities near them.

Sources:
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/deepfake
https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2025/04/09/johor-student-accused-of-creating-explicit-ai-generated-deepfakes-of-classmates-cops-investigating/172412
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/12/deepfake-porn-incident-involving-johor-students-highlights-need-for-digital-safety-protocols-in-malaysian-schools-says-teo-nie-ching/172853#google_vignette
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/10/kulai-school-says-expelled-student-in-deepfake-porn-scandal-admits-slow-action/172624
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/johor-teenager-nabbed-for-allegedly-creating-selling-lewd-ai-pics-of-schoolmates
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/09/johor-teenager-nabbed-for-allegedly-creating-selling-lewd-ai-pics-of-schoolmates
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/12/johor-student-ai-porn-case-shows-urgent-need-for-stricter-digital-safety-protocols-in-school-says-teo

Nonfiction -scientific

Global Warming
or Global Warning?

4/12/2025

As we step deeper into 2025, global warming is no longer a distant threat. It is something we face daily. The weather seems to become unpredictable– one day we’re dying from the heat, and the next, we’re seeing heavy rain and cloudy days. This year is already on track to break temperature records set in 2023 and 2024, with rising heat waves, wildfires, and sea level surges happening worldwide. The global average temperature has climbed dangerously close to the 1.5 C threshold set by the Paris Agreement in 2015.Global temperature catastrophes date back to the industrial times. Many industrialized countries mass produced manufactured goods to feed into consumer culture. Many factories use fossil fuels (non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas) which release large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. These Greenhouse gases trap into our atmosphere which causes global warming.Many daily products we use, such as cars, and operating factories, all increase greenhouse gas emissions. We have found a new solution to this problem through renewable energy, such as solar and wind, which reduces the amount of greenhouse gases we use. The main problem is that the major powerhouse countries, like the United States, continue to ignore the issues of our climate and produce carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. The United States is known for being the main contributor to climate change, and with the United States already stepping out of the Paris Agreement during President Donald Trump’s term, we can start seeing irreversible damage pretty quickly. Compared to five years ago, we’re seeing stronger storms, more intense droughts, and faster polar ice melt.These climate issues are not only happening in the United States, but around the entire globe. In places like Southern Europe, South Asia, and parts of the U.S., 2025 has brought longer heatwaves, harming crops and straining power grids. Australia also saw its hottest day recorded in March 2025, which marked the end of the hottest 12 month period in the continent's history. Even in the Arctic, the warm temperatures are causing warming four times faster than the rest of the world.We all need to do our part in protecting our climate. Earth will be inhabitable in the next few decades if humans continue with mass producing carbon dioxide. Many critics of greenhouse gas emissions commonly argue that it is not natural, not caused by humans, and even if it was caused by humans there is nothing we can do. There are many ways individuals can help stop climate change, including using renewable energy, reducing emissions, adopting sustainable practices, and saving energy at home. But how long would it take before our world has come to the realization that it will soon be unlivable?

Sources:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101#warming
https://earth.org/march-2025-was-europes-hottest-on-record-second-hottest-globally-says-eu-mon/
https://berkeleyearth.org/february-2025-temperature-update/#::text=Global%20averages%20temperatures%20cooled%20sharply,8%25%20from%20last%20month).
https://www.clientearth.org/latest/news/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/#::text=When%20fossil%20fuels%20are%20burned,our%20atmosphere%2C%20causing%20global%20warming.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/global-warming/

Breaking news - politics

The International Community’s Crossroad Decision: USAID

2/9/2025

US government agencies that have been implemented for years are now coming to a halt. Due to the new administration in office, many US agencies have been ordered to end their services abruptly, leaving severe repercussions for those who rely on them. Organizations, governments, and the public have heated discussions on what to do moving forward, especially as times are changing.
One of the most prominently affected is the USAID program, or United States Agency for International Development. Millions of people across the world rely on USAID for financial, medical, and employment resources. It focuses on providing humanitarian relief for people in underdeveloped countries. The UN itself relies on much American financed missions and USAID supply distribution to help with its peacekeeping operations. Countries and governments in Africa in particular have been some of the main focuses of USAID services over the last decade.
The US President Donald Trump’s executive decision to cut the USAID department as a whole has caused mass panic - not just in the areas where help is received in Africa, but for the numerous people employed in these programs. Trump states the decision was ultimately made because there was evidence of corruption, however evidence has not been found or cited exactly.
According to the New York Times, African countries receive around $8 billion USD in aid annually. Politically, governments in Africa worry about filling the gaps in the funding that is left by USAID’s absence and the connection that will be lost. Financially, USAID has been a key part in combating the HIV crisis in African nations, while education efforts from the agency have been a pillar in creating opportunities for African students that eventually feed back into the economic development in those areas.
To some extent, it's not about the lack of resources from USAID that is the problem - it's the people. All USAID workers, many of which are deployed in foreign countries, have been asked to leave or outright fired. Those deployed have been given 30 days to leave the countries where they provide critical services. Without these medical professionals, educators, and scientists, African governments are left without the workforce to treat their people. 40,000 medical workers in Kenya are estimated to lose their jobs, not because of a lack of actual resources, but because there is no more USAID money to supply their wages. A common issue is that there are resources to help people, just not enough professionals to administer those resources.
Activists say that it is about time for African governments to start taking care of problems within their country, especially since they have become too reliant on other countries to be independent. However, while the decision has faced much opposition from the US administration's democratic leaning representatives, critics from both sides of the political spectrum agree: pulling out of the USAID services is too abrupt to be beneficial.
It is clear that the world is at a crossroads; actions from the past have finally caught up with the present. Nevertheless, these events have both positive and negative indications. USAID’s crumbling may cause economic and political chaos right now, but it will push for more independent rebuilding. In the future, missions attempting to provide humanitarian aid must focus on development instead of fostering dependency. In the present, the international community must work together to solve global problems that have sprung up.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/world/africa/usaid-africa-trump-musk.html
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/07/2025/usaids-dismantling-threatens-african-development
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/us/politics/usaid-workers-trump.html
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/09/nx-s1-5290139/how-the-usaid-debacle-is-affecting-rhode-island

Nonfiction - europe

Oil in the Black Sea

2/9/2025

On December 15th, two 50 year old Russian tankers spilled 2400 metric tons of oil after taking much damage from the storm in the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Crimean Peninsula and Russia. The oil spill was labeled as contained; that was until tarred birds and floating oil on the surface of bodies of water began to show up on beaches bordering the Black Sea. That month, Russian scientists only just began to understand the implications this oil spill will have on life near the Back Sea and its surrounding area.
Now, it's late January, and the impacts of the oil spill are just now beginning to be revealed. The oil spilled was heavy fuel oil that will not stay on the water’s surface for long. The fuel oil solidifies at 25 degrees celsius, meaning it will take years for the microorganisms to biodegrade the material. An overload of oil on the sea floor can and already has had massive impacts on the health of animals that live in these waters. Russian officials report that around 6000 birds have been covered in oil. Stavropol, one of the rehabilitation centers the birds are being delivered to, reported that only 17 percent of the over 1000 birds they have received have survived. Additionally, reports from dolphin rehabilitation centers say that they have found almost 70 dead dolphins near shores affected by the oil spill.
The affected areas of the oil spill will not end there. As weather patterns change and the currents flow direct oil to other bodies of water, more and more wildlife will be affected. Oil has already reached Odesa beaches near the Danube Biosphere reserve, 441 kilometers from the center of the Black sea.
Russian authorities are unable to disclose the costs of the oil spill and its impacts, however, Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the spill and one of the most devastating environmental accidents to date. After sending around 1.5 billion rubles to aiding in the cleanup process, the Russian government has also dispatched scientists and a deputy prime minister to figure out potential solutions from previous data.
Hundreds of volunteers have shown up to help clean the beaches affected by these oil spills, and many of the accounts say that the amount of oil on the beaches is almost incomprehensible. Considering that those floating masses are only a fraction of the amount of oil spilled total, and only a fraction of the oil still in the sunken carriers, the Russian government turns its focus on removing the ships from the ocean floor.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/world/europe/russia-oil-spill-black-sea.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23ngk5vgmpo
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/24/oil-found-along-ukraines-southern-coast-after-russian-tanker-spill-a87734

Breaking News - Middle East

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: First Step Towards Peace After 15 Months of Conflict

1/20/25

After 469 days of devastating war, Israel and Hamas have finally compromised on a ceasefire in Gaza. This long-awaited deal, approved by the Israeli Cabinet on January 15, is set to take place on Sunday, the 19th, at 8:30 a.m. local time. The agreement entails that 33 of Hamas’s hostages will be released in exchange for 1,890 Palestinian prisoners over the course of the next few weeks. Israel will also begin to withdraw its forces from Gaza, essentially putting a pause to the war while the ceasefire’s terms are being carried out. Ultimately, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the ceasefire will “halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity."
Despite this peaceful compromise, at least 120 people in Gaza have been killed since the ceasefire was announced just 3 days ago. Palestinian officials claim that Israel is aggravating its airstrikes ahead of the deal’s implementation. In addition, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that this agreement is not permanent. He added that Israel reserves the right to resume fire and defend itself if needed.
Though many of the details of this agreement seem unclear, it is a major breakthrough in mitigating the Israel-Hamas conflict that has resulted in a death toll of over 46,000 people in less than 1 and ½ years. It has sparked hope for many and can potentially put an end to arguably the most violent conflict between Israel and Palestine in history.A Deeper Dive into the Ceasefire AgreementAccording to Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, the ceasefire coming into effect on Sunday will consist of three phases:The First Phase
The ceasefire’s first phase will last 6 weeks, and it will include the release of 33 of Hamas’s hostages in exchange for the release of a portion of the Palestinian prisoners held captive by Israel. Three hostages will be released on the first day, with the rest slowly being released over the next 6 weeks. Hamas police will aid displaced individuals in moving from southern to northern Gaza, and there will be an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Trucks will be allowed in to provide these deliveries, and the rehabilitation of buildings such as hospitals, clinics, and bakeries will soon take place according to Sheikh Mohammed.The Second Phase
While detailed negotiations for the second and third stages will begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, President Biden stated this phase will be a “permanent end to the war.” The remainder of Hamas’s hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli troops are expected to make a complete withdrawal from Gaza. President Biden added that “as long as the negotiations continue,” the ceasefire will as well.The Third Phase
The third and final stage of the deal promises the reconstruction of Gaza with international supervision in exchange for the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies. Though this phase can take years to execute, it is an essential step to rebuilding the lives of those harmed in the Israel-Hamas conflicts.While the ceasefire acts as a beacon of hope for millions of Palestinians, many also fear for its future or feel that it has taken far too long. Farida, who is initially from the North of Gaza but was displaced to Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, said to BBC, “We currently experience a state of anticipation, fear and anxiety.” She added that "we are also going through feelings of eagerness… We are trying to breathe freedom which we have been denied.” She finished her statement with, "No matter how much I talk, I will not be able to describe the mixed feelings overwhelming me and the happiness I feel now for returning to the north."Ultimately, the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas leaves lingering questions and feelings of uncertainty, but for the most part, presents itself as a beacon of hope and progress. It is one of the biggest steps that has been taken towards ending the Israel-Palestine conflict, and can help rehabilitate the lives of millions. It is a sign of progress, peace, and presents change that individuals across the globe have been hoping and praying for.

Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8qyq24qljo
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-ceasefire-live-updates-rcna188245
https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/world-news/israel-hamas-cease-fire-timeline-revealed-for-all-3-phases/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5klgv5zv0o
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/15/what-do-we-know-about-the-israel-gaza-ceasefire-deal
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/15/israel-hamas-ceasefire-explainer/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-many-palestinians-has-israels-gaza-offensive-killed-2025-01-15/

Opinion - technology

Rise of Red Note: The Dangers of Chinese Social Media

1/17/25

On Sunday, the United States government will officially ban TikTok, the popular social media platform, as it potentially poses national security risks. Originating in China, fears of data privacy and security have been raised for the app’s parent company, ByteDance. As ByteDance does not want to sell TikTok, the US government has decided to remove the app. As TikTok prepares to go offline, its 120 million U.S. users are scrambling to find alternative platforms for short-form video content. While some migrate to popular apps like Instagram, others are exploring other options.
Red Note (known as 小红书 in Chinese), has been rapidly gaining popularity. Within the past week, it became the No. 1 downloaded app on both iOS and Android. The hashtag #TikTokRefugees has already gained over 24 million posts on Red Note, making it a trending topic. The app has become a space where Chinese students share English assignments for Americans to help with, and Americans translate their comments into Mandarin. Red Note has fostered a warm and welcoming cross-cultural community.
However, this growing popularity comes with concerns. Many Americans flocking to Red Note are unaware of the controversies surrounding the platform and the potential risks it might pose. The potential harms this app brings could even lead to more serious impacts than keeping TikTok open.
First, many Americans are not informed of the meaning behind Red Note’s Chinese name 小红书 (xiaohongshu), which literally translates to “little red book”. This name is a clear reference to Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong, which is a compilation of speeches and writings by the founder of the Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong. Distributed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the compilation’s more endearing nickname was “Little Red Book”. The name of this Chinese social media app could be hinting at more controversy and risk. Furthermore, the clear connection between the app’s name and CCP history could potentially reference a stronger government control over Red Note compared to TikTok.
Second, Red Note is no better when it comes to data collection and use of confidential information. According to its privacy policy, the app collects large amounts of sensitive data including IP addresses, geographic information, browsing history, and more. American users fail to understand the app’s privacy and data collection policies as many choose to skip reading the Terms and Conditions or struggle to translate the policies into English.
Third, content censorship is a serious concern for Red Note users. When Americans asked about LGBTQ topics on the app, Chinese users warned that this was considered a sensitive topic, and could potentially lead to censorship. Moreover, it has been revealed that Red Note’s content moderation policies align with Chinese government standards. This could limit free speech and result in biased information spread throughout the platform.
Even though Red Note may seem to be a fun app to join and connect with Chinese users, it is important to note the risks that come along with it. Just like TikTok, Red Note poses many dangers to American users. Furthermore, with many other United States based social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, which offer short-form content, the need for a new Chinese app is not necessary. Therefore, people should refrain from downloading Red Note and choose other social media platforms. Cybersecurity expert at NordVPN Adrianus Warmenhoven concludes, “The same privacy, transparency and national security concerns that led to the TikTok debate are likely to apply here.”

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-refugee-xiaohongshu-rednote-855692624aa52825b30afc5474af881d
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2025/01/15/is-rednote-safe-heres-what-millions-of-tiktok-users-need-to-know/
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/17/politics/tiktok-ban-supreme-court/index.html
https://time.com/7206781/red-note-tiktok-migration/

Nonfiction - Europe

The Thistle: Steps in a Worldwide Movement

1/14/25

The first drug consumption room (DCRs) in the UK is to open in Glasgow, Scotland on January 13th, 2025. Out of the over 100 drug consumption rooms world wide, this new addition to Glasgow marks the end of a decade long legal, ethical, and health related debate. DCRs are designed to be safe and clean facilities open for drug users to inject narcotics - many of which are illegal. But what sparked this long debate? And what is the logic behind the decision to implement DCRs, not only in Glasgow, but in 17 other countries to date?
The first drug consumption room was created in Berne, Switzerland in June 1986. Soon, the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries throughout Europe followed suit, eventually spreading worldwide. DCRs are monitored by trained medical professionals, providing access to clean needles, swabs, and syringes. Personnel in these facilities are prohibited from administering injected narcotics and are there to strictly oversee practices to reduce the risk of overdose. Their abilities include offering health advice, counselling, and potential emergency intervention. DCRs also provide prevention materials, food, clothing, and showers for drug users that are qualified for these services; DCRs are strict to the region, often putting age requirements into effect. These establishments provide specialized care for narcotics users but there are an increasing number of DCRs that are beginning to provide assistance to drug inhalers and smokers as well.
The DCR instated in Glasgow has had a difficult history with implementation, specifically sparking debate around the legal issues surrounding the allowance of illegal drug use in these facilities. Firstly, the budget for “The Thistle” in Glasgow was 7 million UK pounds, equivalent to around 8.56 million US dollars, over the course of 3 years. Critics suggest a wide range of complaints, ranging from suggestions that the budget was too small to complaints that it was an overinvestment. Additionally, locals in the area fear an increase in drug activity, showcasing very polarized views regarding the impacts the Thistle will have on public safety.
Legally, there were many difficulties as well, as such facilities are prohibited under the UK’s Misuse of Drugs act. Tensions rose, as the British Parliament and the Scottish Courts disagreed about the Thistle’s initiation, specifically about the allowance of illicit drugs on site of the DCR. The British Parliament initiates these laws, the courts act independently to enforce them, requiring much deliberation around the legal niches of the situation. However, after years of debate, local councils voted to instate a DCR in South Scotland, an area with the highest rates of overdose deaths.
The Thistle is still scheduled to continue its service, with the UK government providing an additional 2-2.5 million pounds per year to fund the project. Equipped with clothes banks and recovery rooms, the high-tech DCR in Glasgow aims to provide aid to the city with the largest number of public drug users, as estimated 400-500 users in the area injected publicly. Users will need to register to enter and both users and employees at the Thistle will need to adhere to a specific set of guidelines. No users will face prosecution for any drugs used, illegal or not. Despite different views, the numbers project a significant decrease in drug related overdoses for the area, along with a decrease in the spread of HIV, infections, and viruses related to the unsafe narcotics injections.
The Thistle is only one of many facilities combating the worldwide drug abuse crisis. As nations take steps to address issues of drug abuse domestically, all contribute to reducing its effects globally as well. Every step from every nation, state, and city must be valued as an integral part of world collaboration to aid struggling individuals.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/world/europe/drug-consumption-room-glasgow-uk.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8604650/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-68420263
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cgq1qxlev4vo
https://www.euda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/2734/POD_Drug%20consumption%20rooms.pdf

Nonfiction - Middle east

Gaza is Facing a Devastating Humanitarian Crisis

Did you know 1 in 4 Palestinians are in desperate need of a permanent home? Ever since 1948, the displacement of Palestinians has been ongoing. This event, known as the “Nakba”, was the tragic event of the Arab-Israeli war. It began with the Zionist movement which encouraged Jewish people to migrate to Palestine. The Jews openly stated they were planning on establishing a state in Palestine; a place where Arabs had already settled. Their desires to organize a state were heard and in “November 1947, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution partitioning Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a UN administration.”However, as more Jews started to populate Palestine, the Arabs became more wary of them. This led them to reject the resolution, as they claimed it was extremely unfair to share their territory and it violated the UN Charter.The Jews were not content with this conclusion. They did not take no for an answer and sent Jewish militias to attack Palestinian villages, forcing Palestinians to flee from their homes. After thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes, the Jews used the now-empty land and established the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. This war resulted in over half the Palestinian population becoming refugees; losing their homes, land, and livelihoods.The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues today. Over a million Palestinians are still in need of shelter, and many continue to fight against the confiscation of their homes and other ways in which Israel has wronged them. On October 7th, 2023, Hamas (The Islamic Resistance Movement) invaded Israel and killed 1,139 people. After this attack, Israel declared war against Palestine. Israel brutally fought back, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed and more families losing their homes, since the Hamas attack on October 7.A stable home is crucial for any community to thrive, and Palestinians lack that stability. Because of this, Palestinians face challenges in access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Many wealthy Palestinians are now struggling to survive. Many also did not have banking accounts, so their money was saved at home. When attacked, they had no time to take their cash with them, for they could risk their lives taking the time to grab it.Now, with no money, Palestinians are trying their best to set up tents in previously attacked locations. These places are where they feel the safest, knowing Israel most likely won't attack again. All people deserve the right to stay in their homeland, and should not be driven out of their private property. We understand that the Israeli-Palestinian war can be a deeply conflicting issue. Our intention is not for you to stand on one side, but instead to stand up for humanity during a challenging time. We can all play a part in helping the Palestinians find a home.UNICEF calls upon, “Respect and protection for civilian infrastructure such as shelters and schools, and health, electric, water, sanitation, and telecommunications facilities, to prevent loss of civilian and children’s lives, outbreaks of diseases, and to provide care to the sick and wounded. All parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law.” We encourage you to start an awareness campaign for UNICEF's message and international humanitarian law, informing others of this injustice. Many organizations accept donations for their mission including, “Rebuilding Alliances,” which dedicates themselves to constructing villages for Palestinian refugees. At Foreign Focus, we believe no one should struggle to find a place to sleep at night.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2024/01/19/1225250933/gaza-rafah-tents-shortage#:~:text=Nearly%201%20in%204%20Gaza,a%20home%20to%20return%20to&text=Oregon%20State%20University.-,The%20U.N.,a%20home%20to%20return%20to.&text=Before%20the%20war%2C%20nearly%20six,according%20to%20the%20World%20Bank.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/demolish-apartheid-not-palestinian-homes-petition/
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/details-humanitarian-crisis-gaza-2024-05-01/
https://www.un.org/unispal/about-the-nakba/
https://www.rebuildingalliance.org/rebuild-to-remain
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/12/nx-s1-5055635/hamas-leader-tells-npr-about-oct-7-attack-and-the-war-with-israel
https://fortune.com/2023/10/11/israel-palestine-war-communication-memo-business-leaders-companies-employees/

Breaking News - Medical

OO OO AHHH AHHHH:
Should You Be Afraid of Monkeypox?

Monkeypox (also referred to as Mpox) has caused a global panic, especially in the United States, but is really as big of an issue as people make it out to be? Since May 2022, Mpox has spread throughout the world, spreading beyond its origin of Africa. The Covid-19 virus has kept everyone on their toes when it comes to newly discovered illnesses, after all, no one wants a “two week” quarantine again. But should you really be that afraid of Monkeypox?What is Monkeypox?
Mpox is a viral disease caused by a virus that usually occurs in animals, such as, you guessed it, monkeys. The disease causes rashes that resemble blisters that spread throughout the body. The rashes are painful and last about four weeks. Accompanied with the rash may come fever, muscle aches, and fatigue.There are several clades of Mppx: Clade I (Ia, Ib) and Clade II
(IIa, IIb). You may have seen videos depicting Mpox just a couple years ago, and may see it resurfacing now. This is because in 2022 clade IIb began to spread across the world, whereas in 2024 clade Ib. Clade I is known to be the more dangerous clade of the virus, alarming some who live in areas infected.Will Moneypox become the next Covid?
The short answer is no, Mpox is not going to be the next covid, so don't turn on your Zoom just yet. Unlike Covid-19, which was an airborne virus, Mpox is spread through close contact with someone who has the virus. It is transmitted through skin to skin contact. Additionally, there are vaccines to combat Mpox. Mpox has a considerably more amount of research on it than what Covid had when it was first spreading. In other words, there are several precautions in place that assure that Mpox will not become the next Covid-19.The Verdict
Unless you know someone who has contracted the disease, you shouldn’t have much to worry about. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t practice hygiene routines to prevent contracting the disease. Continue to wash your hands, avoid contact with wild animals, and get vaccinated. If you feel that you have contracted the disease, contact your doctor and quarantine yourself until cleared or better. Stay safe!

*Note that this article is not a source that should be taken as medical advice, if you have genuine concerns regarding your health or feel unwell contact your healthcare provider. The authors of this article are not liable for any events that may occur due to the influence of the article

Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mpox
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/index.html
https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-mpox-outbreak/2024/09

Opinion - Middle east

Antisemitism vs. Criticism of Israel: Why Today’s Outrage is About Policy, Not Prejudice

German provocateur Wilhelm Marr stoked the antisemitism movement in central Europe during the 1800s. This prompted the Nazis to intensify their campaign of systematic racial murder which led to the extermination of over six million Jews during the Holocaust which took place before World War II officially began in 1933. But the Holocaust was neither the start nor the end of antisemitism. Hatred or prejudice towards Jews as a religious community or race is known as “antisemitism. ” However, today's criticism of Israel is a defense of human rights and is not antisemitism.Let’s define antisemitism first.
Anger bias or treatment of Jews unfairly because of their race or religion is known as antisemitism. Throughout history it has taken on diverse forms ranging from violent pogroms to social exclusion in medieval Europe and culminating in the Holocaust. Jews have historically been persecuted because of their unique religious convictions and reluctance to follow prevailing social norms. Jews were forced into specialized trades like money lending as a result of the gradual exclusion of Jews from more and more societal roles and professions. This ultimately led to increased hostility. Religious prejudice gave way to racial discrimination as antisemitism developed and individuals such as Wilhelm Marr were instrumental in transforming it into the kind of racially motivated hatred that peaked during the Holocaust. The Holocaust in which Jews were killed not only for being different but also because they were thought to be fundamentally inferior is the most horrifying example of antisemitism. A horrifying warning of the perils of racial hatred over six million Jews perished during this time. Antisemitism however has much older roots in European history and did not finish with the Holocaust. Jews were segregated in society, prohibited from owning land and prohibited from entering many professions even in the Middle Ages. More negative stereotypes were created because they were frequently forced into roles like moneylending. While acknowledging this history of exclusion is important it is not the same as what is occurring now with regard to the criticism of Israel's policies. It is crucial to understand the context of criticism of Israel's policies is fundamentally different.Identifying the Conflict of Today
In light of recent events, global criticism has been directed at both Israel and Palestine, particularly after the October 2023 attacks. Following terror attacks in southern Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian groups Israeli forces advanced into Gaza causing a great deal of casualties and displacement. Over 18700 Palestinians were killed between October and December including 7800 children and more than half of Gaza's population was forced to flee their homes. Israel is charged with depriving the Palestinian people of their fundamental human rights by obstructing aid shutting off utilities like electricity and water and imprisoning close to 2873 Palestinians without charge or trial. This persecution and repression which is a component of a larger policy of dominance over Palestinians have been likened apartheid.Are Israeli Moves Mirroring Past Events?
This current state of affairs of Israel is painfully ironic. Following centuries of persecution expulsion and genocide Israel is currently accused of perpetrating comparable atrocities against the Palestinian people. Palestine's current treatment seems to be a reflection of history. There are similarities even though the circumstances are not the same. But the anger of today is not directed at Jewish identity but rather at these particular policies. Criticizing these acts however is a human rights defense and is not antisemitic. Not singling out a whole racial group but rather holding a government responsible.Are We Fueling Antisemitism by Standing for Palestine?The straightforward response to the frequently asked question is no: renouncing Israeli actions in Palestine does not equate to inciting antisemitism. Criticism of Israel's policies such as its limitations on aid, its mass dislocation and other measures stems from disapproval of its government rather than animosity for Jews in general. Antisemitism is not condoned by those who advocate for Palestinian rights or who reject Israeli policies. Prejudice directed towards Jews constitute antisemitism whereas human rights and international law concerns are the basis of modern opposition to Israel. It is important to distinguish between antisemitism and criticism of Israel's policies.Today's outrage is directed towards government actions rather than a person's race or religion. Antisemitism is still a widespread problem that needs to be addressed but it should not be mistaken for a valid criticism of a country's policies. Although they are not the same, Antisemitism and human rights abuses are important issues. By definition antisemitism targets
Jews because of their race or. religion. The actions and policies of Israel's government particularly with regard to Palestine are the main targets of criticism. It's critical to comprehend this difference. Criticizing state policies is not the same as being racist. While acknowledging Antisemitism is still a hateful ideology that needs to be combated. Abuses of human rights is a valid criticism.

Sources:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/israel-and-the-
occupied-palestinian-territory/report-israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/
https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/04/anti-semitism-britain-wary-simple-media-narratives

Nonfiction - Africa

Raw material, Raw deal: the price of global demand

The people of republic of congo are facing the worst “modern slavery” in a quest for a material that contributes significantly to the global production of petroleum and chemicals industries. According to the world bank organization. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranks among the world’s largest producing countries of minerals needed for the energy transition. This provides an overview of the global cobalt market, and the opportunities and risks for DRC in supplying the mineral. accounting for over 70 percent of global cobalt mine production in 2023. And expected to double the amount into 225,000 metric tons in 2024.
The problem lies within the production itself.
Cobalt, a silver, gray hard and lustrous material. Is one of the main reasons for the employment of almost 12.5 million Congolese. This includes children aged fifteen and over. The cobalt production makes a way for the Congolese mining industry called “artisanal” or hand dug. Which means the labor not only includes the raw process of hand mining but also hazardous and extremely dangerous labor for the equivalent of just a few dollars a day. Despite the fact under the law, there should not be artisanal mining taking place in any industrial mine. And yet, in most of the industrial mines in Congo, there are more than artisanal mining operations. However the root of this problem goes back to 2009, when the previous president of Congo, Joseph Kabila signed the mutual agreement of implementation of Cobalt mining along with China. Today, China infiltrates the global cobalt market. Seizing 80 percent of the DRC’s Cobalt.
Children, women are not even spared from working without the proper necessary protection. And the extensive absence of appropriate risk management measures to minimize the release of hazardous substances. They risked their lives digging tunnels as deep as 100 meters, excavating cobalt without protection. Leading to their suffering, treacherous exploitation and human rights abuses. Only to be paid poverty wages by agents and buyers who source small amounts from each miner at so-called “buying houses.” This does not make a difference to the slavery from the past. Whereas workers are being treated unfairly depriving them of their basic human rights.
This monstrosity exerted influence on the deterioration of each worker's health condition. Inhalation of Cobalt particles can cause respiratory sensitization, decreased pulmonary function and lower airway symptoms. In addition to this, Study from Lancet discovered, people who are living near Cobalt mining, particularly women who wash the raw ore after it has been extracted, have the highest levels of heavy metals in their blood. Due to the raw exposure of their body to the material. The same study demonstrated a five-fold increase in risk of birth defects in babies born to fathers working in cobalt mines. Identical to the increase of levels of cobalt in their urine and blood, and oxidative damage to DNA in children related to cobalt toxicity.
In spite of this, The global demand for cobalt is still on rise. And the exploitation of this worker would only be continued over and over again for more upcoming years. The child labour would still remain, intact. With corruption exploiting the system. Without capitalism being held accountable.

Sources:
https://www.dw.com/en/drc-struggles-to-make-cobalt-mining-more-transparent/a-68610784
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara

Nonfiction - Medical

How can suicide affect our current lives?

In the past 20 years, suicide rates have been rising rapidly by 30%. Estimates have shown that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youths between the ages of 12-19. 77% of suicide commuters of all suicides happen in middle (17% of the global population) or lower-class (51% of the global population) families. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020) had a great impact on suicidal rates and attempts. Even though that COVID-19 has passed on, there are still signs of shown throughout the health systems. There had been unexpected behavior changes that happened during the COVID-19 lockdown, this had led to increasing the rate of suicidal rates increasing. Though some countries may see this as a critical issue, some may not be bothered by it. The World Health Organization had implemented its new global strategies called “LIVE LIFE” which created resources and access to suicide prevention centers globally. Though this may be accessible in some Western countries, the matter of suicide and mental health is known to be taboo in certain regions. This makes it difficult for citizens to seek help.Not only that, by the law in some countries, committing suicide is also seen as “illegal” and being treated as punishment. In many different judicial systems in the world, it is seen to be illegal to assist others into suicidal attempts. This can either be directly or indirectly. In some cases also, a physician assisted suicides are seen as illegal, which are under the medication of euthanasia. This medication is mostly prescribed to patients who are going through unbearable or painful diseases. Studies had been shown that the people that are most likely to be in danger of suicidal attempts are people who had delt with mental and physical health problems in the past (which were mostly alcohol addicts and people with depression disorders). The world health organization sees suicide as a serous public health problem, with an increasing number.

Sources:
https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/euthanasia
https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/grief/coping-with-a-loved-ones-suicide

Breaking News - Medical

Ozempic: “The Easy Way Out”

Ozempic, a product initially created for individuals with type 2 diabetes, is more commonly known for helping individuals lose weight in impressively short times. It has attained immense popularity among both celebrities and thousands of others seeking its benefits. Many Ozempic users have gained confidence and happiness through the use of this product. These results have led to rising demand and price increases for Ozempic, igniting debates about access to this “weight-loss” medicine. Recently, Senator Bernie Sanders engaged in a dispute with the chief executive of Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that created Ozempic. He raised his concerns about the rising prices, claiming that 40,000 more people could die each year if the company doesn’t make these medicines more affordable.However, individuals are ignoring the dangerous risks associated with Ozempic. When taking even the smallest doses of it, they expose themselves to risks such as diarrhea, nausea, constipation, increased gas, heartburn, etc. There are also more severe health risks, such as Type 1 diabetes, kidney disease, and pancreatitis. Note that this product is primarily designed for individuals with type 2 diabetes and may not even be suitable for those solely seeking weight loss. Therefore, its potential benefits for weight loss may not justify its use. It's a hazardous risk for an individual to take.There are other ways to lose weight without these risks, such as maintaining control over diet practices. Though it may be hard at first, try to limit sugar and fat consumption. Remember to always eat these two things in moderation. Regular exercise is another good way to lose weight in a healthy manner. There are many misconceptions about exercise, with people believing that it has to be a hardcore 60 minutes of intense activity. In reality, taking a 15-minute walk outside daily can drastically improve health. There are other ways to obtain a healthy lifestyle without the use of Ozempic.Though a decision to take Ozempic is ultimately the individual's choice, we encourage everyone to lose weight naturally, without taking the chance of developing serious health concerns.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/health/ozempic-novo-nordisk-sanders-hearing/index.html
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ozempic-for-weight-loss
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/oprah-calls-ozempic-easy-way-161059924.html
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/limit-fat-sugar.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20to%20limit,fruits%20or%20lactose%20in%20milk.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/25/well/ozempic-pill-weight-loss.html

Breaking news - Europe

France’s Legislative Elections: Deadlock Could Turn to Dead Deal

During the summer 2024, the French government ran legislative elections. The French people elected 577 representatives, known as deputies. Currently, France has 577 legislative districts, 11 representing territories abroad, meaning 577 seats in the National Assembly.
The French election process works in two rounds. On June 30th, the people of France vote on one candidate from each of the French political parties. If any one of the representatives gets more than 50 percent of the votes (majority vote), they have a seat in the National Assembly and there is no second round for that district. If no representatives get the majority, the voting moves to the second round, which takes place on July 7th. The candidates that have at least 12.5 percent of the votes qualify for the second round. Whichever candidate has the most votes in the second round then will win the election and is named the deputy of their legislative district.
However, during the first round of voting, there was a surprise in store for the French public. There are four main French political parties: New Popular Front (NPF), Ensemble (Ens.), National Rally (RN), and The Republicans (LR). During the first round, the Republicans had 7 percent of the vote. Then, the Ensemble with 21 percent, the NPF at 28 percent, and the RN with a staggering 38 percent in first. However, only a few legislative districts actually chose their deputy during the first round. RN secured 38 seats, NPF secured 32 seats, Ensemble with 2, and LR had 1 seat. This still left 501 (87%) seats in the National Assembly left to be filled.
During the second round, NPF won 178 seats, Ensemble had 150, LR had 39, and the RN had 142. Other political parties took 68 seats. Every political party failed to meet the 289 seats needed for the majority, meaning France’s parliament was in a deadlock.Current
After the deadlocks in June and July, Macron appointed Michael Barnier of the Republican party as prime minister, and the responsibility of putting together the rest of the National Assembly fell on his shoulders. On September 21, after two months of discussion, Macron announced the results of the election at the presidential palace. The cabinet had mostly ministers from NPF, and LR. Jean-noel Barrot is the new foreign minister, followed by Antoine Armand as the new Finance Minister, and Sebastien Lecornu, still defense minister. This new National Assembly puts NPF, a historically left wing political party, with the most seats.What does this mean?
France is one of the leading countries in the European Union (E.U.). Whichever party has the most seats in the National Assembly, will have the most influence on decisions made for the country’s Parliament and the E.U.. This will influence the decisions made by France in the United Nations and its Security Council, where France has veto power.
On the domestic level, NPF will need to combine forces with another French political party to make a minority government. Additionally, Michael and Emmanuel Macron form cohabitation, where the Prime Minister and French President are from different political parties. Critics say cohabitation often generates tensions between political parties, making it hard to make decisions. Many speculate that NPF could combine forces with Ensemble, potentially easing tensions between the two. This could help avoid disagreements that could slow solutions to France’s debt problem, which, if not solved quickly, could lead to a 110 billion Euro price tag for France if they miss their target to lower its deficits this year.
High stakes for France right now; all eyes are on the country as the world awaits its next move.

Sources:
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220511-explainer-how-do-france-s-legislative-elections-work
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/07/world/france-election-2024
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/three-way-run-offs-horse-trading-what-happens-next-french-elections-2024-06-30/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHjlzAYtKZE
https://www.npr.org/2024/09/21/nx-s1-5121958/france-center-right-government
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rd52zl018o
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/france-announces-new-center-right-government-two-months-after-divisive-elections
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/business/france-debt-deficit-prime-minister-macron.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20too%20much%20debt,Europe%20after%20Greece's%20and%20Italy's.

Breaking news - Americas

Haiti Gang Violence: U.N. Lacks Funds for Proper Support

On October third 2024, 70 civilians were killed in Pont Sondé by the Gran Grif gang in Haiti. As gang members set houses on fire in agricultural regions, they began shooting those who ran out of homes. Their aim was to kill those involved with the “Jean Denis Coalition”, a self-defense group advocating for U.N. response to Haiti’s gang violence issues. Now homeless, thousands of people at Haiti’s capital, Point-au-Prince, face internal displacement and a hunger crisis. Haiti’s precarious situation’s origins lie in an increased level of gang violence unseen for the time.
In July of 2021, Haiti’s former president Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home. A lack of a solidified political leader caused a rise in gang violence throughout the nation. Ariel Henry, the recently selected prime minister at that time, stepped up to govern the country, promising to hold elections for a new president soon. One of Henry’s biggest critics and opposers is Jimmy Chérizier, a gang leader after he was fired from his position in the Haitian police force. Chérizier used Moïse’s assassination to rally support from the public to engage in violence, which he labeled as “legitimate violence”. This act inspired many gangs to rise up and vie for reforms and changes in elected officials, initiating what would be one of the most devastating and violent massacres in decades.
Now, the country is facing humanitarian issues, including high food insecurity rates and a national displacement crisis.
Haiti’s government and military force are not strong enough to combat the threats posed by the various gangs in the nation, so gangs are beginning to use violence to control various parts of Haiti. In addition to threatening to take over government positions, gangs have also taken control of major roadways and civilian commutes. They have imposed taxes and tariffs going through these areas, causing mass poverty. Most of the population flee or are prevented from returning to their gang-controlled cities, causing mass displacement throughout Haiti. Those who do stay are subject to constant fear of starvation and murder.
Not only is mass poverty increasing across the country, food insecurity in these regions are up 78 percent from 2021, concluding in about 80 percent of Haiti’s population struggling to provide food for themselves. The taxes imposed by gangs on food truck drivers have caused the price of goods to rise. A majority of Haiti’s farmers have been forced to leave their jobs, so Haiti’s agricultural resources are depleting as well. Many NGOs report that around 70 percent of displaced or impoverished Haitian households’ income is spent trying to keep up with heightening food prices and rates of inflation.
At the end of September 2024, the United Nations (U.N.) reinitiated the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission for another 12 months. Led by Kenya, the MSS aims to prevent further gang violence, lessen the crisis enough to ensure the safe delivery of resources to the Haitian people. The MSS also focuses on creating an environment for free and fair elections to close the power vacuum in the government, hopefully providing the political stability Haiti desperately needs to control gang violence.
However, there are various setbacks. Not only does the MSS have a limited amount of funding for the mission, it only has 410 police officers on Haitian soil, although that number is projected to grow to 2,500. The financial needs of the mission are preventing the U.N. from employing the amount of officers needed to efficiently regulate gangs in Haiti, and those who are there are hopelessly overwhelmed. The MSS also needs to find ways to transport resources through gang controlled areas, which could require negotiation with hostile groups.
The U.N. must make decisions that could make or break Haiti’s humanitarian crisis. Too much pressure to regulate gangs could cause Haitian civilians to be on the receiving end of various gang’s frustrations, threatening the loss of more innocent lives. However, failure to act could lead to an extremist controlled government system in Haiti, which could lead to further human rights violations for the country.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/04/us/haiti-gang-attack.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68466563
https://tennesseeregister.com/citing-gang-violence-religious-coalition-seeks-u-n-help-for-haiti/
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/oct/02/gang-violence-leaves-haiti-facing-worst-hunger-emergency-in-the-western-hemisphere
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/more-than-6000-people-in-haiti-forced-to-flee-their-homes-after-deadly-gang-attack
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdq2wzyg2xo
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1155151
https://international.la-croix.com/world/haitis-catholic-church-workers-struggle-amid-gang-violence-worsening-hunger-crisis

Nonfiction - Culture

Saying Bye to Bilingualism: Today's Youth Losing their Native Languages

This is America, speak English!— while the U.S. and other similar countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. are known to be multilingual and multicultural, the need to assimilate into a country’s customs and speak their language is ingrained in many immigrants’ minds. Whether it’s from firsthand experience or tales heard from others, many have experienced the fear of not fitting into the area or country they live in.
This fear has manifested into a greater problem: today’s generation’s inability to speak their native languages. Immigrant parents avoid speaking their mother tongues at home in an attempt to help their children learn English or other languages they are surrounded by, which, in theory, sounds like it would help their child excel in that language. However, growing up without the ability to speak their mother tongue brings up many disadvantages for the kids.
First of all, kids who are unable to speak their native language reportedly feel more disconnected from their culture. Being unable to communicate with relatives or even peers from the same culture brings up feelings of isolation and shame. This shame from not being able to
speak their mother tongue can potentially discourage them from learning it later in life. Depriving youth of their native tongues denies them so many opportunities: the ability to communicate with relatives, speak with a wider range of people in their future careers, and reconnect with their heritage.
Additionally, bilingualism isn’t just essential for communication; it has been proven to provide many cognitive benefits, such as enhanced problem-solving abilities, delayed cognitive decline, and improved memory and multitasking. Proficiency in their native language has also been shown to improve children’s overall language skills and ultimately help them excel in English.
Neglecting to pass on our languages to the next generation also brings up the long-term risk of permanently losing them. According to UNESCO, of the 7,000 languages that exist in the world, 3,000 are expected to disappear before the end of the century. The rate at which we lose these languages will only decrease if we continue failing to pass them on. Ultimately, passing on native languages is extremely important, not only to help with current and future generations’ communication, cognitive development, and future, but also to help preserve our languages and help decrease the rate at which they are disappearing. To help with this issue, we urge parents to communicate with their children in their native tongues. Different techniques such as one parent one language (OPOL) or only speaking the native language(s) at home have grown in popularity. Regardless of what technique is used, the most important factor is that we continue to pass down our languages to future generations and prioritize bilingualism.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/26/498291619/the-return-of-bilingual-education-in-california
https://www.staugustine.edu/2024/05/30/cognitive-benefits-of-bilingualism/
https://www.kqed.org/news/10746111/for-some-filipino-americans-language-barriers-lea
ve-culture-lost-in-translation
https://childandfamilyblog.com/bilingual-children/
https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/en/2022/02/21/a-decade-to-prevent-the-disappearance-of-3
000-languages/
https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/how-to-raise-bilingual-children/

Nonfiction - Medical

Uterus vs Law

One of the most popular and trending women's rights topics that are being talked about in Western countries is the matter of abortion and abortion. While some see abortion as a woman’s right and a woman’s choice to abort their child, some also have the perspective that abortion is a murderous crime and shall not be provided. In the countries where women have access to medical procedures regarding abortion, there are many challenges, and advocates against this matter, fighting to end this matter. In countries where abortion is illegal and unprotected, women have to face challenging and life-threatening circumstances to access safe abortion methods.Though some countries have the right to abort their child, the others don't. Not having access to legal and safe abortions may cause some to condemn illegal abortion centers. They are endangering women's health and even life. However, this may not only be the reason why women pursue unsafe abortions. Some other reasons may be a lack of understanding or clarity about what the law allows, poor access to health services, abortion discrimination of any sort, humanitarian crises or conflicts, or economic consequences.There are many immediate and long-term health risks of having unsafe abortions for women. This is not only physical health, but also mental and social health that can lead to their lives.
There are two different types of abortion, the abortion pill and in-clinic abortion. Medication abortion (mostly known as abortion pill) consists of using two different kinds of medications called mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifeprex or mifepristone contains a high dosage of steroids, which is for a pregnancy duration that is less than 70 days. This medication stops the hormones that maintain the interior of the uterus. Though to be known, that the uterus cannot be able to support the pregnancy and the contents inside of the uterus are expelled, Mifepristone is also used for other circumstances, such as hyperglycemia, hypercortisolism, and patients with type 2 diabetes which are not able to have surgeries. This medication is only available by a doctor prescription, and only restricted disruption program called the Mifepristone REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program. Before taking this medication, there would be a need for counseling by a doctor, and some of the following should be considered, such as allergies, geriatric, and/or if breastfeeding. The usage of this medication is also not recommended for women younger than 18, even for abortion.
Misoprostol is a medication that includes drugs such as synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog. There are different uses of this medication, such as treatment after postpartum. It is also used to prevent stomach ulcers while using NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen). Abortion with these medications is like having a really heavy period.
Abortion pills are also a way of getting an abortion, Though due to many laws in different countries finding them and even their distribution may be illegal.One thing that we need to know and understand is that abortion is a reproductive right.

Sources:
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6111/misoprostol-oral/details
https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/abortion-facts/
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/05/abortion-in-american-history/376851/

Nonfiction - middle east

Yemen is experiencing largest humanitarian crisis in the history

Children in Yemen are experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis and in need of humanitarian aid. Shrinking more than 80 percent of the economy, since war broke out in late March 2015. 21.6 million are in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection services. 9.2 million of these are children.
In Latest statistics, 14 percent of the population remain internally displaced. While millions of children lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services. This contributes greatly to the outbreak crisis of severe acute malnutrition, cholera and any other life-threatening diseases. The country’s healthcare is slowly on the bridge of collapsing leaving 46 percent of health facilities out of service. The widespread destruction of war and violence had also worsened the state of human rights in the country, with a high risk of violence abuse against women, and children. This ongoing crisis exacerbated the exploitation of child labour, killing and maiming. And the recruitment and use of Children as combatant to the war conflict. Only 50 percent of schools are functioning, and the number of children including women who do not attend school are high.
After nine years of war, above 80 percent of the population are suffering from poverty, over 17 million can't afford enough food to eat everyday. The United Nations stated Yemen as the most heavily mine affected country and one of the largest humanitarian crises as of today.
UNICEF organizations are initiating funding requirements for Yemen in 2024. Requiring 170.75 million US dollars to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Along with the programme targeting different sectors such as education, nutrition, child protection, social protection, cross-sectorial, health, and field operation coordination as well as emergency response and preparedness. The UNICEF Yemen humanitarian strategy is guided by international human rights law and the convention on the Right of the child. UNICEF's program focuses on addressing immediate needs affected by the ongoing conflict. It aims to stabilize the country's primary health and nutrition facility to ensure equitable access to essential services. Partnering with different organizations including the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation. The EU had successfully contributed almost €1.5 billion to the crisis in Yemen. The second largest donor to the Yemen humanitarian response plan.Yemen is calling for your help, donate now and help save lives in Yemen.There are various ways to help and give aid for the people of Yemen. Including donating with different organizations such as Yemen Humanitarian fund, Islamic Relief Yemen, World Food Programme and more. This organization is the foundation of the world's response to the Yemen crisis. Whether that is through charities, fundraising and famine relief organizations. Check
different organizations for more information.“But not everyone has enough financial capacity to help, can we still give aid to the crisis?” Yes, you can! by sharing information about the humanitarian crisis of Yemen online. It helps reach the intended audience that has the ability to provide assistance to the people of Yemen. You might want to share these articles to any of your social media accounts. Join us to end the
suffering of millions of Yemeni people.

Sources:
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis
https://www.dw.com/en/saudi-led-air-raids-continue-over-yemen/a-18344559

Breaking news - Global

The Cruel Catfisher

The issue of catfishing, especially with predatory behavior online is something we should all be extremely cautious of. Catfishing can bring individuals a sense of confidence, by using others' photos to create an improved persona for oneself. Despite these feelings of confidence, catfishing quickly became a dangerous practice, having younger individuals especially falling victim to it. In the case of Alexander Mccarthy, not only did he manipulate the trust of young girls, but he caused 2 people to take their lives. By portraying himself on social media platforms as a young girl, he preyed on their insecurities, encouraging them to send him indecent photographs and videos. His deceptions led these young girls into harmful situations including blackmail.Mccarthy poses as a young girl targeting those who are conscious of their body. When he convinced these young girls to send him obscene photos, he would immediately show his true colors and respond to them with a carefully crafted message blackmailing them with their own photographs and videos, “You are gonna do as I say for tonight and then I’ll leave after. But if you don’t then I’m uploading everything online for everyone to see. Understand?” He promised to leave his victims alone after one night, so they would be compelled to follow through with his requests. His false promises only led these children into deeper trouble as he continued blackmailing them, leaving victims helpless and trapped in this endless cycle.The most unfortunate victim was a girl named Cinamarron Thomas who was only 12 years old. Four days after he obtained her photos, she received his pre-made threat. Reluctantly, she complied with his commands believing his promise, thinking everything would be over soon enough. However, his demands slowly got worse. One day he asked Cinamarron for photos of her 9 year old younger sister, which shattered her. Desperate and sobbing, she begged Mccarthy, “Please, not her.” She continually refused to do it, but Mccarthy felt no remorse, starting a 30 second countdown for her to get him photos or he'd post everything online, sending them straight to her father first, paralyzed with fear, she quickly responded saying “No, I will obey.” But instead of complying, Cinamarron’s line went silent. Three minutes later, her little sister discovered her lifeless body in her parents bedroom. Her father, overwhelmed with sadness and immense confusion, took his life 18 months later, never understanding what led to Cinamarrons decision. He passed, without knowing Cinamarrons death was never his fault.Her grandparents leave a lasting statement, “We know that nothing that we do or say will bring her back. But if we can help another family to not have to go through what we did, something good could come out of her death. Parents, please keep the doors of communication open concerning the evil of some people online.”As a society, we need to try our best to combat these issues. Education and community support plays an important role in reducing the chances of children being caught victim to catfishing again. Education of the dangers of online media can help children spot potential dangers online. In addition, we as a community can also make a change by reporting suspicious activity online.While we can’t erase the past, we can strive to change the course of the future. Lets create an environment together where children can create connections and have their rights respected, protected, and not taken advantage of.

Sources:
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/child-and-youth-safety-online
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crejr8grr01o
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/us/catfish-how-to-keep-kids-safe-cec/index.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/25/alexander-mccartney-catfish-sentenced-life-in-prison/

Science - Global

The Spread of Superbugs: A Global Crisis Caused by Antimicrobial Resistance

1/3/2025

As we approach a new decade, a rising issue similarly approaches: superbugs caused by antimicrobial resistance.
Antibiotics, medicine meant to fight bacterial infections in humans, plants, and animals, have long been a critical tool against sickness-causing bacteria. For decades, antibiotics have helped us by killing or preventing the growth of bacteria. However, the antibiotics we’ve been using have become less and less effective as bacteria evolve to resist them. These antibiotic-resistant microbes are known as superbugs, and the issue is more broadly referred to as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) when including viruses, fungi, parasites, and other germs.
What are superbugs?
Superbugs, also known as multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms, are strains of bacteria that have evolved to become resistant to several types of antibiotics. These organisms make infections harder to treat by requiring individuals to seek alternate treatment. In the time it takes for people to find other cures, infections can spread and make the individual’s sickness even worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), superbugs infect more than 2 million people in the U.S. alone and kill over 23,000. While the development of superbugs can be slowed, they cannot be stopped, which is a major reason why they pose such a great risk.
How do superbugs develop?
The development of superbugs stems from a multitude of reasons: the misuse of antibiotics (overprescription or prescription when unnecessary), little to no access to clean water and sanitation, mass movement of people, and the triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss). The combination of these issues has enabled bacteria to become resistant to treatment and increased the spread of superbugs worldwide, not only in humans but animals as well.
What issue do superbugs pose for the future?
As superbugs continue to develop, they impose a major threat to the future. The World Health Organization (WHO) declares superbugs to be among the top 10 global threats to health. Additionally, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), up to 10 million people could die annually due to superbugs by 2050. Antimicrobial resistance has the potential to pose almost as great a threat as cancer; the predicted number of deaths by 2050 equals the number of deaths caused globally by cancer in 2020. Life-saving drugs will no longer work if they continue to emerge and spread globally.
Antimicrobial resistance not only affects people’s health worldwide— there is evident damage to the economy as well. UNEP expects global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be reduced by at least 3.4 trillion USD annually. By the next decade, over 24 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty.
How can we mitigate these risks?
To tackle superbugs on a global scale, the UN declared the need for a multisectoral response that recognizes the interdependence of people, plants, animals, and the environment. Many of the issues worsening AMR are the same drivers for environmental degradation, and by tackling those, superbugs can be indirectly dealt with. The UN’s recommendations include “creating robust governance, planning, regulatory and legal frameworks at the national level, and increasing global efforts to improve integrated water management”. Other suggestions for fighting superbugs on a global scale include creating international standards for what constitutes a good microbiological indicator of AMR from environmental samples and exploring options to redirect investments, including guaranteeing sustainable funding. Apart from the UN, other organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have taken measures to fight antimicrobial resistance. The FDA has encouraged the development of new antibiotics, approved other new antibiotics that can treat certain resistant bacteria, created labeling regulations addressing the proper use of antibiotics, and partnered with the CDC to promote public awareness about antibiotics.
To help prevent antibiotic resistance in your own life, we recommend taking antibiotics properly and only when needed. Don’t rely on antibiotics as your only solution unless stated otherwise by a health care professional, and when prescribed antibiotics, only take them according to the directions given by your health care provider; no skipping or doubling on doses. Other ways to help combat antibiotic resistance include maintaining good hygiene and preventing infections by practicing healthy habits when interacting with animals, maintaining safe sex practices with partners, and adhering to food safety rules.

Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html#::text=Antibiotics%20are%20medicines%20that%20fi ght,pills%2C%20capsules%2C%20or%20liquids.
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/02/stop-spread-superbugs#::text=Superbugs%20are%20strai ns%20of%20bacteria,Control%20and%20Prevention%20(CDC).
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/superbug
https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/09/1153896
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133227
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance#:~:text=The%20misu se%20and%20overuse%20of,and%20at%20all%20income%20levels.
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/what-fuelling-worlds-antimicrobial-resistance-crisi s
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-resistance/prevention/index.html
about:blank

Health - Africa

A Historic Triumph: How Egypt Made History with Malaria Eradication

1/2/2025

After nearly one hundred years of battling, the World Health Organization officially declared Egypt as a malaria-free nation in October 2024. The first commonwealth to be given an WHO certification since 2010.In 2024, Egypt was the third country to be certified in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region, following their victories against an endemic disease that had plagued the land from the time of the pharaoh's beginning. The world statistics reported 249 million malaria disease worldwide in 2022, 94% of it came mostly in the African Region. Malaria—a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that is spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes and is aboriginal to tropical countries, has now been defeated by the country.The WHO's organization applauded the Egyptian government and authority for their efforts to eradicate the problem tracing as far back as 4000 B.C.E in Egypt. While coaxing to be alert for the possible upsurge of Malaria in the region. The battle began in the 1920s when the country's place an embargo on development of rice and crops in nearby individual households. Egypt officially designated malaria as a notifiable disease in 1930 due to its high prevalence of up to 40% and the majority of its population living along the Nile River. Then, later on opened a malaria control station meant to provide diagnosis, treatment and surveillance. However the repercussions of World War Two in 1942, spiked the nation's cases to more than 3 million. Medical supplies and services were displaced, along with the construction of the Aswan Dam, completed in 1969, that opposed a long standing threat of malaria risk in the country.In 2001, the ministry of health and population took over the re-establishment of local malaria transmission. Starting an initiative to prevent the outbreaks through early case identification, prompt treatment, vector control and public education. Egypt was able to manage the malaria epidemic by setting up 16 treatment units and hiring over 4000 healthcare professionals. Through the years, Egypt aids its countrymen regardless of legal status, particularly to pregnant women, young children and other groups in vulnerable situations. a free malaria diagnosis and treatment. Health professionals across the country are equipped to identify and screen for malaria cases, even in neighboring regions. Globally, 44 countries and one territory have now been certified as malaria free. The WHO grants certification to a country after it demonstrates that the local transmission of malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes has been stopped nationwide for a minimum of three years in a row.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/americas/cuba-second-nationwide-blackout-intl/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/19/nx-s1-5158380/cuba-power-outage-electricity-embargo
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/18/world/americas/cuba-power-plant-blackout.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/amid-blackouts-scarce-food-cuba-protests-rattle-cradle-revolution-2024-03-27/

Nonfiction - Global

The Alcohol in the System

1/6/25

One glass , two glass, three glass, four, how many more do you want to go? This is a liquid that has different purposes for different people. Some see it as a way to party. Some people drink it to just "look cool". Some drink it for religious purposes, and some use it to just wash away the pain that they are in.If you haven't guessed this liquid till now, it is alcohol. Alcohol is known to be a chemical substance shared in many popular drink categories such as beers, wines and more. Alcohol is created of a structure called Ethanol, which is known to be highly addictive. Ethanol can also be found in drug substances which are also highly addictive such as diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine, Oxycodone, Phenytoin, Nystatin, and other substances out in the market. The short-term issues carried out by alcohol misuse can include slowed speech and slower conversation; in high amounts, it can include blackouts, and alcohol poisoning. The long-term consequences include liver disease (cirrhosis), cardiovascular problems, digestive issues, and certain types of cancers. There are some mental issues that can also carry on due to these causes, including depression and anxiety, and increase on domestic violence in households and also includes increase in gambling and loss of income. There are also some legal issues which include DUI’s (driving under the influence) and illegal behaviors both in public and privet properties. Another major problem that was happening recently in lower income communities is fake alcohol. Fake alcohol or illicit alcohol is being illegally sold by untrusted dealers which leads to serious toxicities, including blindness, organ damage and death.
Alcohol problems mostly occur in the following communities:
Ages 12-25 (15-25%)
Family history of addiction (40-60%)
Mental Health disorder problems (20-30%)
Veterans ( 10-15%)
LGBTQ+ communities (20-23%)
Women (10-15%)

Sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder
https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243

Breaking news - americas

Cuban Nation Wide Power Outage: Results of Polarization?

A nationwide power outage occurred in Cuba on October 18th, only hours after the government urged citizens of the crucial need to paralyze the economy. The outage left millions of Cuban citizens without sufficient electricity for daily necessities, which could lead to the wasting of food that has already become sparse in the country. However, this is not news for its citizens, as shortages in electricity and food have been prevalent for years. The crisis in Cuba stems from unresolved infrastructure and economic issues in the country, which started during the pandemic.
The Cuban government has struggled to keep up with imports of fuel and other resources, blaming the U.S. for creating trade embargoes and sanctions on the purchasing power of the country. Additionally, Cuba’s long-term trade partner and main source of fuel imports, Venezuela, has cut fuel trade to preserve its own struggling economy. Cuba turned to Mexico and Russia for aid, but the lines were eventually cut there too. These economic hardships have caused the economy's crash, as Cuba has few financial resources to maintain and supply its power grids.
The authoritarian government has had to strategically delegate its limited resources, allowing for longer periods of electricity availability in areas prone to uprisings. This strategy was implemented to try to help prevent issues similar to what happened in March when Cuban citizens protested due to shortages in food and electricity. The Cuban government has also limited its rations of bread to only pregnant women and children. It has become increasingly clear that the Cuban government does not have the resources, connections, or money to sustain bearable standards of life for its population of 11 million people.
Desperation prevails and the usually more secretive Cuban government has begun to be more vocal and open about situations within the country. A New York Times Article by Frances Robles suggests that this transparency reveals the severity of the economic crisis in Cuba. As resources dwindle, Cuban citizens flee the country, attempting to migrate to the States to escape. Now, the question is whether or not the U.S. can support this growing number of immigrants, as polarization in the U.S.’s political systems prevents decisions and policies from being made. Additionally, it is a question of what the U.S. should do about its trade sanctions for Cuba and how legislation could be changed to prevent further economic decline, despite Cuba’s government’s standing as a part of the communist party. As individuals, it is difficult to put aside one’s own opinions to get along. Can governments put aside their political differences to save the lives of thousands? The world awaits

Sources:
https://aje.io/ouyvm3
https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2024/11/04/the-eradication-of-malaria-in-egypt-a-triumph-for-public-health-and-human-rights/

Literary Magazines

Every season, we publish a literary magazine issue focused on a different theme. Read some of our works here.

Halfway to 30 is our first literary magazine issue. It is focused on our globe as we enter 2025, which is halfway through the 2020 - 2030 decade. It examines our world through the lense of global issues, culture, and more.

Ethnography is our second literary magazine issue. It discusses culture, dialects, and history. It is about how culture shapes society and how society changes culture.

Nonfiction - Technology

AI’s Environmental Toll: A Growing Concern

6/3/2025

During recent years, AI has started to rise and has benefited many individuals. As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and DALLE become a part of many of our daily lives, more people are starting to worry about their impact on our environment. A recent MIT study shows the resource demands of these advanced models, raising alarms about their sustainability in the long run.
Training large AI models to do simple tasks, such as keeping storage, takes a lot of energy. For instance, training OpenAI’s GPT-3 consumed 1,287 megawatt-hours of electricity, emitting around 552 tons of carbon dioxide. This compares to the emissions of 120 average U.S. homes. Each interaction with these models consumes about five times more electricity than a simple Google search. Data centers
AI models use water resources for cooling purposes. An example would be training GPT-3, which uses about 700,000 liters of water. On a smaller scale, sending 10 to 50 responses with ChatGPT can consume half a liter of water. This demand places issues on water supplies, especially in regions that already are facing scarcity.
Due to the advancement of AI technologies, this also means that there needs to be frequent hardware upgrades. In 2023, generative AI applications contributed to 2,600 tonnes of waste, projected to escalate to 2.5 million tonnes by 2030 if the trend continues. Many tech companies are starting to notice these environmental challenges and have agreed to power their data centers to renewable energy.
As AI continues to evolve, balancing technological advancements with environmental issues will become a concern in the near future. As society progresses into using AI more often, we should consider its environmental impact and prioritize sustainable development. While AI has helped us in the past with medicine, education, and advice, it also consumes excessive amounts of energy, which can be dangerous for our environment.

Sources:
https://people.com/open-ai-ceo-claims-saying-please-thank-you-to-chatgpt-costs-millions-of-doll ars-in-electricity-bills-11721523?utmsource=chatgpt.com
https://www.axios.com/2025/04/14/chatbots-chatgpt-ai-carbon-climate?utmsource=chatgpt.co m
https://www.theverge.com/climate-change/676528/ai-data-center-energy-forecast-bitcoin-mining ?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://news.mit.edu/2025/explained-generative-ai-environmental-impact-0117
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-c an-do-about
https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-climate-change-dilemma#:~:text=Tech%20giants%20li ke%20Google%20and,in%20Canada%20instead%20of%20Arizona.
Photo Credit:
https://justice-everywhere.org/general/why-conscious-ai-would-be-bad-for-the-environment/

Nonfiction - Americas - Politics

Chile’s Abortion Laws and Impacts Across Country Lines

6/6/2025

Chile’s president Gabriel Boric has pushed for progression in expanding current abortion law in Chile. A new bill currently being reviewed by the Chilean Congress looks to decriminalize abortion for pregnancies up to 14 weeks - this time, allowing termination under any circumstances. As new proposals come into play for Chile’s politics, many analysts suggest that if these additions go through, it could potentially influence many other countries in the region.
Latin America has had quite the history with abortion laws. While Cuba was the first country in Latin America to decriminalize abortion, the movement only began taking off in future decades. Even then, Cuba only decriminalized abortion under certain circumstances; this includes cases of rape, incest, or cases when the pregnancy poses a potential threat to the woman’s current of future health and life. Across the region today, these cases are known as “tres causales”, as noted in an article by the Straits Times, or the three reasons. These three primary cases where Cuba allowed abortion in 1965 continued to be guiding frameworks for future countries looking to decriminalize abortion, especially for parties looking to introduce the concept little by little to reduce mass societal push back.
Over time, as sentiment for pro-abortion movements came to fruition, other countries adopted laws decriminalizing abortion with the tres causales framework. Eventually, countries in the region also began to include more cases of pregnancies alongside tres causales, including abortion for women who experience mental health struggles and economic constraints. For example, Guyana legalized abortion in 1995 for pregnancies up to 8 weeks, allowing a few additional cases to the tres causales.
While countries like Guyana have enhanced social movements to expand abortion movements historically, many countries in Latin America including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela, still have abortion laws aligning with tres causales. Countries in Central America especially have stricter and more limited allowances.
Chile is a country that follows stricter abortion laws. Like its neighbors, Chile’s laws regarding abortion are relatively conservative. A large section of Boric’s presidential campaign focused on expanding abortion law in Chile. This recent revamption of discussion and new actions such as the bill currently being reviewed in congress are ways Boric and his administration are trying to fulfill promises made during his running. However, it is clear that the tide of public social attitude towards abortion has changed a lot, according to Reuters in an article published on June 5th. The article notes that only an estimated 25 percent of voters support passing the proposed bill, with 55 percent aiming to stick with current legislation. There is also evidence that there is a large group of voters (19 percent) who are looking to vote in favor of banning abortion, which showcases much push back from conservative voter populations.
President Boric’s new bill has the potential to influence many stricter neighboring Latin and Central American countries if it passes, especially in the presence of the digital age. Reuters analysts also outline that political swing in the Latin and Central American region have been inconsistent, which indicates that with a strong move from Chile, the public sentiment could lead to more support towards pro-abortion groups. These groups have been able to spread ideas across borders easily through the use of social media and communication technology, which could influence voting sentiment in neighboring countries.
It is clear that actions in Chile today could shape all other countries in Latin America in the coming years. While Chile’s congress has tough decisions to make, especially with public voting populations looking for a conservative decision, the outcome will impact movements spanning across country borders through the rise of globalization and communication technology.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chile-abortion-rights-bill-could-shape-boric-legacy-latin-american-neighbors-2025-06-05/
https://www.liveaction.org/news/chile-abortion-attempt-expand-abortion-opposition/
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/latin-americas-abortion-rights-in-spotlight-as-chile-debates-legalization

Nonfiction

The Global Matcha Shortage: a Thirst for Matcha that Brewed up a Culinary Crisis

6/6/2025

A once–niche ceremonial beverage turned global craze: what is this beverage, you may ask? Well, it’s none other than matcha! Matcha, a powder made from young, shaded green tea leaves processed in a specific manner, was brought to Japan by Chinese Buddhist monks. Since then, it has been an important part of Japan’s culinary history, traditionally prepared with bamboo tools for tea ceremonies but now being an ingredient in anything from lattes and desserts to beer and pasta. It is known for its unique flavor profiles, often being described as sweet, astringent, nutty, grassy, or even umami. It is also used as a nutritious replacement for other caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks or coffee, providing around 50-150 milligrams of caffeine per cup and acting as a more sustainable alternative to coffee by preventing “crashes” (i.e., sudden symptoms of fatigue and drops in energy, focus, and/or mood). Its abundance in antioxidants, combined with its caffeine content and flavor, has cemented its status as a global sensation—especially among the younger generations thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and Tiktok. However, the rapid increase in popularity has made its demand outpace supply, leading to significant economic and cultural ramifications.
The global demand for matcha powder has put a significant, unprecedented strain on the Japanese tea industry, with well-known tea brands such as Ippodo or Marukyu Koyamaen having to place limits on customer purchases. Other stores have even sold out completely of the coveted powder, with local customers and tourists alike finding difficulty securing the powdered tea.
Why not just produce more matcha? Well, the reason for its scarcity can be attributed to the unique cultivation process: young green tea—also known as Camellia sinensis—leaves are shaded 30 days prior to harvesting to reduce the rate of photosynthesis, which, in turn, increases the levels of L-theanine. They are then delicately hand–picked and gently steamed before being dried and ground by stone mills. This process only happens once a year, with harvest season beginning around early May. The rigorous processes of growing the tea leaves and grinding them into matcha powder means that production cannot be easily or quickly scaled up. While there is not necessarily a shortage of space to grow more tea, the shrubs used to grow the leaves can take up to five years to mature. This means that even if farmers start expanding their fields now, solving the shortage will surely be a lengthy process. Additionally, even electric stone mills can grind only about 40 grams of matcha per hour per machine—barely enough for 10 to 12 matcha lattes. Other factors such as the specific desire for first-harvest leaves, the production of stone mills, and the shortage of farmers only contribute to the scarcity of matcha. However, to prevent shortages going forward, the Japanese government is offering new subsidies to help tea farmers focus on producing more matcha.
The virality of the beverage has also had a direct impact on the shortage: influencers purchasing grams upon grams, showcasing $200 purchases or pushing for only “ceremonial-grade” consumption are part of the influx in demand. Matcha originally reserved for tea ceremonies are now being used in everyday lattes, mixed with different flavored syrups or cream tops.
Matcha is not just a trendy beverage or niche outfit accessory—it’s a piece of culture and culinary history. While social media may tempt you to try new viral cafes or splurge on ceremonial–grade tins, sustainable consumption practices can help reduce the current strain on production. Purchasing only what you can consume and not limiting yourself to only “ceremonial grade” tins can help reduce the overall impact and allow others to enjoy the well-loved tea as well.

Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/select/amp/rcna199368
https://msu-prod.dotcmscloud.com/news/whatismatchapowder
https://www.britannica.com/topic/tea-ceremony
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/02/23/food-drink/matcha-shortage-global-solutions/
https://www.matchaeologist.com/blogs/explore/how-is-matcha-grown-and-produced?srsltid=AfmBOoryzoP8YGnMEcTy60IV1GfY29LcLkFJw6JWqNbxlbtAtfelqg_

Nonfiction - Asia

Refused Rights: The Story and the Struggles of the Rohingya

6/7/2025

A collective people, over 1.2 million individuals, declared stateless.
They once lived in Myanmar, the Rohingya, but were heartlessly driven out of their own homes. They faced heinous injustices–rape, torture, mass executions–all brutal acts of violence exacted on them just for living.
The Rohingya people, an ethnic Muslim group from Myanmar, had been treated cruelly by the Myanmar government for decades. They are considered the minority compared to the country’s 135 official ethnic groups, majority of which are Buddhists.
During the century-long reign of Great Britain over Myanmar (which was then known as Burma), several colonial policies encouraging migrant labor were implemented. To increase profits, many Rohingya were allowed to enter Myanmar to find stable livelihoods. As a result of these policies, the Muslim population tripled between 1871 to 1911, according to census records. Shortly, because of the growing population, the Rohingya gathered up the courage to ask the British for separate land, which they agreed to give in exchange for support. After the war, however, despite being bestowed esteemed government roles, the Rohingya were not given their land. The British had broken their promise and forgotten about it.
After the declaration of independence of Myanmar, the Rohingya went to the country’s officials and asked for the autonomous state that, supposedly, was arranged for them. Answering harshly, the officials refused to grant them their request. In their eyes, the Rohingya were illegal settlers from Bangladesh, allowed in by the British colonizers, their former enemy. However, studies later showed that this wasn’t the case.The presence of the Rohingya in Myanmar traced way back to the 12th century, but the officials either had no knowledge of it… or pretended not to know at all.
Several years after the rejection of their humble request, a small band of Rohingya rebels started a revolution against the unfair policies, demanding citizenship and the land that they were owed. But, the army immediately grinded them under their feet. Then, with snarling voices, the Rohingya were labeled: ‘Mujahids,’ or terrorists, illegal immigrants, foreigners, a detestable people who only benefited from colonial rule, an impending threat.
In 1978, Operation Dragon King was carried out. Its purpose? To expel the ‘foreigners’ residing in Myanmar. They were hunted down, killed, tortured, abused, and raped. They took away Rohingya-owned businesses, shut down organizations, and forced them to work. They were forcibly stripped of their human rights.
In that same year, 200,000 terrified Rohingya people barely escaped to Bangladesh with their lives. They settled down there in hopes of peace and protection. However, the Bangladesh authorities soon caught wind of them and sent the majority of them back over the border. Back to Myanmar.
This marked the cycle of Rohingya people fleeing to Bangladesh and being sent back. Time and time again refugees were repatriated, camps closed, Rohingya people were denied entry–all of which were results of an agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar in 1992. Of the 20 camps that were built during the 90s, only two camps remain standing to this day: Nayapara and Kutupalong.
The atrocities did not cease every time the Rohingya returned to Myanmar. In fact, it grew even worse. 700,000 people soon crossed the border of Bangladesh in 2017, unable to take the increasing, unending violence of the Myanmar army. That was the biggest wave of refugees ever to be recorded.
Organizations such as MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders in English), UN (United Nations), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), and WFP (World Food Programme) have offered healthcare services and food rations to the camps throughout the 2000s to present day. However, these organisations have also been greatly affected by the lack of funding from highly important donors, such as the United States and other Western countries. Triggered by increasing fears of Russia and China, multiple administrations focused on prioritizing defence efforts, which ended in humanitarian organisations having little to spare.
According to UNHCR data, there are 1,478,851 Rohingya refugees that were officially displaced and declared stateless from Myanmar as of May 31, 2025. 76.7% are seeking asylum in Cox’s Bazar, a city in Bangladesh, and 12% in Malaysia.
It has been 60 years worth of a living hell on earth for the Rohingya. They continue to face measles, diphtheria, hepatitis C, and HIV due to the overcrowding and poor sanitation of the camps. They have slept on the dank, dusty ground, and have suffered the growling emptiness of their stomachs. Barbed electric wires encircle the camp, trapping them in. There is little to no sign of any positive development of relocation nor giving back their human rights.
However, hope is not completely lost.
Last June 6, 2025, a couple of high school students held a music event, much like a mini concert, in Wolf’s Lane, Pelham, New York, to raise funds for the Rohingya. They partnered up with RIFF (Rohingya Initiative for Food), which provides refugee camps with food and shelter to the best of their abilities. Zehra Parvez, and her son, Arman Brummett, one of the students, were motivated to help after they visited refugees in Balapur, India. The event had raised a total of $2,015 for the refugees. Though frankly not much, the effort and time put into this humanitarian act certainly goes a long way. There are still people around the world who want to assist the Rohingya, despite it being an underreported crisis. We, as humans, though not part of a huge global organization, can definitely make an impact, like Pelham’s students.
If young people can pull it off, what’s stopping us? We can start small, but finish strong.

Sources:
A timeline of the Rohingya crisis. (2024, December 30). Doctors Without Borders - USA. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/timeline-rohingya-crisis
Jazeera, A. (2025, May 24). Over 400 Rohingya feared drowned in two shipwrecks off Myanmar coast: UN. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/24/over-400-rohingya-feared-drowned-in-two-shipwrecks-off-myanmar-coast-un
UNHCR underscores plight of Rohingya refugees amid alarming reports. (2025, May 24). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163661
Hanlon, S. (2025, June 6). Two students organize event that raises more than $2,000 for Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar. Pelham Examiner. https://pelhamexaminer.com/76711/latest-news/two-students-organize-event-that-raises-more-than-2000-for-rohingya-refugees-who-fled-myanmar/
Albert, E. (2020, January 23). The Rohingya crisis. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/rohingya-crisis
Abdelkader, E. (2017, September 21). The history of the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-history-of-the-persecution-of-myanmars-rohingya-84040
Situation Myanmar situation. (n.d.). https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/myanmar?gl=11ixkg3dgclauMTY1OTM5NTY0OS4xNzQ3OTQ2NjU4rupgaMTg0MTYwNzgyMC4xNzQ3OTQ2NjU5rupgaEVDQTJ4LMYczE3NDgwMTE0MjckbzIkZzAkdDE3NDgwMTE0MjckajYwJGwwJGgwJGRsTXhhUFIydDBlWm5NTzJXNXJzWlotQW91eFlGNlYzUkhBgaMTg0MTYwNzgyMC4xNzQ3OTQ2NjU5ga_X2YZPJ1XWR*czE3NDgwMTE0MjckbzIkZzAkdDE3NDgwMTE0MjckajYwJGwwJGgwJGR0d2tyT0xZR3ZZbGZtRkx4Nldkc1FnU1QzSjNyNERYcnR3

Nonfiction - technology

How Gen Z is Leading Global Movements

6/9/2025

A few years ago, TikTok was mostly known for lip-syncing, viral dances, and meme culture. But today, it has transformed into a platform for some of the world’s most urgent political and humanitarian causes. From the fight for climate justice to protests against authoritarian governments, Gen Z is using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube not just to scroll for entertainment, but to stand up, speak out, and educate others. This new wave of digital activism is global. Young people from the United States to Kenya, South Korea to Bangladesh, are proving that you don’t need political power to create change, just a phone and a message that resonates.
Social media has become a game-changer for youth activism. These platforms allow Gen Z to raise awareness quickly, share resources, and organize campaigns that can reach millions in minutes. What’s especially powerful is how these tools give young people a voice in places where they are oftentimes ignored. According to the BBC, many Gen Z activists say social media gives them the chance to express themselves in ways that schools, workplaces, or government systems don’t always allow. It offers a space where they can take control of the conversation, build communities, and challenge injustices. Globally, these platforms are being used in powerful ways. In Kenya, young people led protests against the 2024 Finance Bill using TikTok, X, and Instagram. Their videos and posts raised awareness, encouraged youth participation, and eventually led to changes in the proposed tax policies. In South Korea, K-pop fans created Kpop4planet, a youth-led climate action group. They use hashtags and fan culture to demand climate responsibility from entertainment companies. Their activism has pushed large music labels to rethink how they use energy and resources. Even in places with strict government control, like Iran, Gen Z is finding ways to share messages of resistance and hope. Videos and stories shared through encrypted apps and social media platforms have helped expose human rights violations, showing the world what is actually happening.
What sets Gen Z apart is how their online activism leads to real action. This generation isn’t just posting, they’re organizing protests, lobbying politicians, and building long-term movements. One strong example is Gen-Z for Change. Founded in 2020, it has grown into a network of over 500 content creators who use social media to push for change on issues like abortion rights, income inequality, climate policy, and student loan relief. Their videos don’t just get views, they spark donations, educate followers, and encourage civic engagement. Another powerful case was the youth-led protests in Bangladesh in 2024. Frustrated with years of corruption and censorship, Gen Z organizers used social media to launch one of the largest uprisings in the country’s history. Their efforts contributed to the end of a 15-year authoritarian government. These stories show that digital activism is more than a trend. It’s a real tool for progress.
What makes Gen Z unique is their connection to the world. They are growing up with the internet, learning about issues across borders, and caring deeply about global justice. Whether it’s fighting climate change in the Philippines, pushing for education access in Nigeria, or supporting LGBTQ+ rights in Poland, Gen Z understands that what happens in one country often affects others. With platforms like TikTok and Instagram, global collaboration is easier than ever. Hashtags like #FridaysForFuture, #EndSARS, and #FreePalestine has connected young people from different continents to fight for common causes. These movements show that even if someone lives thousands of miles away, their story and struggles still matter, and can inspire change.
Gen Z is proving that activism doesn’t always look like a rally or a speech, it can be a post, a short video, a trending hashtag, or a digital petition. As the world faces urgent challenges, Gen Z is rising to the moment.

Poetry - United States - Politics

Disquietude

6/14/2025

I open only for them to close.
I share only for them to delete.
I show my notions only for them to take out their eyes.
Digging slurs and untruths into our veins, dehumanizing us of our humanity. Storming us, tormenting us, and killing us.
Suppressing our voices when we attempt to uplift our history.
Our listening, our perception, our sympathy, and our support shown as foolishness. Meanwhile, their compassion for us has become an old trend.
While we’re considered criminals for wanting a better tomorrow, as the American dream becomes a petrifying dystopia.

Non-fiction - Medical/Healthcare

Biological Weapons

6/14/2025

Biological weapons, also known as bioweapons, are weapons that have been used with pathogens, which are bacterial viruses and other types of microorganisms or different types of toxins, including poisonous substances from living organisms that may have decomposed or are still living. These are eligible to cause diseases or even deaths to human animals or plants or any biological living item. Unlike conventional weapons that we see every single day, such as firearms or cold weapons, their effects can be delayed and widespread and cannot be controlled, meaning that if one person gets it, there’s a high chance that it will create a bigger problem in that population, causing pandemics and other situations. The science behind biological weapons is based on pathogenic agents, which by definition are living organisms that cause different diseases. The main types of pathogenic agents are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and Rickettsia. The first one, which is bacteria, also known as Bacillus anthracis, or in other words, anthrax, is a spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax, which is a deadly disease that can affect both humans and animals. There are many different forms of people that can be affected by this bacteria, which is mostly by inhaling it, which is the deadliest way of getting it. The other way is by a cut through the skin, which can’t enter your bloodstream, which can increase the bacteria rapidly, and lastly by eating contaminated meat that is either raw or not proven to be safe. How this works is basically that spores are an incredibly resilient type of bacteria that can survive in a soil or powder substance for decades, meaning that if there had been a type of event that had caused exposures, there is little to no way of getting rid of it, and it would be living on that soil or powder for years, making it a highly deadly bacteria to get rid of and may cause problems such as genocidal effects. How it affects our body is when it enters a release, a toxin that can kill us and suppress our immune system, making us weaker and weaker. This is the type of bioweapon because it is easy to produce and store in a spore form, meaning that it can have rapid growth, it is not easy to get rid of, and it can’t be suppressed. Add an aerosol, and it causes high mortality if it’s not treated properly or quickly. We had seen that a real example had happened during 2001 called the anthrax attack on the United States of America, where envelopes laced with powdered extras were mailed to journalists and politicians, which affected 22 people and killed five people. This type of bacteria can be used in an example of terrorist attacks because it shows how deadly this bacteria can be. Another common topic of the source is viruses, of which the most common one is the very real love virus, also known as smallpox. The smallpox virus is the cause of a highly contagious and deadly disease and can’t be from human circulation, and it has been on the planet Earth since 1980. The symptoms can include high fevers, fatigue, dissecting rash, and pulses, and the death rate of this cause is 30% for those that had been unvaccinated. Not having the proper vaccination or medical attention throughout rural and war zones and war countries has increased these rates due to not having access to proper treatment and proper hygiene. This works by spreading through the respiratory droplets, causing a massive immune response and systematic organ damage. Because our lungs are basically how oxygen is being transferred to the heart, the heart being responsible for transferring the blood to the whole body, it makes it very hard to have a part of your body not being affected by this virus. The reason why it is a buy weapon It is because it spreads rapidly and widely, and there is a high population for many different reasons, such as the religion, medical attention, and hygiene issues that do not have the proper access to vaccinations, and the population that is not vaccinated is on a high rise, and it is extremely difficult to treat once the symptoms begin and need critical medical attention. It had been used as a biological weapon during colonial times, such as the time that the British forces gave smallpox-infected blankets to Native Americans, causing them to have this disease. Both the United States and the USSR used smallpox as a type of weapon during the Cold War. Fun guys, the topic that we’re going to be covering is coccidiodesimmitis, which is also known as Valley fever, a type of fungus that is being found in the soils in parts of the United States, mostly in the Southwest, Mexico, and Central and Southern America. It is done by inhaling the spores and causing respiratory illnesses. The symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain, sometimes even chronic lung diseases, and sometimes even rare cases expressed to the bones or even the brain. This is really useful because it is not as lethal and fast-acting as other agents and is mostly for biological Weaponized, the enemies would try to use a type of tactic. That is fast-acting, but at this point it is not. And it is also harder to recognize in a reliable way because of how common it is, and they cannot be known as a type of weapon properly, though this is an ecological war for using crops and life slop, which a fungus can grow on, which is a concern that can lead to many problems, such as not having enough food that is safe. Rickettsia prowazekii, also known as typhus, is a type of bacterium that is caused by epidemic lice, which are spread by the body, a type of method that is mostly increasing during wartime and overcrowding. Some of the symptoms include high fever, rashes, and delirium, and the mortality rate can be up to 40% without any treatment, which is a very high cause due to the fact that this only happens mostly during war times or overcrowding or other humanitarian crises. How this works is that an infection called endothelial cells that are in the blood vessels gets activated, which leads to vascular collapse and then organ failure, and by the time this goes around, the body's immune system is starting to decrease as the organs are failing, causing death if not treated properly. This is known as a biowarfare type of weapon because of the high mortality rates and potential for mouse outbreaks in refugee centers and prison populations due to the fact that this disease is highly likely to get spread around throughout war zones or overcrowded areas. The second part is that most biological weapons are being used through toxins. Toxins are nonliving poisons that are delivered through biological resources. The difference between the first, pathogen agents, and toxins is that pathogen agents are living organisms and toxins are not living, which in some cases causes more harm than pathogen agents. Two of the highest uses of toxins have been the botulinum toxin, which causes paralysis and extremely lethal problems, and is mostly caused and produced by Clostridium botulinum. Another one is ricin, which is made out of castor beans that cause organ failures. If it is being inhaled or digested, these substances mostly work by disrupting the cellular metabolism, causing failures in our bodies, mostly in the production of blood and inhibiting protein synthesis, which makes muscle systems collapse and causes weakness in the body, and lastly, causing immune overreactions, which are also called cytokine storms. For many years, biological weapons have been used during ancient and classical history. It had been used in the year 400 BCE by the Scythians. It had been known to be one of the earliest uses that these warriors dipped arrowheads in decomposed corpse animal feces to cause infections to the wounds if they were being hit by their opponents. It had also been used in the Greek and Roman periods, but which Greek history, history, world, well-being, poisons that cause different diseases, and romance used dead animals that had high doses of bacteria and viruses and poured them into water, causing contamination of those waters? It had been known very highly throughout the Cold War era, in which the USSR and the USA had developed massive bioweapon stockpiles for their opponents. Such as in 1972, there was a biological weapon convention, which had been signed to ban the development and production of bioweapons, but the USSR had been secretly continuing research until 1990, which shows that the underdevelopment of how much they need the spy weapons has been used. It had also been used in 2001 throughout the letters in the US. with there was a biological terror attack with powder and rocks that was a meal to the news media and the government officials. Countries are globally known to have been using biological weapons throughout their different time zones, which mostly were used during wartime. In the United States at the end of 1969, the United States had developed agents like anthrax and others in a hospital called Weapons during the Cold War, which had terminated the offensive program in 1969, which is now more focused on biodefenses. The Soviet Union had a program to stop continuing the creation of this stuff before 1970, but it continued until 1972, and it is still continuing by operating a massive seeker program that had nice smallpox, plague, and other types of very highly contaminating viruses that would be spread around to the population. They even tried to make genetically engineered pathogens, and some of these facilities had remained active until the 1990s. In Iraq, there had been a program dismantled under Saddam Hussein, which had tested anthrax, pallium toxins, and AFLAC toxins in the 1980s and 1990s during the Iran-Iraq War. In 1972, 183 countries had signed the Biological Weapons Convention, which prohibits developing, stockpiling, and transferring these biological weapons. Though the lack of formal verification and enforcement of these mechanisms makes huge gaps and complaints, leading to dishonesty within the countries. There are currently many different global concerns, such as bioterrorism, which is when terrorist groups use anthrax and ricin as a way to fight in their combat zones. Also, problems such as a weak enforcement of the BWC, which still allows some states to potentially develop these weapons secretly, also increase the risk of synthetic biology, which is engineering pathogens that can be created in the lab that can be harmful in debt for the population.

Sources:
Alibek, Ken, and Stephen Handelman. Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World—Told from Inside by the Man Who Ran It. Delta, 2000.
Atlas, Ronald M. “Biological Warfare: Modern Offense and Defense.” Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 1, no. 1, 2002, pp. 70–75. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro731.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases.” Emergency Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Guillemin, Jeanne. Biological Weapons: From the Invention of State-Sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism. Columbia University Press, 2005.
Inglesby, Thomas V., et al. “Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, 2000.” JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 283, no. 18, 2000, pp. 2281–2290. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.18.2281.
Leitenberg, Milton. The Problem of Biological Weapons. Swedish National Defence College, 2004.
Wheelis, Mark. “Biological Warfare at the 1346 Siege of Caffa.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 8, no. 9, Sept. 2002, pp. 971–975. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0809.010536.
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. “Biological Weapons Convention.” UNODA, United Nations, https://www.un.org/disarmament/biological-weapons/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Biological Threats.” Department of Homeland Security, https://www.dhs.gov/biological-threats. Accessed 11 June 2025.
World Health Organization. Health Aspects of Biological and Chemical Weapons: A Guide to Preparedness and Response for Use by Health Care Workers, Emergency Services and Planners. 2nd ed., 2004, https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/a-guide-to-the-medical-management-of-chemical-and-biological-casualties. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Zilinskas, Raymond A. Biological Warfare: Modern Hazard or Ancient Threat? Rowman & Littlefield, 2000.

Poetry - United States - Politics

Crayon Crown

6/14/2025

“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.” – Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Trump v. United States (2024)
I.
The gavel fell like a war drum &
I wondered if this was the beginning of
the end:
dilated and cold bodies
swallow the verdict whole.
“Let the king rewrite
scripture in black Sharpie & crayon.” His
specter a gavel stolen from our hands;
declare himself innocent
& treat silence like consent.
If I could look up,
and seek Lady Justitia’s eyes before me:
unblinded, unbothered
leaning slightly towards the rot,
her lashes spider-leg the marble.
She sees you.
She always has.
II.
They speak to us in vellum:
bloodless, bell-curved logic.
Sheepskin parchment
declared this poetry free, so
my voice does not settle. It stains.AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Although this piece began weeks earlier, I finalized crayon crown on June 14, 2025, the day Trump held a costly military parade in Washington, D.C. , estimated at $25 to $45 million, to commemorate both the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military and coincidentally, his 79th birthday. That same day, protests erupted nationwide under the banner of No Kings Day, a coordinated act of resistance against authoritarianism and the militarization of government.
The “No Kings” theme was created by the grassroots 50501 Movement, drawing its name from the perceived tyrannical behavior of Trump and his administration. Protests were led by Indivisible and other activist groups across all 50 states, confronting what many saw as a dangerous consolidation of power under the guise of patriotism.
The irony was suffocating: while tanks rolled, flags waved, and a leader celebrated himself, thousands gathered in deance to chant “No Kings” in the streets. This poem is a reckoning with that moment. It’s about
fear. For democracy, for justice, and for how easily power cloaks itself in ceremony. My poem isn’t just a response. It’s a refusal to look away.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5433731/photos-no-kings-protest
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/us/protests-cities-no-kings.html
https://thirdact.org/act/no-kings-day-of-action/
Photo Credits: Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images

Politics - Opinion

Academic Freedom - A Sweet Fantasy?

6/16/2025

“Academic freedom is the lifeblood of democracy. Silence the campus, and you silence a generation.” – A professor in TurkeySo what exactly is ‘academic freedom’ might be something on your mind. It is the freedom of the professors or the students in an educational institution to express their opinions and thoughts about any topic without the fear of the government or any kind of professional disadvantage. It is basically the freedom of expression in an educational set up for the purposes of gaining or imparting knowledge. This might sound very obvious, something that is guaranteed everywhere but unfortunately it isn't. This freedom is under attack even in places once considered safe havens for intellectual thought, like the United States.
Recently in the USA, Donald Trump's return to the political stage has led to renewed hostilities towards reputed educational institutions. His actions against the all famous Harvard University is a great example of it. Harvard is the University where students from across the globe aspire to get a seat. Going to Harvard is considered to be of great prestige and honour in our societies. Many students work so passionately just to fulfill their cherished dream of entering into Harvard. In such a scenario, restrictions imposed on the University can shatter the dreams of many.
In April 2025, a task force from the Departments of Education, Health & Human Services, and the General Services Administration froze approximately $2.2 billion in federal grants and about $60 million in contracts and later escalated to freeze up to $9 billion as leverage unless Harvard complied with administration demands. Funding is critical to a University's functioning and that too for one as research-intensive as Harvard. Freezing the funds will not only hamper the infrastructure of the University but it will also negatively impact the research and development process. The scholars from the various corners of the world would not get the opportunities they deserve. This is not just disadvantageous for the researcher but also has a global impact. Curtailing the freedom of research means depriving the world of some noble discoveries and solutions to giant problems.
Demands like the “viewpoint diversity audit” and biased against certain ideologies deny the scholars the right of speech and expression. Silencing the students can create a whole generation of silence. If the professors and the students are not able to express their opinions freely then the students would not be able to expand their horizons of thought. People would be confined to only one thought process as only the exchange of ideas lead to the expansion of perspectives. I believe students should be exposed to various viewpoints and then they can create their own line of thoughts based on their experience, intelligence and conscience.
Donald Trump had also exempted Harvard from enrolling foreign students citing national security concerns. This crushes the dreams of many bright students. Moreover it affects the academic diversity of the University. When people from different places intermingle, new opinions and ideas come into existence. Luckily, the federal judge restrained this move following Harvard's lawsuit.
What's happening across the USA, follows a global trend where the governments see education as the next battleground. Since 2016, many professors have been fired due to dissent in Turkey. In China, the subjects like political science and history are being rewritten altogether to support the State agendas. In Iran, students and professors continue to get arrested for supporting women's rights. And this trend continues. The result is the same: silence.
Academic freedom is a must for true progress. All the developments in technology and infrastructure have no value if there is no growth in the mindsets of the people. There would be no democracy if there is nobody to question the government. Freedom is something for which so many great personalities have even sacrificed their lives. Those noble sacrifices would be worth nothing if educational institutions are not free. Freedom in the other spheres is only possible in the presence of academic freedom.

“Academic freedom is the lifeblood of democracy. Silence the campus, and you silence a generation.” – A professor in TurkeySo what exactly is ‘academic freedom’ might be something on your mind. It is the freedom of the professors or the students in an educational institution to express their opinions and thoughts about any topic without the fear of the government or any kind of professional disadvantage. It is basically the freedom of expression in an educational set up for the purposes of gaining or imparting knowledge. This might sound very obvious, something that is guaranteed everywhere but unfortunately it isn't. This freedom is under attack even in places once considered safe havens for intellectual thought, like the United States.
Recently in the USA, Donald Trump's return to the political stage has led to renewed hostilities towards reputed educational institutions. His actions against the all famous Harvard University is a great example of it. Harvard is the University where students from across the globe aspire to get a seat. Going to Harvard is considered to be of great prestige and honour in our societies. Many students work so passionately just to fulfill their cherished dream of entering into Harvard. In such a scenario, restrictions imposed on the University can shatter the dreams of many.
In April 2025, a task force from the Departments of Education, Health & Human Services, and the General Services Administration froze approximately $2.2 billion in federal grants and about $60 million in contracts and later escalated to freeze up to $9 billion as leverage unless Harvard complied with administration demands. Funding is critical to a University's functioning and that too for one as research-intensive as Harvard. Freezing the funds will not only hamper the infrastructure of the University but it will also negatively impact the research and development process. The scholars from the various corners of the world would not get the opportunities they deserve. This is not just disadvantageous for the researcher but also has a global impact. Curtailing the freedom of research means depriving the world of some noble discoveries and solutions to giant problems.
Demands like the “viewpoint diversity audit” and biased against certain ideologies deny the scholars the right of speech and expression. Silencing the students can create a whole generation of silence. If the professors and the students are not able to express their opinions freely then the students would not be able to expand their horizons of thought. People would be confined to only one thought process as only the exchange of ideas lead to the expansion of perspectives. I believe students should be exposed to various viewpoints and then they can create their own line of thoughts based on their experience, intelligence and conscience.
Donald Trump had also exempted Harvard from enrolling foreign students citing national security concerns. This crushes the dreams of many bright students. Moreover it affects the academic diversity of the University. When people from different places intermingle, new opinions and ideas come into existence. Luckily, the federal judge restrained this move following Harvard's lawsuit.
What's happening across the USA, follows a global trend where the governments see education as the next battleground. Since 2016, many professors have been fired due to dissent in Turkey. In China, the subjects like political science and history are being rewritten altogether to support the State agendas. In Iran, students and professors continue to get arrested for supporting women's rights. And this trend continues. The result is the same: silence.
Academic freedom is a must for true progress. All the developments in technology and infrastructure have no value if there is no growth in the mindsets of the people. There would be no democracy if there is nobody to question the government. Freedom is something for which so many great personalities have even sacrificed their lives. Those noble sacrifices would be worth nothing if educational institutions are not free. Freedom in the other spheres is only possible in the presence of academic freedom.

Nonfiction - United States - Technology - Politics

The Modern Panopticon:
How Surveillance and AI Are Rewriting Elections

6/16/2025

This might sound like the plot of a dystopian Netflix series. Well, it kind of is. Only it's happening now. In the 21st century, voting is not a straightforward walk into a booth and a vote. There's a hidden army of algorithms, AI robots, and digital monitoring working around the clock to influence the results of elections, and, more importantly, how we see them.
Some years ago, election tampering meant stuffing boxes or counting wrong. Today's operators have far more sophisticated weapons. Advanced technology means political parties, foreign governments, and even domestic governments can influence public opinion before anyone reaches the ballot box. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can now make deep fakes: hyper-realistic but totally fake media, including videos, audio, and photos. One moment you’re watching your favorite candidate give a speech; the next, AI has generated a completely fake video of them saying something they never said. By the time fact-checkers scramble to correct the misinformation, millions of people may have already seen and believed the lie. This is no longer a futuristic threat. In recent elections, AI-generated content has spread widely online, often without clear warnings or labels. It's a bit like a game of "truth or dare" in which the "truth" depends on whoever is controlling the algorithm.
The algorithm knows more about you than your mum. Political elections are no longer just TV advertising or billboard advertising. Political campaigns micro-target voters using advanced data analysis. Every click, like, share, and buy online becomes valuable information. Algorithms construct rich profiles of citizens- their fears and dreams, their routines- and customize messages that are designed to attract them specifically. But here is where things get more scandalous: while TikTok is tracking your "For You Page" habits, Meta has apparently been snooping on TikTok users' interests, in fact on global-issue content, to figure out what you watch on Instagram and Facebook. On one occasion, they have been accused of forcing the algorithm to downrank content about world issues so that users' FYPs are filled with less problematic content. Imagine your Twitter timeline as a politically curated echo chamber: one that keeps you scrolling, chuckling, and clicking "share." As wonderful as it is to be made to feel the algorithm actually "knows you," the danger is voters are never given the entire picture or fact-based details. What this is, is that your feed could be engineered to lead you away from significant news, political messaging sneaking in under the radar in the background.
Still others have gone a step further and employed technology to disenfranchise certain individuals from voting altogether. Voter disenfranchisement in America now has a high-tech face. Artificial intelligence-driven computer systems are now used to flag and challenge voter registrations, disproportionately targeting minority communities in their numbers. Entire blocks of legitimate voters could be struck from the voter rolls due to incorrect data or excessive challenges, often unbeknownst to them.
Overlaid upon this already dangerous world is the growing political influence of tech billionaires. Critics argue this would lead to more concentrated authority, less responsibility, and the possibility of using government agencies to intimidate voters and election officials. For anyone concerned about democracy, it is here that things start to seem less like "just politics" and more like the opening salvo of a political thriller. Simultaneously, Donald Trump's campaign has embraced AI on a scale entirely different from its predecessors, having reportedly used generative tools to create campaign ads, write speeches, and even forge fake media. And finally there is Elon Musk, who has allegedly spent hundreds of millions on Trump-supporting PACs (Political Action Committees), used his control of X (formerly Twitter) to post conspiracy-laden data on election tampering to billions of users, and supposedly tweaked his platform's algorithm to prominently feature content about Trump. In swing states, Musk's America PAC has gone so far as to offer voters money incentives, triggering legal complaints alleging that he is bribing voters. The intersection of billionaire tech power and political ambition is no longer theoretical- it is now reshaping the democratic process.
While home-based players are busy playing games with algorithms, governments overseas are jumping into the digital battlefield too. Russia, China, and Iran are using AI and social media to spread misinformation, to divide people, and to erode trust in democratic processes. Their motive isn't always to support one candidate against another; sometimes it's merely to get people to not believe in the process at all. If no one believes that the election is fair, then democracy begins to break down.
Can we become democratic again by fighting back? Thankfully, all is not lost. Some governments have started legislating labeling for AI content. Technologists are developing deep fake detectors and verifying real media. But technology keeps progressing second by second, and it is moving at a glacial speed. For young voters (the TikTok- and meme-grown generation) digital literacy has never been more important. Being able to spot misinformation, doubt what you see on the web, and demand accountability from political leaders might be our strongest defense. As goes the maxim: "Democracy dies in darkness." Today, however, it might also die in shoddily labeled deepfakes and algorithmic echo chambers.
To conclude, elections in the age of AI surveillance have become a game of high-stakes information warfare. The modern panopticon no longer just watches; it governs. And although the technology is fresh, the ancient mantra still stands: unaccounted power is perilous. As our generation, we have the most to lose but also the most to use our power to compel change. For the future of democracy, after all, rests in whose hands the algorithm finds itself- and whether we will let them.

Breaking News - United States - Middle East - Politics

World War 3? Tensions Between Iran and Israel.

6/18/2025

Israel and Iran have had a long feud for decades, which has now erupted into a full-scale conflict this week. The crisis, which originally began with Iran launching a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles into Israel's territory, has quickly turned into an open military battle with devastating consequences for civilians on both sides.
This feud between Iran and Israel has reached a boiling point, when Iran accused Israel of assassinating a high-ranking Iranian nuclear scientist in early June. In response, Iran launched a massive wave of over 400 drones and missiles, targeting Israel’s cities, including Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak. At least 24 Israeli civilians were reported dead, and hundreds more were injured.
Israel quickly responded back with targeted airstrikes on Iran’s military infrastructure; One of the targets being Iran’s Arak heavy-water nuclear facility, along with key military compounds near Isfahan and Tehran. Iranian media reported at least 639 casualties, with over 260 civilians dead.
As the bombing continues, panic has spread across the world. Many people are speculating on social media that we have now entered the stage of World War 3. Currently, the United States has not ruled out the possibility of military involvement. While the U.S. maintains its own goal of de-escalating, it could possibly intervene if the situation and make the situation
worse onto neighbouring nations. European nations have called for urgent peace talks. Diplomats from Germany and France have been working to organize a summit in Geneva,
though initial efforts have failed. Iran insists on an Israeli cease-fire as a precondition for talks, while Israel remains firm on its right to respond.
The Iran-Israel war has moved beyond threats and is now a dangerous military conflict with regional and global involvement. Civilians are paying the highest price, which is war and death, while the world just watches with concern as the two countries fight.

Sources:
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-special-report-june-18-2025-eveni ng-edition
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-06-19-25-intl-hnk https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/19/israel-strikes-irans-arak-heavy-water-reactor-state-tel evision-says-00414190?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://nypost.com/2025/06/14/world-news/israeli-strikes-that-killed-9-iranian-scientists-follows mossad-success-in-targeting-tehrans-top-nuclear-minds/
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/19/israel-strikes-irans-arak-heavy-water-reactor-state-tel evision-says-00414190
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rare-ministerial-call-europeans-urge-iran-resume-nuclear talks-avert-escalation-2025-06-17/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g8r8rj87vo
Photo credit:
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/1254291421/what-is-the-future-of-the-israel-iran-war-and-will-th e-u-s-get-involved

Nonfiction - United States - Health/Healthcare

Kraft Heinz: The Brand-wide Ketchup

6/20/2025

Millions of consumers across America will no longer be seeing rainbow bright food dyes on shelves stocked with Kraft Heinz products. As of June 17, 2025, the brand responsible for many beloved products across the US, including Heinz Ketchup, Kraft Mac and Cheese, and the famous Jello line, has committed to removing artificial food coloring dyes that the US Department of Health and Human Services (and many consumers) note can have negative impacts on public health. These actions are projected to begin in 2027, marking a crucial pivot point in the long journey to removing harmful dyes from commonly consumed products in America. It seems that Kraft Heinz is really on their way to “ketchup” with the food market.
US Health Department’s introduction of their plan to “phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes” in American foods, according to an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news release from April of 2025, claims that these dyes must be removed for the public's safety; instead, they will be replaced with natural food colorings from pigment found in natural products. Synthetic food dyes have already been problematic in the past, as much research points towards these food dyes as a potential factor in health problems for children’s development. Additionally, the Red 3 synthetic food dye and some others specifically derived from petroleum sources do have research showcasing its causation of cancer in rat test subjects. While many health advocates have pushed for more action to remove artificial food coloring, not much progress has been made to remove them from brands in their entirety. Making Kraft Heinz’s decision ever more impactful.
Most food products Kraft Heinz sells in the US (almost 90% according to AP News articles) are already free of artificial food dyes - for example, Kraft Mac and Cheese discontinued the use of artificial coloring in their macaroni and cheese produce in 2016, now utilizing natural dues from turmeric and paprika to give it its iconic yellow hue. The company notes that the products that still have artificial dyes are from its dessert and drink lines, including the Jello, Kool-aid, and Crystal Light products, and will be completely removed starting 2027.
Kraft Heinz, being the very first brand to fully commit to removing artificial dyes from their own products, have started what analysts from CNN and NPR note could be a huge chain reaction within the American food industry. Other brands such as General Mills, which sports lines like Yoplait, Cheerios, and Nature Valley, have also committed to removing certified harmful food colorings from American Cereals and school foods by summer of 2026, eventually phasing them all out by 2027 just like Kraft Heinz.
Analysts explain that these changes are not just about health either; there are multiple benefits to removing food dyes quickly. Artificial food dyes make bright colors, making products appealing. However, with knowledge and education on the potentially harmful side effects of these products, it is clear that consumers have been choosing other alternatives. While taking out food colorings can make some products lose their brighter colors, removing ingredients that consumers dislike can boost sales and brand image. Similarly, this makes for an amazing marketing strategy, and Kraft Heinz is already seeing the positive public relations impacts for their brand just through this commitment. Additionally, removing artificial dyes altogether puts companies ahead, so if the US Health department decides to remove more colorings, products will already be compliant.
These actions did not just happen on a whim. Years of research and advocating has been put into the movement for removing food dyes. While the FDA’s recent announcement did set the ball rolling, companies are beginning to listen more and more to consumer preferences, showcasing the power of the public.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/business/kraft-heinz-artificial-food-dye-wellness
https://apnews.com/article/kraft-heinz-dye-ketchup-70a48b9af69583e24755392daf9f1a4a
https://ground.news/article/kraft-heinz-to-stop-launching-new-products-with-artificial-colorshttps://
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply
Photo by Michael M. Santiago from Getty Images, featured in CNN

Nonfiction - Middle East

The Files that Lit the Fuse

6/22/2025

The sparks of the Iran-Israel conflict that we are seeing today were kindled decades ago, but the raid by Mossad in the dawn of 31 January 2018 added fuel to the fire. This was the trigger point that transformed shadow wars into open conflict and turned intelligence into a mighty weapon of international escalation. Even before the world resumed its hustle and bustle, Mossad agents had slipped into a secret warehouse on the outskirts of Tehran and walked out with half a ton of documents that changed the face of Middle Eastern geopolitics.It all started with the Iran nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 between Iran and several world powers, including the United States. Under this agreement, Iran committed to dismantling much of its nuclear program and opening its facilities to more extensive international inspections, in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief. So, on the surface, Iran was open to international oversight. The problem, however, was that it continued its pursuit of nuclear weapons covertly. To conceal this, Iran constructed a low-profile warehouse in a district of Tehran, hidden away from global scrutiny. All the important documents regarding the manufacture of nuclear weapons were stored in this shabby-looking facility. To avoid attracting attention, Iran deliberately kept the place ordinary and even understaffed with minimal security presence.Iran was under the illusion that its deception had worked. But Mossad, one of the world’s most formidable intelligence agencies, saw through it all. It studied the warehouse closely and, within just ten months, managed to plan the dismantling of its security measures.The night of 31 January 2018 was chosen for the execution of what is now considered one of the greatest intelligence operations in history. With approximately six hours and twenty-nine minutes in hand, the secret agents set out to steal the files with “black binding” from the safes inside the warehouse. They were equipped with torches capable of generating 3,600 degrees of heat, enough to burn through the safes. The team had also hacked the security alarms which made them appear active and functioning but in reality, they were entirely disabled and failed to detect the infiltration. A team of fewer than two dozen agents completed the mission with flawless planning and quiet precision.On the morning of 1 February, Iranian officials were faced with the horrific sight awaiting them: every important document gone, security systems dismantled, and their entire nuclear archive exposed. And yet, Iran could not publicly acknowledge the breach. The incident only came to light when the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, held a press conference revealing the operation to the world. This exposed Iran’s duplicity and breach of trust on the global stage, strengthening Israel’s claim that Iran could not be trusted with nuclear capability.The precise nuclear strikes in 2025 are now reportedly based on intelligence gathered during that 2018 raid. Thus, the Mossad operation in Tehran was not just an espionage victory but it was a moment that redefined the trajectory of the Iran-Israel conflict. It is too significant an event to overlook.

Breaking News - United States - Middle East - UN - Politics

Debunk Before the Bunker-Buster: The Context of the Iran-Israel War

6/22/25

Once placed in the wrong hands, weapons forged with the intention to protect can morph into instruments that were engineered to kill.Last June 13, 2025, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran. Nuclear and military sites, and its officials all had a target on their backs. Prior to the outbreak of the war, Israel received reports that Iran was advancing, at an alarming rate, in its “nuclear weaponization program.” However, international intelligence, especially the U.S., had confirmed that Iran’s nuclear program isn’t currently weaponized. The program started together with the U.S., way back in 1957. Its goal was to explore the possible ways to increase energy, to build nuclear power plants to meet Iran’s needs, and to export more oil to liven up the economy.However, Israel had a different perspective. Accompanied with an active weapons group was a military enrichment program; that combination was deemed “too dangerous.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Operation Rising Lion–its launch signaled by the first airstrike–aimed to cut down “the heart” of Iran’s nuclear program.“If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,” Netanyahu stated.U.S. President Donald Trump threw out acts of intimidation against Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, threatening to kill him, as well as demanding “unconditional surrender.” Countries such as Germany, Canada, the U.K. and Australia have also demanded Iran to completely abandon this nuclear program. International efforts to work towards a diplomatic solution, or even a negotiation, proved to be unfruitful and in vain.Tehran, a city in Iran, also has its fair share of allies. One of them, Moscow, stated that any U.S. military action “would be an extremely dangerous step.”What would U.S.-led attacks prompt from Iran? We’ll soon find out; as of today, June 22, 2025, Trump has confirmed that the United States had successfully attacked three locations: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Trump, Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”Currently, Iran fought back by setting more than 450 missiles and 1,0000 drones on Israel. Israel’s air defenses have successfully shot down most of them, but at least 24 Israelis have been killed, and hundreds were left wounded. In comparison, Israeli strikes have so far killed at least 400 Iranians and injured 3,000.
Concerningly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Operation Rising Lion would not cease and in fact, continue, “for as long as it takes” to eliminate the growing existential threat that Iran’s nuclear program imposes.Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Fordo, located underground, is considered indestructible to all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs. With the increasing possibility of this bomb being dropped on Iran, civilians have fled their homes and escaped for their lives.“Everyone is leaving Tehran right now,” an anonymous refugee said, after crossing into Armenia.The United Nations has strongly emphasized that the Iran-Israel war must not trigger another refugee crisis in the Middle East–in which neighboring countries are overflowing with refugees, and there is no more room at all; supplies, facilities, and resources are completely exhausted. Civilians from both countries have begun to leave and reside in safer countries.“This region has already endured more than its share of war, loss, displacement,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees. “The time to de-escalate is right now. Once people are forced to flee, there’s no quick way back–and all too often, the consequences last for generations.”Iran already hosts the largest number of refugees in the world, around 3.5 million from Afghanistan. A nation that had once given displaced people a home has now been reduced to helplessness themselves.

Sources:
Agence France-Presse. (2025, June 20). What we know about the ongoing Iran-Israel war | ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/20/what-we-know-about-the-ongoing-iran-israel-war-2030
Iran foreign minister speaks on U.S., Israel tensions. (2025, June 21). [Video]. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-conflict-rcna214241
Israel says it’s preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war against Iran | AP News. (2025, June 21). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579
‘A fire no one can control’: UN warns of spiralling Iran-Israel war. (2025, June 21). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164721
Esennett. (2025, June 16). Twenty questions (and expert answers) on the Israel-Iran war - Atlantic Council. Atlantic Council. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/twenty-questions-and-expert-answers-on-the-israel-iran-war/
Agencies, N. a. S. &. (2025, June 21). Iran-Israel war must not become refugee crisis, UN warns. The New Arab.
https://www.newarab.com/news/iran-israel-war-must-not-become-refugee-crisis-un-wars
Mamouri, A. (2025, June 19). Who are Iran’s allies? And would any help if the US joins Israel in its war? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/who-are-irans-allies-and-would-any-help-if-the-us-joins-israel-in-its-war-259265
Salem, M., Regan, H., & Robinson, L. (2025, June 13). Everything you need to know about Iran’s nuclear program. CNN World. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/13/middleeast/iran-nuclear-program-explainer-intl-dg

Opinion - United States - Medical/Healthcare - Politics -LGBTQIA+ rights

Transgender Youth & Gender-Affirming Care

6/24/25

On June 20th, 2025, the Gender Liberation Movement (GLM) hosted a public demonstration outside the United States Supreme Court, protesting against United States v. Skrimitti, and the court’s decision to uphold the Tennessee ban. Nine of GLM’s organizers got arrested, as well as Raquel Willis, a writer, transgender rights activist, and the co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement.
If you don’t know about United States v. Skrmetti, it’s an American case argued on December 4th, 2024, deciding on whether or not transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth should have access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or puberty blockers (PB) to help with gender dysphoria. The case was ruled on June 18th, 2025, preventing transgender youth from getting medical gender-affirming care. Yet this isn’t just one ban in Tennessee; 26 other states have similar laws regarding this topic.
After hearing about this issue, it made me want to dive deeper into the impact of gender-affirming care on transgender youth. Before we get into that, let’s first explore the definition of gender dysphoria and gender-affirming care.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, Gender dysphoria is a clinically significant distress a person may feel when one’s gender assigned at birth is not the same as the gender they identify as now. But in my own words…
Gender dysphoria can be one of the most soul-crushing things, examining and analyzing your body every hour, minute, and second, just for people to see you for who you are. Sometimes, it can lead to harmful psychological conditions and/or practices like depression, eating disorders, social isolation, self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and others.
This is one of the reasons we have gender-affirming care.
Gender-affirming care refers to what one may do to feel more in line with their gender expression and identity. This, especially in the case of transgender children, may just be dressing in clothes, practicing voice therapy, wearing different hairstyles, etc., that meet their gender expression, while other transgender youth, usually older teens, may take medical gender-affirming care. (HRT and PB).
We should highlight that for transgender youth, trying to get access to medical gender-affirming care takes a long time of consideration and thought, approval from parents and/or legal guardians, approval from health care provider(s), having to meet the diagnostic criteria, and much more. It’s a process!
Additionally, not only can one feel more in line with their gender expression, but medical gender-affirming care is beneficial in lowering the risks of harmful psychological conditions. In a 2022 study on the mental health outcomes of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth before and after taking HRT and PB, they noted that “These data add to existing evidence suggesting that gender-affirming care may be associated with improved well-being among TNB youths over a short period, which is important given mental health disparities experienced by this population, particularly the high levels of self-harm and suicide.” (1)
The Endocrine Society had published a brief between multiple health organizations in september of 2024 (like, but not limited to, the American Medical Association, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the American Psychiatric Association, and more) discussing the ban, stating that “If not treated, or treated improperly, gender dysphoria can result in debilitating anxiety, depression, and self-harm, and is associated with suicidality. As such, the effective treatment of gender dysphoria saves lives.”, and arguing that it can “irreparably harm adolescents with gender dysphoria by denying crucial care to those who need it.” (6)
Nonetheless, anti-transgender movements will continue spreading misinformation just to get their way, alongside there being 115 bills passed and 729 currently active in America. (according to the Anti-Trans Bills Tracker, 9). Our existence has been made controversial, and again, all we want to do is live. It’s not “fixing” our mental and physical health by taking away our basic healthcare; it’s hurting us.
While 90% of LGBTQ+ youth said that their mental health was “negatively impacted”, from The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People (10), it hurts to see a group of such young people suffer while adults laugh and ridicule, and it shows that these “adults” had never grown up.

Sources:
Mental Health Outcomes In Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care. | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35212746/
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions. |
https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology -and-definitions
United States v. Skirmitti - Wikipedia |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedStatesv.Skrmetti
Transgender Healthcare Misinformation (Children are transitioned too quickly) - Wikipedia |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgenderhealthcaremisinformation#Children_ aretransitionedtoo_quickly
The Impact Of 2024 Anti-Transgender Legislation on Youth - UCLA School Of Law Williams Isituite |
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/2024-anti-trans-legislation/ 6) United States v. Skirmitti - The Endocrine Society |
https://www.endocrine.org/-/media/endocrine/files/advocacy/amicus-briefs/2024/s krmetti-scotus-brief.pdf
Nine Activists Arrested Outside Of The Supreme Court - The Washington Blade | https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/06/20/nine-trans-activists-arrested-outsid e-supreme-court/
Trans Protesters Have Been Arrested In Front Of The Supreme Court - The Cut | https://www.thecut.com/article/trans-protesters-were-arrested-in-front-of-the-supre me-court.html
2025 Anti-Trans Bill: Trans Legislation | https://translegislation.com/ 10) 2024 National Suervy On LGBTQ+ Youth People |
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/

Opinion - United States - Politics

SCOTUS's Dangerous and Devastating Decision in Trump v. Casa (2025)

6/28/25

The Supreme Court RulingIn Trump v. Casa (2025), the Supreme Court issued a 6–3 ruling split along ideological lines, with the conservative majority holding that under the Judiciary Act of 1789, lower federal courts lack equitable authority to issue nationwide/universal injunctions against executive orders. The ruling, while not deciding the constitutionality of Executive Order 15160 itself, grants the Government's application to partially stay the lower courts' injunctions, allowing enforcement of the order to begin 30 days after the decision while there are still cases being litigated.
This is a dangerous precedent.What is Executive Order 14160?Executive Order 14160, issued by President Trump, seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and certain temporary foreign residents. The order immediately faced legal challenges to its constitutionality under the Fourteenth Amendment and was blocked by several federal judges. While the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether the executive order is constitutional, its decision to limit the reach of lower court injunctions seriously weakens federal judicial efficiency and creates confusion across the nation, removing universal injunctions as the default remedy in a challenge to executive action.What is a universal injunction?A universal injunction is a court order that prohibits the government from enforcing a law, regulation, or policy against anyone, not just the plaintiff in a case. These exist for a reason: to provide uniform protection in cases involving national issues involving civil and human rights. Birthright citizenship is not a local matter. It is a constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment, which clearly states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens of the United States.”
By curbing nationwide injunctions, the Court invites chaos. It opens the door for conflicting rulings across different states, leading to the absurd possibility that a child born in one state could be a U.S. citizen, while a child born the same day in another state might not be. Could someone "gain" citizenship by moving to a more favorable jurisdiction? That notion is not just legally indefensible. It’s constitutionally offensive.What are the implications?If cases must be litigated individually, many affected people never get the chance to challenge harmful policies in court. Even if every individual lawsuit results in a win, only the person who led the case would be protected. Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote a dissenting opinion in this case, highlighted the real-world consequences during oral arguments: "And the ones who can't afford to go to court, they're the ones who are going to lose."
Her point is devastatingly clear: limiting the ability of courts to issue national injunctions means that only those with the resources and access to legal aid will be protected. In today’s legal landscape, protection will be reserved for the privileged, while the poor, the undocumented, and the voiceless are left behind. Ironically, these are the very communities many enter the legal profession to serve.
In response, we can expect a rise in alternative legal strategies. Class action will become more common. State-plainti suits, in which state governments sue to protect their residents or their financial interests, will also increase. Likewise, more cases will rely on organizational standing and associational standing, where organizations sue on behalf of their members. These paths are not ideal substitutes for broad judicial relief, but in a post-universal-injunction era, they may become the only tools left to right systemic injustice.Final thoughtsAppellate courts review cases only when a party has suffered a loss, and because many individuals in these cases are likely to win, the broader constitutional issues may never be presented to the Supreme Court for review.
While I believe the Supreme Court will ultimately strike down Executive Order 14160, the damage in the meantime will be severe. In the 28 states that have not yet challenged the order, affected individuals will face legal uncertainty and real harm. The very meaning of citizenship, one of the most fundamental rights deeply rooted in the history of the United States, is undermined.
This holding is not just an incident. It is unjust. And it is deeply un-American.

Sources:
https://www.rev.com/transcripts/birthright-citizenship-hearing
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/27/nx-s1-5448821/universal-injunction-supreme-court-executive-orde r-birthright
https://oag.ca.gov/system/les/attachments/press-docs/24a884_8n59.pdf

Poetry - Politics - Middle East

Threads Pulled Tight

7/1/25

The Universal Story of RefugeesThey said run,
but they never told us
that silence could have fencesThe wind carried more than dust
it carried listening.
She stitched my name into a scarf
so I wouldn’t vanish into rubble.There are no walls for sounds to echo.
Even whispers are rationed.He said a wrong word once,
they came the next morning
with a cognizant eye.I scroll through news that isn’t there.
Click.
Click.
404.The border didn’t look like a line.
It looked like a guard’s gaze
too long on your face.
Like a passport that coughs
in the wrong accent,
Like an immigration officer judging you
for the Z in your name.The scarf she wove
still holds the weight of who we were,
each thread pulled tight
with what we weren’t allowed to say.

Breaking New - Asia & Pacific Islands - Politics

Thailand Prime Minister Suspended: Ethical Concerns

7/1/25

Political chaos has flared in Thailand due to a leaked call between recently suspended Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The call was made public by Hun Sen, containing discussions about the recent border tensions between the two nations. But it wasn’t just the discussion that was alarming to many members of the Thai public; many took some of the word choice and mannerisms Ms. Paetongtarn displayed as too “fawning”, as AP News noted in an article posted on July 1st.
Ms. Paetongtarn has openly stated that the call was “more than one hundred percent sincere” and apologised to the public in a press conference on Tuesday, however, the events have still led many angered Thailand citizens and lawmakers to protest and call for her removal (CNN). Now, Thailand faces yet another wave of political instability - one of many in the past few years - as Thailand’s constitutional court has voted 7-2 for Ms. Paetongtarn was suspended and unanimously agreed to accept a petition that accuses her of ethical breaches. Ms. Paetongtarn has been given 15 days to present her defense and will remain in government as a Culture Minister in the cabinet.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra was just appointed as Prime Minister last August after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from office by the same constitutional court that has suspended Ms. Paetongtarn. Thavisin was also put on the spot for ethical breaches, as determined by the court. While the two cases fall under different circumstances, many analysts from the BBC, NPR, and DW - news organizations from around the globe - say that the court could be leaning towards a full removal of Ms. Paetongtarn because ethical breaches have been taken very seriously in the past.
What exactly made the call between Ms. Paetongtarn and the Cambodian leader so upsetting to many, often very conservative, Cambodians?
Thailand and Cambodia have had a long history of conflict, mostly derived from the decades of border tensions. These tensions escalated after remaining dormant for many years, as a military incident between two Cambodian and Thai parties near the border last May led to the death of a Cambodian soldier. Ms. Paetongtarn allegedly advised Hun Sen to ignore the criticisms of a Thai military commander who called out Cambodia for the border dispute, which was held as a very unfavorable take due to the history between the nations.
This recent incident comes with poor timing and many external pressures. In addition to Ms. Paetongtarn’s conflict with the public and Constitutional Court, her father is also facing a court hearing for his alleged defaming of the Thai monarchy and is under investigation for potential abuse of political power and corruption. Ms. Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned from exile in 2023 after sorting out an agreement between the Pheu Thai political party and previous conservative opponents. As a previous Prime Minister, Thaksin’s good reputation with the lower and working classes of Thailand has long sustained Ms. Paetongtarn’s political favor.
The public is still waiting for a verdict, but it is clear that Thailand will not be tolerating any ethical breaches regardless of the tensions it could bring.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/asia/thailand-pm-paetongtarn-suspended-intl-hnk
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vrrj72xy7o
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/world/asia/thai-pm-shinawatra-suspended.html
https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cabinet-paetongtarn-leak-call-cambodia-f44701c7e21a99f894fa94981a79ee8d
https://www.dw.com/en/thailand-what-now-after-pm-paetongtarns-suspension/a-73104717
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5453000/thailand-prime-minister-paetongtarn-shinawatra-suspension
Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha for Getty Images

Breaking News - Americas - Politics

The Spark of Suriname: Jennifer Simons, Suriname’s First Female President

7/7/25

No spark is too small to fuel a roaring flame.Suriname, a tiny country located on the northern coast of Southern America, has just elected its first ever female president last Sunday, on July 6, 2025. The former president, Chan Santokhi, has humbly bequeathed Jennifer Simons his esteemed position, believing that she will be able to completely rewrite the nation’s narrative for the better. To transform the negative outcomes of his past mistakes into beneficial ones.Simons, the head of her party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), won the role by merely being a vote ahead of Santokhi and the Progressive Reform Party. She won 18 seats, while he won 17 seats in the May 25 parliamentary election. The remaining 16 seats were won by other parties.Despite being in her later years, particularly 71 years of age, Simons shows no signs of retiring that passion of servant-leadership for her country. “I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people,” she said, then earning the lawmakers’ applause of approval.Before receiving her newfound responsibility of leading the nation of Suriname on the verge of a predicted increase of oil, or an ‘oil boom,’ she served as a parliamentary speaker for a decade until 2020.She has vowed to allocate her attention and resources to the next generation, especially those who are not financially privileged and those who do not possess the means to take on better opportunities. “I am very aware of the responsibility now placed on our shoulders, a responsibility compounded for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office,” she added. “I do not need many words. My thanks and we will get to work.”Putting Simons in the big seat could be one of the most strategic movements for Suriname. Aside from being the smallest country, the former Dutch colony is one of the poorest nations in Southern America. Riddled with economic challenges, the former president had to ask for help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bring up the country’s economy. It did fix some things here and there, but most caused public protests due to the hardship the citizens were experiencing.Now, Jennifer Simons and her Vice President Gregory Rusland have set out to put in time and effort to do what the former president could not completely do. Stabilizing the economy, and improving the collection of taxes to increase government funds are only two of the things on her extensive to-do list. Simons will definitely become the spark that will fuel Suriname’s flaming potential.Her inauguration is scheduled this upcoming July 16.Talk about a true busy woman!

Sources:
Suriname Parliament elects first female president. (2025, July 6). CNN World. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/06/americas/suriname-parliament-elects-first-female-president-intl-latam
Kuipers, A. (2025, July 7). Suriname parliament elects Simons as first female president. Reuters.https://www.reuters.com/world/suriname-parliament-elects-simons-first-female-president-2025-07-06/
Admin, S. (2025, July 7). Jennifer Simons elected Suriname’s 1st woman President after historic coalition deal -. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/jennifer-simons-elected-surinames-1st-woman-president-after-historic-coalition-deal/
Menke, K, J., Chin, & E, H. (2025, July 5). Suriname | History, geography, facts, & points of interest. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Suriname
Photo from CNN by Hollandse Hoogte for Shutterstock