Cher and Kaavan the Elephant
In 2012, Kaavan the elephant was forced to endure solitude, when his companion, Saheli, died. Like humans and other mammals, elephants have complex social structures that hinge on interaction and close contact with members of the same species.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Iran Can and Will They Make a Nuclear Weapon?
In the last couple weeks a nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to restrict the nuclear capacity of Iran has continued to erode. The deal’s main objective was to delay, if not prevent, the time it would take for Iran to produce a nuclear bomb.
(Photo: CNN)
President Trump Should Pardon Edward Snowden
Seven years ago is when Edward Snowden and the conversation around surveillance on American citizens changed forever. The documents he collected and leaked to newspapers around the globe are one of the most important peeks inside the American government's spying apparatus to date. Since then, both his motives and methods of distribution have been topics of heated debate. Some consider him a traitor, others a hero.
(Photo: Laurence Tophman | The Guardian)
The End of an Era: Angela Merkel - German Foreign Policy Part II
In 2018, Angela Merkel was named the fourth most powerful person in the world by Forbes magazine, following after Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and in 2019 the most powerful woman in the world.
(Photo: Andrea Hanks | White House)
Scotland Successfully Tackles Period Poverty
Scotland has become the first in the world to make period products free to all. The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, was approved unanimously on November 24.
(Photo: Jeff J Mitchell | Getty Images)
Is the United Kingdom Really 'United'?
With the added pressure of the coronavirus pandemic, the UK government has seen the union on the brink of a potential break up.
(Photo: Hannah McKay | Reuters)
Human Trafficking. Can Sex Work Decriminalization Reduce Sex Trafficking?
Sex work and sex trafficking are two interrelated phenomena. Decriminalization of sex work may make everyone safer, reducing the number of people trafficked and helping victims to make their voices heard publicly.
(Photo: Emily Kask | AFP)
Biden, Blinken and the Blob
oe Biden said one of the first things he will do as President is calling other world leaders and say, "America's back, you can count on us." What Biden means by back is that the bipartisan consensus on American foreign policy is back. That is to say, the blob is back.
(Photo: Staff Sergeant Chris Hubenthal | Department of Defense)
Free COVID Vaccines for the Japanese Public
On December 2, 2020, the Japanese government passed a bill that will make vaccines for Coronavirus free to its residents. Even though Japan grapples with a spike in COVID-19 infections, this bill indicates that there may be a light at the end of a dark long tunnel.
(Photo: Kyodo News)
The Population-Centric COIN
COIN is a specific way of doing counterinsurgency that excludes the use of brute force against civilians. he doctrine of counter-insurgency or COIN had been rediscovered around 2006 by the American military as a tool to rescue the failing Iraq and Afghanistan occupations.
Ethiopia's Tigray Crisis
The Ethiopia-Tigray crisis is an ongoing conflict that started in November 2020 between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian National Defense Force. Hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands displaced.
(Photo: Reuters)
Vaccines Are On The Way: What You Need To Know
For a long time, it felt as if there was no end in sight. Finally, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. A coronavirus vaccine will not fix the problem overnight. But it’s the first concrete step to ending this pandemic and getting life back to normal.
(Photo: iStock)
Japan: A Precarious Rebound
Japan’s Gross Domestic Product increased by 21.4% in the third quarter. This was the largest expansion of Japan’s economy in roughly half a century.
(Photo: Kim Kyung-Hoon)
Politics in the Digital Age
24-hour news cycles are the norm, a tweet can derail a politician’s career yet equally, political participation and activism are on the rise. Is politics succeeding or failing in the digital era?
(Photo: Lazaro Gamio)
Losing Europe
Saber rattling and fiery tweets have caused European partners to doubt the stability and leadership promised by American hegemony. (Photo: Jesco Denzel | German Federal Government via AP)
Kind Gestures
Since October, many countries in Europe and individual regions and cities around the world, e.g. New York, have been under lockdown due to rising numbers of COVID-19 infections. The fear that they will not survive the second lockdown economically is great among the owners of companies.
(Photo: Shadowgate)
The ICC Jurisdiction Over Grave Crimes Committed in Palestine
In the wake of the Israel-Gaza 2008-2009 armed conflict, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has faced a major challenge to define its degree of judicial independence and legitimacy. The ICC needed to decide whether to confirm the existence of the Palestinian state and how to treat international crimes committed in Palestinian territories.
(Photo: ICC)
Donald Trump's Chance To End A Forever War
President Trump should be looking to lock up key campaign promises before he leaves office. One of the original animating issues of his campaign going back to 2016 was ending the bipartisan “forever wars”.
(Photo: Tom Brenner)
The Definition, Politics and Importance of DACA
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program implemented by former President Barack Obama on June 15th. DACA is vital for undocumented youth, many of whom arrived in the US as infants and know only the American way of life. But what is DACA and why is it so important?
(Photo: Mandel Ngan)
Election Integrity in the United States
In early November of 2020, the United States of American held its 59th presidential election to determine whether the incumbent president Donald Trump would retain office or would be forced out by challengers, specifically Joe Biden.
(Photo: Public Domain)