Opinion Report by Michael Maalouf, Staff Writer

The famous dragon blood tree, Egyptian vulture, Ghost crab, and many other unique factors of the island are well known. However, what is not apparent is the strategic importance of the island and how it has become an interest for world powers. The islands are in dispute with Somalia, although not in direct conflict, yet the Island’s ability to gather the attention of international powers is where the analysis lies.

Analysis by Clara Mendelek, Contributor

“We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us.” President Trump sanctions all members of the ICC, following a long line of opposing actions taken by previous US Presidents against the Court. The US is gradually disengaging with the multilateral system, by opposing and withdrawing from several UN organs. What are the motives behind the US’s resistance against the International Criminal Court?

Analysis by Gaelle Nohra, Staff Writer

While the exit is unquestioned, the after-Brexit conditions are far from homogeneous and will presumably set in motion multifarious repercussions ranging from trade disruptions to security matters in Northern Ireland. No extension in order, December 2020 is now the deadline for the UK to escape a no-deal scenario.

Opinion Analysis by Annabelle Ghanem, Staff Writer

No expense was spared as the three western nations began campaigning, with hopes of grabbing one the last two spots in the Security Council, developing their international relations with leaders in all corners of the globe, and continuously promoting the impact they believed their presence within the principal organ would generate. However, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s great investment in Canada’s bid for a Security Council seat, he came up short against EU member states, Ireland and Norway. What went wrong?

Policy Analysis by Abrar Salhuba, Staff Writer and Robin Madi Staff Writer

"Disregarding reports of the more urgent crisis happening in Yemen where one child dies every 10 minutes and more than 400,000 children who die of starvation. Independent Yemeni journalist, Afrah Nasser, describes western coverage of Yemen as “parachute journalism”. With the refugees coming into Europe being mostly from Syria and Iraq, western coverage is more…”

Opinion Piece by Tala Al Otaibi, Staff Writer

Of the most common forms of punishment under various domestic laws remains imprisonment in detention and/or correction centers. A vast variety of prison procedures are direct violations of international human rights. Many prison staff take it upon themselves to provide inmates with harsh treatment that do not necessarily follow law and order. Rather than punishing them ruthlessly, proper treatment and care of prisoners must be implemented as it is far better for the long-term betterment of society.

Analysis by Farah Termos, Staff Writer

From Brazil to China, the world has so far seen its share of political turmoil from totalitarian leaders. Better yet, It’s known that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t made 2020 an easy year and added to that is the political unrest that countries are currently facing. Whether it’s the international tension of some leaders against each other, another economic depression on the way, or mass protests calling for a change in far-right leaders’fascist regimes - its quite clear that this world, barred by right-wing politics, might quite literally tumble onto a New World Order.

Opinion analysis by Rhea Haddad, Staff Writer

Each June 20, in a world where violence and wars force thousands of families to flee for their survival every day, the globe unites to honor World Refugee Day. Celebrated for the first time on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, World Refugee Day marks a key moment to raise awareness about forcibly displaced people around the world.

Analysis by Gaelle Nohra, Staff Writer

An individually committed crime is costly, but a jointly-committed one is costlier simply due to the multiplicity of testimonies. Confessing and lying, carrying higher opportunity costs, further complicate the decision-making process and while prison is granted, years of imprisonment remains dependent upon the words of each suspect. The prisoner’s dilemma, thought experiment in decision analysis, offers an explanation to the escalating COVID-19 situation in Brazil in this analysis.

Opinion Analysis by Karim Bassil, Staff Writer

Life once quarantine and isolation are over will not really be going back to normal. Not for a while at least. The term “normal” has lost meaning in times like these. A lot of things that we were used to doing will change; from handshakes to the way we deal with certain situations. People will have to learn to adapt and overcome this change in lifestyle. The most important thing to keep in mind is their mental health and knowing that the way they are currently feeling is understandable. The way life will be carried out post virus might be the new “normal” for years to come.

Opinion Policy Analysis by Tala Al Otaibi, Staff Writer

The establishment of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 put forth the ways in which the government must operate. All Congress members meet in Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C, as the constitution sets out. Just under a month ago, the House of Representatives approved the temporary move to virtual operation. This enables voting remotely and hearings are to be conducted virtually, however repercussions will follow. The real question is how to maintain democracy and prevent fraud.

Analysis by Annabelle Ghanem, Staff Writer

2020 has been an overwhelming challenge for the DRC to say the least, and unfortunately, the nation is now forced to face a fourth enemy in the health sector, one it is quite familiar with. The Ebola virus has managed to resurface in the Democratic Republic of Congo, solidifying its 11thappearance in the nation with death and illness. The DRC is currently facing four different threats, forcing its health sector to overcome what is arguably its greatest challenge. What does this mean for the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Opinion Analysis by Jana Al Hassanieh, Staff Writer

Child labour violates fundamental human rights as it deprives children of proper education, health, safety, leisure, and their fundamental rights and freedom. Thus far, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates around 152 million children in child labour, 72 million of which are in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety, and development.

Analysis by Staff Writers Annabelle Ghanem and Dina Richani

“My dream is to continue schooling. But even if we go back to school, we will come back to the streets after work.” Being completely robbed of an education, child labor prohibits children from receiving an adequate amount of opportunities to turn their life around. As a result, children who are often enslaved in the cycle, grow up to work in the same organizations, enduring the same forms of injustices, for the remainder of their lives.

Analysis by Zeina Dagher, Staff Writer and Cherly Abou Chabke, Staff Writer

The country whose mantra is “Justice and Equality for All” has gained monumental notoriety in the past couple of weeks for the upsurge of the infamous “Black Lives Matter” movement. Anonymous called the uprisings the “American Spring”, a parallel to the “Arab Spring”, the series of protests and riots across the Arab world in 2011. Can parallels be comparatively drawn between the two case studies?

Analysis by Zeina Dagher, Staff Writer and Cherly Abou Chabke, Staff Writer

The country whose mantra is “Justice and Equality for All” has gained monumental notoriety in the past couple of weeks for the upsurge of the infamous “Black Lives Matter” movement. Anonymous called the uprisings the “American Spring”, a parallel to the “Arab Spring”, the series of protests and riots across the Arab world in 2011. Can parallels be comparatively drawn between the two case studies?

Opinion news analysis by Staff Writer Tala Karkanawi and Contributor Dimitri Ghantous

Donald Trump declares ANTIFA as a terrorist organization on his twitter account. ANTIFA is a movement that follows a specific philosophy and ideology. They have clearly made the presence visible in the past years angering Donald Trump. Can Donald Trump’s claim be legitimate? How does this claim fail to adhere to the Constitution of the US?

Opinion Piece by Tala Al Otaibi, Staff Writer

With following influencers comes a promotion of a specific consumeristic lifestyle. Influencers promote, besides the products, the need to live and look a certain way. It brings about the idea that we must abide by these ways in order to be accepted into society. Should we be in violation of these “expectations”, we are immediately assumed to be inferior and, in some cases, incompetent.

Analysis by Staff Writer, Annabelle Ghanem

“The mere fact that we work together, that we are imbedded in the union, makes us stronger, safer, and more effective,” said Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. However, those sentiments were not shared by the Italians as the coronavirus inflicted its shattering wave on their nation, during the early stages of what is now known as a global pandemic. The burden inflicted on Italy was overwhelming to say the least, leaving the nation feeling anything but “stronger, safer, and more effective” with the European Union nowhere to be found. Could another EU-exit be on the horizon? 

Analysis by Jana Al Hassanieh, Staff Writer

From India recording the decade’s warmest May, Cyclone Amphan which formed on May 16th and landed on May 20th, recent Desert Locust swarm infestations, and reports of reignited zombie fires, dormant fires that have been burning beneath the snowpack all winter, spanning over Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia - it is critical to assess the environmental threats of mid-2020.