Opinion Analysis by Roa Daher, Staff Writer

Instead of fixating on the number of individuals occupying the planet and the myth of overpopulation, which has very little scientific backing and rather unsavoury origins, that attention would be much better directed towards trying to minimise the impacts of climate change and care for the planet and the resources it provides us with. Rather than implementing policies that police women’s bodies and disregard womens’ reproductive wishes, states should focus on climate goals, achieving carbon neutrality, and investing in renewable energy. Despite the fact that overpopulation has no scientific backing, many individuals remain very concerned about it and even base their decisions not to have children on their fear of overpopulation. On the other hand, climate change has decades’ worth of evidence and scientific consensus in the community, and yet no significant irrefutable action has been taken to adequately address climate change and attempt to prevent the impending doom associated with it.

Opinion Analysis by Layan Eissa, Contributor

When an individual is given a position of power and a certain expectation to live up to regarding the way they're meant to behave, it is highly likely for their actions to shift solely for that purpose; however, in my opinion, once one really adapts to their environment with time, it would bring some sort of personal satisfaction knowing that you hold power over others and can abuse that power whichever way you please. In conclusion, one’s personality does outshine a sadistic inducing environment, yet, when provoked, excuses would be made to justify the cruel behavior that could follow.

Opinion analysis by Tala Karkanawi, Staff Writer

The Trump’s administration’s issue in willing to accept the presidential transition has raised quite a few national security apprehensions and fears. President Donald Trump claimed that he would refuse the results of the 2020election in the event that he lost, which he did. Long before the presidential race towards November 3 started, some of his supporters hadalready taken this claim about voter fraud and fear of illegal ballots to their hearts. What could this mean for the Republican party, and what manoeuvre is Trump trying to plan?

Opinion Analysis by Sandro Joseph Azzam, Staff Writer

In his 1798 book “An Essay on the Principle of Population”, English economist and cleric, Thomas Malthus, first introduced a fundamental piece of development economics: the Malthusian Trap. In this article, we will analyze the Malthusian Trap and look into the factors that allowed humanity to break free from the limiting factors that had been riddling population and economic growth for almost 3 millennia.

Analysis by Rhea Haddad, Staff Writer

Despite remarkable advancements over the past few decades, children around the world are facing today an unprecedented threat to their human rights. The pandemic-related school closures have affected 1.5 billion students, exposing kids to direct risks of labor exploitation, starvation, recruitment into armed thugs, child marriage, and sexual abuse. Consequently, more than two decades of progress towards reducing child labor and increasing school enrollment are under menace.

News Analysis by Mounia El Khawand, Staff Writer

For over forty years, Vienna had been spared the violent terror attacks perpetrated in other European capitals, such as Paris, London, and Berlin. But the reputation of Vienna as one of the continent’s safest cities came crumbling down on Monday, the 2nd of November, 2020, at 20:00, local time. For 9 minutes, the cobbled-streets of Vienna’s popular nightlife district (aptly named the Bermuda Triangle for its tendency to draw in partygoers for days) were turned into a bloodbath.

Opinion piece by Taleen El Gharib, Staff Writer

In many countries around the world, expressing dislike towards a certain politician could put them in harm's way. Criticizing radical groups or disagreeing with the ideals of the majority is immediately labeled as an attempt to suppress their freedom to express those opinions, but what about the critic themself? Are they not being suppressed of their right to an opinion? (…) Perhaps is not so much a freedom as it is a privilege.

Opinion News Analysis by Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

On October 30th, 2020, Izmir was hit by a devastating earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It has been classified as the deadliest earthquake of 2020 and the most destructive one to have hit Turkey in nearly a decade, with around 115 deaths and over 1000 injured thus far. The earthquake was so powerful that it was also felt in Bulgaria, North Macedonia and even Greece, where two teenagers died after a wall had collapsed on them. It was even felt in the capital, Istanbul, more than 200 miles away. A fourteen-year old was removed from under the wreckage nearly 58 hours after the earthquake had hit, only to find out later on that her eight-year old sister did not make it out alive. Can you imagine surviving something like that, and being relieved up until finding out that one of the people you care most about in this world didn’t get that same privilege?

Opinion Policy Analysis by Reem El Dana, Staff Writer

In 2016, China and Iran began negotiating an economic, military and intelligence centered 25 year accord, worth $400 billion. President Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and instigated a maximum pressure campaign against Iran in a bid to change its behavior. The campaign largely failed to realize its objectives but succeeded in miring Iran in a recession. Now that President Trump won't sit for another four years, President-elect Biden is giving a lifeline to Tehran. Tehran will make a binary choice, who will it be?

Opinion Analysis by Layan Eissa, Contributor

With the passing of time, we’ve witnessed multiple occurrances of whitewashing that corresponds to the Middle East. In the case of Ancient Egypt, this has occurred on multiple occasions where white actresses are chosen to represent it’s culture, specifically the role of the Ancient Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Once again, to noone’s surprise, the chain simply continues; however, this could possibly be the most controversial and critical case. Gal Gadot, a Jewish-israeli actress, has been chosen for the role. Given Egypt’s history and sentiments against israel, this is not only a case of whitewashing, but also mere disrespect to the Egyptian community and its history.

Opinion Analysis by Tala Karkanawi, Staff Writer

The US elections have historically played a critical role in the formation of multiple possible changes affecting the global arena across borders. With the US being one of the powerful leading countries of the world, who's hands the leadership lies in matters to a grand portion of us global citizens. Both presidential candidates have publicized their economic plans and prospective policies for the American voters to compare and contrast.

Opinion Foreign Policy Analysis by Francesco Pitzalis, Staff Writer

President Erdogan’s grandstand confrontation with France, rambunctious neo-ottoman foreign policy and teetering alliances with Russia and the US have positioned the Turkish strongman in a corner. A tanking Turkish Lira and impending Western sanctions threaten to push Turkey to the brink.

Opinion Piece by Abrar Salhoba, Staff Writer

There is no doubting the role of religion in society, social arrangements, its influence on laws, culture, the way it sets the norm and its overall encompassing force in our lives. Although westernization and globalization have both played a role in downsizing the influence of religion in all aspects of life, religion has still been able to impact the economy by boosting its growth.

Analysis by Dana El Khoury, Contributor

On November 21, 2019, israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has dominated major roles in the israeli political scope such as Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement, has been found guilty of fraud, bribery and a breach of trust in 3 cases (1000, 2000, and 4000). The investigation process into the criminal accusations on Netanyahu has given rise to civil unrest within israel since 2017.

Opinion News Analysis by Hala Al Taher, Staff Writer

For years now, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been suffering from a crippling economy, public violence, and oppression of freedoms. Many of the country’s issues intensified or even came to existence following President Nicolas Maduro’s first election in 2013. Consequently, President Maduro’s re-election in 2018 naturally took many Venezuelan citizens and politicians by surprise. However, being a country with alarming levels of corruption, how surprised should one be about President Maduro’s victory?

Opinion policy analysis by Albert Geokgeuzian, Staff Writer

4 days. After 4 days of waiting, the longest wait for a presidential election to be called since 2000 is finally over, and Joe Biden is president-elect of the United States of America. President-elect Joe Biden amassed almost 75 million votes, the most in US election history. So after 4 years of Trump, what now?

Opinion Analysis by Tala Karkanawi, Staff Writer

The US elections have historically played a critical role in the formation of multiple possible changes affecting the global arena across borders. With the US being one of the powerful leading countries of the world, who's hands the leadership lies in matters to a grand portion of us global citizens. The difference between Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s foreign policies are quite extravagant. Both candidates believe in different things, and both believe that their policies will make America great again. However, Donald Trump’s idea on re-formulating the middle east into a better region is more practical, and here is why.

Opinion Analysis by Tala Al Otaibi and Albert Geokgeuzian, Staff Writers

We’ve all seen those scenes in a court of law where an individual is called up to the stand and asked to talk about what they saw regarding the crime that was committed. What if i told you the idea that eye witness testimonies are concrete evidence is terribly false and has led to a lot of false imprisonment.

Opinion Economic Analysis by Rhea Haddad, Staff Writer

This year unfolded with the expectation that trade issues will be a critical focus area for pursuing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. However, 2020 will be remembered for different reasons by the global trade regime as the COVID-19 pandemic is severely obstructing international flows.

Opinion News Analysis by Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

The violence, the excruciating pain felt at the sight of their loved ones on the brink of death, the police brutality, the protests gone wrong, deaths at the hands of those in power, the ones that are supposed to be protecting the population but are killing it instead: this is what is going on in Nigeria today, with the SARS (Special-Anti Robbery Squad) having overruled the country and created mass rievances across Nigerian men and women down to the core.