International News, Analyses & Opinions
Facing the Inevitable: The Never-ending Cycle of Abuse and Racism over Football
Opinion Analysis by Tala Karkanawi, Contributor
The EURO 2020 has opened a door of opportunity for the discussion of issues such as domestic abuse and racism, especially after the championship’s end. Despite football being an exciting and beautiful game to many, a dark side of this game has been uncovered for decades now, disregarding all its significance to millions of people around the world. Football is known for uniting people together despite their differences. Knowing that this sport also causes a lot of problems to people is a huge issue. In this article, only domestic abuse and racism will be covered in this article because they are highly significant topics to be discussed, and unfortunately, still issues to be reckoned with as we approach 2022.
Shifting Sands: Developments in the Saudi-Emirati Relationship
Opinion Analysis by Naif Al Rogi, Featured Writer
Though the Kingdom and the Emirates will compete (and cooperate) with each other economically, the political alliance has its foundations grounded more firmly in the ground, impervious to the shifting sands.
Euro 2020 - Equality: the Ultimate Winner?
Opinion Analysis by Joelle El Sheikh, Featured Writer
Sports organizations have long advocated for political neutrality in their global events. That posture, however, is becoming increasingly hard to withstand as the lines between politics and human rights are blurred. UEFA, the governing body of European football, highlights their commitment towards specific policies that help in securing long-term participation within European football, one of which is “Anti-violence, anti-discrimination and inclusivity campaigns”. This year, however, things took an interesting turn.
Political Unrest Shakes Haiti Once Again: The Caribbean Nation Enters Another Dark Chapter in its History
Opinion Analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer
In a midnight attack on their house on Wednesday, gunmen murdered Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and injured his wife. Armed gangs have gained more control of the streets as a result of the assassination, terrorizing impoverished neighbourhoods and throwing the country into turmoil.
The Climate Crisis Under the Microscope Part Six: Climate Change Claims Almost 200 Lives in Europe
Opinion analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer
Last week, floods devastated parts of Western Germany and Belgium, as record-breaking rainfall caused severe damage to the infrastructure and claimed 196 lives so far, while some residents remain missing. These floods are certainly and irrefutably due to climate change, as the Earth’s warming comes with more frequently occurring extreme weather events, and this was the most difficult ‘natural disaster’ Germany had faced since the North Sea Flood of 1962.
The Miami Surfside Condo Collapse — An unnatural disaster with dire repercussions
News analysis by Maria Wehbe, Featured Writer
On June 24th, 2021, the 12-story Champlain Towers South apartment block in the town of Surfside in Miami, Florida collapsed in a matter of seconds while its residents were sound asleep. To be more precise, the building managed to collapse in just 12 seconds. The building contained 136 apartments of which 55 collapsed, leaving piles of debris. As of July 8th, 54 bodies have been found and there are more than 80 people that are still missing. Indeed, some people compared the scene to the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.
#SaveBeita: israel Attempts to Continue Settler Colonial Expansion
Opinion Analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer
Beita is a Palestinian village within the Nablus governate in the northwest part of the occupied West Bank. On the outskirts of Beita, at the top of Jabal Sabih, israelis set up illegal outposts in May of 2021. In response, the Palestinians of Beita have shown resistance towards the settlers in the form of protests that have been violently met because of the IOF. Since these protests began, IOF soldiers have killed 5 Palestinians, the youngest of whom are 15 and 16, for the crime of protesting against the occupation of their rightful land. Hundreds of Palestinians have been injured by live ammunition during the course of these protests, which have occurred on a daily basis since the set-up of the illegal outpost of Evyatar at Jabal Sabih.
Feminism as a prolongation of the Marxist theory - Marxism, a crucial precursor to modern day feminism
Analysis by Andrea Chamaa, Visiting Contributor
Although Marx did not approach gender dynamics explicitly, the question of women and unremunerated domestic labor has always been a key motif in his essay, particularly vis-à-vis the commodification of women in the bourgeois sphere. The Marxist views about the significance of women are understood by studying the highlights of the communist manifesto related to the importance of reproduction, and inequalities between men and women as well as the “wage illusion”.
The Climate Crisis Under the Microscope Part Five: How We’re Experiencing Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events Today
Opinion Analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been an endless stream of news coverage of extreme weather events occurring worldwide, from a destructive tornado in the Czech Republic to hurricanes and fatal heat waves in North America. Not only have these weather events been more extreme, but they have also become more frequent and have appeared in areas that did not face these issues previously. The culprit behind the climate disasters: decades of rising CO2 levels culminating in a present CO2 concentration of 417 ppm (parts per million), which is the highest that carbon dioxide levels have been in the atmosphere over the past 4 million years.
The New Space Race: An Undeclared Contest towards the Stars has Begun
Opinion Analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer
China intends to launch its first crewed trip to Mars in 2033 as part of the country's ambitious goal to commence large-scale development on the Red Planet, raising tensions with the United States as the two compete to become Earth's dominating force in space.
Deadly tornado takes the Czech Republic by storm - A rare occurrence with detrimental consequences
News analysis by Maria Wehbe, Featured Writer
On Thursday, June 24th, 2021, a rare and deadly tornado took the Czech Republic by storm, killing at least 6 people, leaving more than 150 others injured, sweeping through many villages and completely destroying them. Winds of at least 219 km/h, which is equivalent to 136 mph, were recorded and this tornado is said to be the strongest to strike Central Europe in Modern History. “The church is without the tower, the elementary school has no roof and insulation any more, only walls remained from what were houses”, said Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Until now, it is uncertain whether it was a single twister or several independent ones; regardless, some of the damage done is beyond repair.
Children of Misfortune: A Generation Lost in the Battlefield
Opinion analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer
In various wars across the world, tens of thousands of minors are recruited and exploited as soldiers. Some youngsters are kidnapped and tortured into obedience, while others join military organizations to escape poverty, protect their towns, exact revenge, or for other reasons.
The Deadly Mix of Cults and Democracy: How Modern Leaders Undermine Democracy for their own Benefit
Opinion Analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer
Humans have a tendency for hero worship. Sports figures and movie stars are idolized mostly in culture. However, hero-worship takes a sinister turn when people begin to revere corrupt politicians. This trend has the potential to lead to the emergence of a personality cult, a hazardous tendency that is not limited to authoritarian nations but is increasingly affecting democracies.
An Overview of the US-Russian Summit: Discussing foreign policy, cybercrime, and violations of human rights
News Analysis by Sara Nasser, Featured Writer
The world’s future is in the hands of its major powers. Both the Administration and Kremlin agreed on a Summit that would join both President Biden and President Putin in Geneva. The “tense” relationship between both figures is considered to be a highlight in today’s political world. With that being said, the spotlight was on these two prominent figures, almost forgetting that the United States and Russia had to meet in order to discuss major issues. With that being said, the meeting was fruitful as highlighted by both presidents, and cooperation on key foreign affairs and stability between the two great powers were the focus of this particular Summit.
The New Rush for Africa: Superpowers are vying for influence in Africa once more
Opinion analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer
When 19th-century European colonizers split up the continent and took Africans' land, the first big rise of foreign interest in Africa was known as the "scramble." The second was during the Cold War, when the East and West competed for newly independent African governments' loyalty. The third surge, which is currently underway, is gentler.
#SaveLifta: One of the Last Palestinian Villages Left Standing After the Nakba
Opinion analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer
By demolishing Lifta, israeli politicians are hoping to continue their plan to judaise Jerusalem and make it a capital of israel that is void of Palestinians while simultaneously robbing Palestinians from Lifta of their Right to Return. The occupation and apartheid state is continuing the project it started in 1948, built on the idea that Palestine is ‘a land without a people for a people without a land’ and thus perfect for establishing a Jewish homeland. However, the land is Palestinian and Palestinians will continue to exist and resist the occupation.
#SaveSilwan: The israeli Project to Judaise East Jerusalem and Ethnically Cleanse Palestinians
Opinion Analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer
Any attempts to evict and expel Palestinians from East Jerusalem are illegal under international law since it is seen as occupied territory and should not face any demographic changes, but israel does not face any consequences from the international community for its flagrant and continued violations of international law, human rights abuses, apartheid regime, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and war crimes. Instead, it continues to receive billions of dollars in military aid to fund the IOF’s incessant brutality and wrongly weaponizes anti-semitism against anyone who criticizes the Zionist occupation’s regime.
Erdogan’s dream of dethroning Atatürk - An overview of all of the headlines and conflicts that Turkey has engaged in over the past few years
Opinion Analysis by Anthony Ahrend, Featured Writer
After the fall of the Byzantium and the Ottoman empire, Erdogan wants Turkey to return to its past glory, even if that means fighting proxy-wars and destabilizing entire regions. Today, the Turkish president is the most prominent autocrat that is still gaining support from Western powers.
The Art of Seizing Power in Africa: A Closer Look at the Root Causes of Coups D’état in West Africa
Opinion Analysis by Johnny Achkar, Featured Writer
Many newly independent countries use military coups as an institutional mechanism of changing administration in the postcolonial era. Africa is often identified as the region most vulnerable to military coups in global assessments.
Caster Semenya & The Challenges of Sex Testing: How World Athletics Are Depriving the World from Witnessing a Generational Talent
Analysis by Albert Geokgeuzian, Staff Writer
Differentiating between men and women is harder than you think. Science doesn’t have a good way of doing so, and yet, the governing body for international sports, World Athletics, bans certain women from competing because they are deemed to be not women.