Opinion analysis by Zeina Dagher, Featured Writer

How many times have we heard – or even said: “But where’s the UN?!” after reading or hearing about a disaster occurring somewhere in the world? In light of many recent events that characterize our 21st century, pointing out its failures isn’t a difficult task. However, it seems like the world isn’t debating whether the UN is in decline or not – the answer is very clear. Rather, some have moved on to another question: what do we have to replace it with? Yet, one can’t help but wonder: are we being too harsh on an institution that, we have to admit, has helped millions globally over the years? What is causing its decline? Is it still salvable, or would replacing it with another international institution be better for our modern necessities?

Opinion analysis by Nour AlMortada, Featured Writer

World leaders stated that the world post-covid will not be the same, and the balance of power much of the youth were born into, will no longer stand the test of time. The Middle East is no different. World leaders tend to treat states as limited bodies of certain individuals, where if the leader is pleased, the country is pleased. Revolutions have proven to the world that this is simply not the case, and as more people exercise their right to protest and demonstration, we ask ourselves this: who will survive? Recent social changes have led to viewpoints on current leadership to shift and with the release of the pandora papers, who is safe? So, can today’s already established monarchies and governments continue, or is it just a fight against time?

Opinion analysis by Pau Luoning, Contributor

The recent acquisition of Newcastle United FC by a Saudi wealth fund might have came as big news for many football fans in Europe and elsewhere. Taking a closer look at the most recent state of affairs, however, it is clear many oil-dependent economies from the Gulf are starting to invest big sums of money in many different areas much different from the energy sector. The trend is clear: they are diversifying, be it tech, real state or be it sport.

In a context of decarbonisation, countries are increasingly trying to transition from carbon energies to more sustainable and greener ones. Oil has long been the mainly source of wealth for many countries in the Gulf and elsewhere. But an entire economy too reliant in only one resource is a vulnerable one. For this reason, leaders of many oil-states are smartly starting to think for a prosperous diversified economy, which is not dependable on oil. Although not intended, these economic reforms might start to pave the way for a process of democratization. What will happen, only the time will tell.

Opinion analysis by Georges Haydar, Contributor

When you think of Latin America, your mind might wander about Che Guevara, Cohiba cigars, Pablo Escobar, or, if you’re an adept follower of the cryptocurrency world, El Salvador's latest stunt. The tiny republic, in an effort spearheaded by its president Nayib Bukele, has made Bitcoin legal tender, an unprecedented move that has the potential to redefine international monetary policy. While the move is ambitious and has attractive upsides, it also possesses a few caveats that could prove deadly for this small Central American enclave.

Opinion analysis by Albert Geokgeuzian

Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication. We are constantly surrounded by media, whether that’s our phones, our laptops, the TV, the radio, etc. despite being constantly surrounded by media, most of us are terrible at actually understanding the media landscape, that’s because of how our brains work. We need to learn to be better at understanding the news because if we don’t, “the truth” will only be a matter of perspective.

News Analysis by Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

On August 14th, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti, killing at least 1419 people, and injuring more than 6900, with hundreds still missing. According to CNN, the earthquake has affected 1.2 million people overall, including 540 000 children. Indeed, the country is still recovering from another strong earthquake that took place 11 years ago and the recent assassination of its president, Jovenel Moise. Unfortunately, Haiti’s unique geology makes it seismically active, thus, more prone to devastating earthquakes as such. Additionally, the rescue efforts were hampered by Tropical Storm Grace, which brought heavy rains and very harsh weather conditions.

Opinion Analysis by Dima Yehia, Visiting Contributor

With the declaration of the War on Terror, the US launched its marketing campaign that helped gain the public’s support. The efforts to justify the war included multiple discourses that operated for the benefit of characterizing the war as mundane. Some of these were set by women who were used as part of the justificatory approach. As such, American women and stereotyped Muslim Women eased the way and mobilized public support through framing them in normative gender roles.

Opinion analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer

Governments are increasingly compelling telecommunications to turn off web service in neighborhoods, regions, or entire countries, often for months, as Internet shutdowns become a favorite tool of oppressive states.

Opinion analysis by Cherly Abou Chabke, Featured Writer

As if the world hasn’t been through enough already; from COVID-19 to political instability, the stock market crash, and racial injustice, it seems as though today, the Earth wants payback after all these years of neglecting what is most important: the planet itself. The summer of 2021 perfectly embodies the manifestation of the blatant attacks on our ecosystems and heightened once again, the incompetence, the lack of action and carelessness of governments in regards to Climate Change. However, this issue seems to be stirring up today, more propaganda than usual for the sole reason of it ravaging the 4 corners of the earth, all at once.

Opinion analysis by Pau Luoning, Contributor

Sports and politics are often intertwined, and Olympic Games are so much more than just sporting games and events: they are the true definition of the fight for soft power. Be it by hosting the games or by winning the most medals, nations coincide with one another to gain cultural prestige and attractiveness that are very useful in the world of politics, especially on an international scale. The end of the Tokyo 2020 Games has confirmed the steady trend of the last couple of years: China rising as a superpower. Is this a coincidence? It is important to take a closer look at the link between the Olympics and soft power, whilst taking the Chinese success story as an example.

Policy Analysis by Roa Daher, Featured Writer and Nicole Vassilissa Cozza, Visiting Contributor

Last April the US president Joe Biden announced the end of the American Impasse in Afghanistan, after almost twenty years of military operations in the country. Although the announcement is linked to the Biden administration, it should be pointed out that the current president has done nothing but continue on the line inaugurated by his predecessor. Biden in fact confirmed, or rather accelerated, the process of military withdrawal started by Donald Trump on the basis of an agreement reached with the Taliban in the framework of the Doha agreements.

Opinion analysis by Anthony Ahrend, Featured Writer

Social media. Are we underestimating its power? It allows us to connect one end of the world to another. However, this online world can have repercussions on the real world, as we saw with Facebook and its owner Mark Zuckerberg who got accused of contributing with dark money and enabling election fraud in 2020. The border between online and reality is really thin. Users are confronted with information from the whole world, directly or indirectly. But what are the consequences of social media on our society, especially on the political aspect of society? I will divide this article into four parts: old vs young, transparency, polarization and last but not least: cancel culture.

Opinion Analysis by Gaia Bchara, Featured Writer

Cuban protesters took to the streets on the 11th of July, 2021 in a move sparking international attention, solidarity, and even criticism. The reasons attributed to the eruption of the ongoing protests are multi-dimensional, yet the chief cause behind Cuba’s crisis remains heavily contested. One camp blames US sanctions, the other Castro’s legacy of authoritarianism. Any discussion about Cuba will inevitably prompt both objections, and almost any subsequent argument tends to agree with one over the other. Let’s talk about sanctions and the making of democracies.

Opinion analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer

Mr. Erdogan holds a firm grip over his nation today, after having crushed any sort of opposition by jailing journalists and silencing political opponents. The President of Turkey has now set his sights at suppressing opposition abroad.

Opinion analysis by Maria Wehbe, Featured Writer

Simon Biles, an Olympic gold medalist, withdrew herself from the women’s team gymnastics final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 27th, whereby she did so in an attempt to protect “her body and mind”. “Whenever you get in a high stress situation, you kind of freak out. I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being. Those competing aren’t just athletes; we’re people at the end of the day”, said the 24-year old. This raises a lot of red flags when it comes to the way athletes are treated today and mental health concerns became the center of attention of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Analysis by Dima Yehia, Visiting Contributor

Ever since the Vietnam War, followed by the 9/11 attack which caused the collapse of the Twin Towers, the United States of America has been on a mission to redeem its phallus. A war that changed the rules of war and operated through multiple gender frameworks. Gender shaped the war on terror, managed to reestablish power dynamics into the hands of the US, and maintained the status of its infamous equality even though it is not the case.

Opinion Analysis by Johnny Achkar, Staff Writer

Singapore's economy is one of the most powerful in the world. With a thinly veiled type of authoritarianism, it is anchored in political stability, low corruption rates, and transparent public institutions. A successful dictatorship unlike any other.