The U.S. Has a Deep-Rooted Sinophobia Problem

American protectionism against China was born out of, and continues to propagate, an antagonistic relationship that is only further intensified by the U.S.’s longstanding problem with systemic racism, culminating in an unfortunate increase in hate crimes and racism against Asian people in America. The present conflict may be international in nature, but it has serious domestic consequences.

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Will Nigeria’s Infrastructure Gaps Push it Closer to China?

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, challenges to Nigeria’s economic growth is its lack of quality infrastructure. To compete on the global stage and address problems such as poverty and lagging human development, Nigeria needs improved infrastructure to service its economy and development goals.

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Does Latin American Anti-Americanism Herald the Coming of a New World Order?

AMLO’s various anti-American comments are novel to a modern Mexican leader, as the nation has, for decades, been led by administrations denounced by AMLO as a “neoliberal oligarchy” itself. However, across Latin America, anti-Americanism is something of a time-honored tradition.

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New Best Friends? Finland Joins NATO

After applying for membership last year in 2022, Finland has now entered NATO, posing questions for the future of Nordic-Western alliances and the relationship’s potential consequences during international conflicts, such as the Ukraine War. Since 1944, the country’s eastern border with Russia is the second-longest border that Russia has with any country.

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Ecuador’s Recent Natural Disasters: A Worrying Indicator of Climate Change

Ecuador in particular is especially vulnerable to severe natural disasters, including landslides, droughts, floods, and earthquakes. This vulnerability is exacerbated by ineffective government policies combating climate change, political instability, river basin deterioration, farmland expansion, and inadequately constructed infrastructure.

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The Line: Luxurious Environmentally Sustainable Infrastructure with a Cost

Neom: the future. Saudi Arabia envisioned Neom or also considered the Line as a stable microclimatic environment that prioritizes walkability, clean energy, and technology to move away from traffic, pollution, and other infrastructure challenges that plague urban life. The Line symbolizes the beginning of environmentally sustainable infrastructure that can enrich the lives of humans.

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China’s Lianghui: Its Implications of a Shakier Sino-U.S. Relationship

The Chinese Community Party (CCP) National Advisory Committee and parliament met in March for their annual meetings, also known as the lianghui (“two-sessions”). The meetings themselves are public displays, rather than substantive policy meetings that pose any drastic implications for the future of China. Nevertheless, these two sessions established that President Xi Jinping will not budge in his foreign policy agenda.

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French Pension Reforms Signal a Looming Crisis

While the pension’s present structure may have proven effective until now, France’s rapidly declining birth rates and aging population pose a challenge to its stability, as current trends would either necessitate an increase in the pension tax for future workers or decrease the quality of life for upcoming pensioners.

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The Continuing Fight Against Femicide in Latin America

“Ni una menos,” meaning “not one woman less” is commonly written on the posters of protestors against femicides throughout Latin America. Feminicidios, or femicides in English, are the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender. Among 25 countries with the highest rates of femicide in the world, 14 are from Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Pakistan: Judas of the American Alliance

The U.S. has long seen Pakistan as an ally in South and Central Asia despite a long history of the Pakistani government supporting terrorist groups who have sought to attack America, a policy that continues today.

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The Dirty Business of Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan

Afghanistan currently faces the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world which has led to billions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid but corruption, theft and hidden agendas have led to a distribution system that, in its current form, could be actively making the problem worse. 

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If You Stand With Ukraine, You Must Also Stand With Afghanistan (Part 2)

The United States and its allies have abandoned Afghanistan after their two-decade-long occupation, leading to the country's descent into a humanitarian crisis and a terrorist-led government. Meanwhile, these nations have shifted their focus to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with rhetoric about defending values of democracy and political freedom, but to the Afghan people, this rings hollow. The US's current policy towards Afghanistan is focused on containment rather than support for any specific actors, and their cooperation with the Taliban is reminiscent of Reagan's failed policy of "constructive engagement" with Apartheid South Africa.

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China Brokers Saudi Arabia-Iran Diplomatic Agreement – Implications for Yemen’s Civil War

The China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran marks a significant shift in relations between the two regional rivals and may pave the way for humanitarian recovery in Yemen, a country devastated by the proxy war between the two nations. The deal involves reopening embassies, respecting state sovereignty, and avoiding interference in foreign affairs.

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Russia Beyond its Borders: Foreign Agent Bill in Georgia

Graffiti expressing anti-Russian sentiment adorns Georgian buildings, reflecting the country's unease as the government leans closer to Russian influence. Thousands of Georgians recently protested the controversial "foreign agents" bill, which would require businesses receiving at least 20% of their funding from foreign countries to declare themselves as "foreign agents," potentially stifling foreign-funded organizations and moving Georgia further from European integration.

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Overcoming Conflict: Japan and Korea Restore Diplomatic Relations

On March 16, 2023, Japan and the Republic of Korea convened their first summit in 12 years, with the objective of reestablishing trade relations, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic ties in the context of a fraught historical relationship. The summit sought to address unresolved issues and promote collaboration amid increasing regional concerns, signifying a new chapter in the bilateral relationship between these two nations.

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Candidates Begin Lining Up for Mexico’s 2024 Presidential Race

As Mexico prepares for the 2024 national elections, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) faces controversy for introducing a bill that weakens the National Electoral Institute. Meanwhile, various potential candidates from different parties, including PAN, PRI, and Morena, have publicly declared their intent to run, with Mexico City Mayor Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo emerging as a prominent figure for the Morena party.

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Political Censorship in Rwanda Limits Chances for Representation

The 2004 film Hotel Rwanda raised global awareness about the Rwandan genocide and the heroism of hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina. However, Rusesabagina's story also highlights the issue of political censorship in Rwanda, where the government's suppression of political and human rights advocacy persists, including the silencing of opposition voices and imprisonment of political leaders.

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