The Noto Earthquake in 2024 wasn’t as devastating as predicted. The limited casualties not only reflects Japan’s seasoned disaster response but also unveil the role of the Japanese civil society in disaster relief. The significant and positive role that the Japanese civil society plays in disaster relief can serve as a useful case study for countries that are prone to natural disasters.
Read MoreIn 2011, Bahrain witnessed swaths of protesters swarming the streets of the country and demanding social change and reform in the Sunni-led government that had long oppressed Shia Muslims. The government brutally crushed the uprising within weeks, but the desire for more freedom never died in the population. In August 2023, hundreds of inmates in a prison notorious for detaining political prisoners went on a mass hunger strike. After weeks of strike, the government agreed to provide more humane conditions for the prisoners.
Read MoreOn February 27th 1900, Labour was launched as an official political party for Britain’s urban poor. At the time, the party maintained strong ties to the burgeoning unionist movement and helped broadly expand the welfare state while in power during the 1940s and 60s. Despite this earlier success, Tony Blair’s “New Labour” fully embraced the cult of neoliberalism at the expense of the working-class. In the face of encroaching corporate influence, Jeremy Corbyn remains the last major steward for Labour’s proletarian tradition.
Read MoreStarmer's pragmatic approach, focusing on economic recovery and social justice, seems to strike the right chord with voters disillusioned with the Conservative government's handling of various crises.
Read MoreThe government of Ethiopia recently signed a port deal with the breakaway state of Somaliand, an autonomous state whose sovereignty has yet to be internationally recognized. The port deal has caused backlash from Somalia and may cause larger-scale issues in the Horn of Africa.
Read MoreAs global temperatures increase every year, many institutions, from national governments to private enterprises, are making plans for decreasing carbon emissions. Costa Rica has taken carbon neutrality to the next level by seeking to completely transform not justits energy system but its entire economy.
Read MoreLast year marked the 70th anniversary of the truce between the two nations; however, peace on the Korean Peninsula grows more precarious each day. Recent events, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s stark declaration of South Korea as the “principal enemy” and the symbolic dismantling of a major statue representing reunification efforts, have cast a shadow over hopes of stability in the region. With Pyongyang’s aggressive rhetoric and provocative missile tests, paired with South Korea amping up military tests with the U.S., the Korean Peninsula is, once again, seized by tension. As the world grapples with the implications of North Korea’s recent stance, calls to prevent further escalation have never been more urgent.
Read MoreSaudi Arabia has recently been experiencing an emerging arts and culture boom. The state has become a hub for both national and international artists, particularly for youth. However, some critics speculate that this new funding and celebration of the arts is a strategy to distract from other potentially unpopular legislation.
Read MoreThe Sudanese military coup of 2021 reverberates far beyond the crisis-stricken nation, reshaping the regional landscape. Prompting swift responses from neighboring Egypt and Ethiopia, the coup has sparked an intricate web of security concerns and strategic considerations.
Read MoreA war is being waged against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has imprisoned and exiled approximately 15 percent of the total Nicaraguan clergy. Among these are figures such as Bishop Rolando José Álvarez, who was recently released from detainment on January 14, 2024. Ortega claims that the Catholic Church is part of a conspiracy backed by the U.S. to overthrow his regime. Such allegations have been derived from protests against Ortega’s government in 2018, along with having historical roots in the Nicaraguan Civil War.
Read MoreTensions flare as Rwanda is accused of backing an armed opposition group, based in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Read MoreThe year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Sergei Parajanov’s birth. A reflection of Parajanov’s contributions and impact present a discussion about Ukrainian nationalism and identity in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Read MoreIn Guatemala, the January 2024 inauguration of new president Bernardo Arévalo was tense due to the months-long efforts to prevent it from ever happening. Led not by the military, but by the bureaucracy, the coup d’etat that Guatemala avoided highlights how the nature of undemocratic practices is gradually morphing in Latin America.
Read MoreIn late 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called early presidential elections for February 2024, a year earlier than the end of his term. However, given that Azerbaijan is an extremely authoritarian state with staged elections, many have wondered why Aliyev would want to hold the vote a year early, especially since he would likely rig the elections regardless if they were to be held in 2024 or 2025.
Read MoreThere are approximately 200 million cases of the parasitic disease, malaria, reported worldwide per year, 90 percent of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond its direct health consequences, malaria perpetuates structural inequities, affecting vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. The economic toll, estimated at $12 billion annually, exacerbates existing challenges, specifically in the agriculture sector. Despite global efforts, the persistent societal effects require continued intervention to address the far-reaching implications of malaria worldwide.
Read MoreAfrican societies are suffering from the impact of climate change. This environmental issue is affecting women at a greater rate than the men who exist in the same society. This article delves into the socioeconomic role women have and continue to serve in African societies and how climate change directly impacts their daily endeavors.
Read MoreThe first time the ancient protective Lamassu statue in Khorsabad was uncovered, its head was chopped into pieces and stolen by looters. Then it was reburied for its safety and preservation during an ISIS rampage. Archaeologists now unearth it for the second time and finally reveal it to the world.
Read More“Turn Indignation Into Political Change”- the title of a Spanish anti-government manifesto published in 2014 by a group of college professors and media personalities. In it, these outsiders challenge the legitimacy of the country’s two-party regime and call for the creation of something new: Podemos. This subversive platform would work to protect the welfare state and push for housing decommodification, female liberation, and several other progressive initiatives.
Read MoreA battle is brewing in Germany. After decades of stagnating wages and worsening inequality, German workers are being mobilized under a new goal; the three day weekend. The IG Metall steel union, over two million members strong, is demanding a shortened work week for all German metalworkers. This effort could mark the beginning of a new era for organized labor throughout Europe and beyond.
Read MoreIn September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally announced the Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure investment program intended to connect the world over land, air, and sea. A decade later, nearly every African nation has signed on, leading to a variety of results within the continent, ranging from shiny development projects to saddles of debt.
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