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World Events
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Important Incidents
Hong Kong: Why The ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Model Is On Its Last Legs
Protest organisers in Hong Kong claim that nearly two million people, most clad in black and many carrying…
Hong Kong’s Mass Protests: An Explainer
The Hong Kong mass protests made it past the eight-week mark and it has been making headlines in…
Stop Blaming Video Games For Mass Killings
In the wake of the El Paso shooting on Aug. 3 that left 22 dead and dozens injured,…
When World Leaders Thought You Shouldn’t Need Passports Or Visas
In the age of heavily restricted migration, passport control seems a natural prerogative of the state. The idea…
Could A National Buyback Program Reduce Gun Violence In America?
Americans own nearly half of the world’s guns, with approximately 120 firearms for every 100 U.S. residents. Gun…
European Union: An Explainer
What is the European Union (EU)? Why was it established and how does it work? Let’s answer these…
Protest Is Not Enough To Topple A Dictator: The Army Must Also Turn
What does it take to overthrow a dictator? Reflecting on this question in exile, Leon Trotsky wrote in…
Globalization And The Enchantment Of The World
What does the term “globalization” mean? Is it a strictly economic phenomenon or does it involve several dimensions?…
50 Years After Apollo 11, Why Haven’t We Gone Back To The Moon?
Fifty years have passed since the first moon landing on July 20, 1969 by Apollo 11 and the…
Diversity: The Same Old Faces Are Deciding The World’s Future And It Affects Us All
Just 160,000 Tory party members chose Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson. It’s the first time in history…
China And The World: Inside The Dynamics Of A Changing Relationship
China is currently one of the world’s most powerful economies. Now touted as the world’s second-largest economy, China’s…
Boris Johnson Is UK’s New Prime Minister – What To Expect
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is now UK’s new Prime Minister. After months of Brexit drama and with…
Why Central Banks Need To Take Human Rights More Seriously
Many central banks are rethinking their approach to the environmental and social impact of their operations. This is…
Top 10 Most Peaceful Countries 2019
Which countries are the most peaceful? The Global Peace Index 2019 is here to answer you. The Global…
What Is The Biggest Threat To Your Country?
We all have things to worry about. But on an international scale, what are our biggest concerns? Here’s…
Winners And Losers In The US-China Trade War
Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by a rise in protectionism. His “America First” policy has involved introducing…
At The G20, A Focus On Sideshow Diplomacy And Photo Opps, With Limited Material Gains
What a weekend it’s been: global leadership, diplomacy and theatrics, all at play on the world stage. US…
Class, Trump, Brexit, And The Decline Of The West
In politics, long-term socio-economic trends and global shifts matter more than often overstated ‘progressive’ discourses about equality, progress…
Who Really Pays For American Students To Go To College?
Individually, Americans spend a lot on higher education. Most undergraduates finish with about $30,000 in debt. It’s an…
What If Most People Love Violence?
For decades, I’ve investigated and promoted nonviolent action as a means to help create a better world. Although…
If You Oppose Donald Trump, Please Don’t Hate Him
When we allow ourselves to fall victim to hatred, we are doing our opponents’ work for them. President…
Why Hong Kong Matters
Could mainland China not seek eventual convergence towards a democratic system, respectful of the full gamut of human…
What Does The Trump Administration Want From Iran?
Two oil tankers were attacked on June 13 off the coast of Oman, forcing the crew members of…
How Technology Is Shaping Creative Activism In The 21st Century
Two decades into the 21st century, one would expect all manner of “new and innovative” activism, right? Even…
What Does It Take For Activists To Get Your Attention?
Activists are small players in the struggle for attention, which is controlled largely by advertisers. But there are…
Why The Nazis Studied American Race Laws For Inspiration
On 5 June 1934, about a year and half after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of the Reich, the…
US-China Trade War: Impact On Tech Companies
The ongoing US-China trade war is turning out to be really ugly for tech companies. No matter how…
Five Reasons Why We Should Be Grateful To Donald Trump
People who are basically good sometimes cannot help doing evil. Conversely, an evil man cannot help doing some…
D-Day 75 Years On: ‘Special Relationship’ Forged On The Beaches Of France Now Poised To Enter A New Era
In 1944 the blimps above London were barrage balloons – in 2019 the blimp above the capital is…
The Military Power, Economics And Strategy That Led To D-Day
On June 6 1944, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy. Their number rose to 1.5m over…
Trade War: What Is It & How Are We Affected?
A trade war is more than just getting companies like Huawei banned. Initiating a trade war can cause…
How Repression Can Fuel A Movement
This text is adapted from “The Paradox of Repression and Nonviolent Movements,” edited by Lester R. Kurtz and…
From China To Poland, Lessons From June 4, 1989
On the same day Poles celebrated the freedom to choose their own representatives, China’s political leaders led a…
Why Remember The Past? The Case Of Tiananmen
Most people know from daily experience that memories are vital for their sense of well-being. Memory is the…
‘World Heritage’ site selection is Eurocentric – and that shapes which historic places get love and money
The April 2019 fire that engulfed France’s Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris, led to an outpouring of grief…
Shaping ASEAN’s Future Readiness
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the fifth largest manufacturing economy of the world, amounting to…
Explainer: What Is The World Economic Forum?
Each year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathers leaders to discuss various global issues. This sounds nice but…
Civilisational Collapse Has A Bright Past – But A Dark Future
Is the collapse of a civilisation necessarily calamitous? The failure of the Egyptian Old Kingdom towards the end…
A Month After The Fire: Rebuilding The Notre-Dame Cathedral
It’s been a month since the Notre Dame cathedral was razed by flames last April 15, 2019, leaving…
Who’s Who In US Election 2020
US Elections is nearing and lots of names have popped up. It’s easy to get lost in a…
Colonialism As Mitosis – The Rise And Fall Of Empires, Rendered As Cell Division
During the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Great Britain, France, Portugal and Spain controlled vast territories across the…
China’s Belt & Road Initiative: A Quick Explainer
Leaders from different parts of the world convened in the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on…
Sri Lanka Attacks: Ban Of Social Media May Hide Truth
Recently, the Sri Lankan government ordered then ban of social media and messaging apps in order to prevent…
Reiwa: The New Japanese Imperial Era
On April 30, 2019 Japanese Emperor Akihito officially abdicated the throne. Now, we are witnessing a new Japanese…
Why Desperation Could Be The Key To Tackling Climate Change
Last October, something strange happened when the United Nations released a report saying we have just 12 years…
Notre Dame: How A Rebuilt Cathedral Could Be Just As Wonderful
The destruction of Notre Dame cathedral is lamentable. A wonderful icon has been largely destroyed by fire. However,…
Why Are We So Moved By The Plight Of The Notre Dame?
Scrolling through news of the Notre Dame fire on social media feeds was like watching a real-time archive…
Why Notre Dame Matters
Notre Dame is on fire, and its spire has fallen. As of Monday afternoon, we don’t know for…
Did European Colonisation Precipitate The Little Ice Age?
Many of us think that rapid environmental change is a quintessentially modern crisis. Today, temperatures are soaring, topsoil…
We Have Seen The Unseeable: Astronomers Capture First Image Of A Black Hole
An international collaboration presents paradigm-shifting observations of the gargantuan black hole at the heart of distant galaxy Messier…