Blogs

Both Sweden and Finland have remained politically neutral for over a century until the Russian invasion on Ukraine in February of 2022 (BBC 1). Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine broke a “long standing sense of stability” in Northern Europe, leaving countries like Sweden and Finland “feeling vulnerable” (BBC 1). Nordic countries have taken action to […]

On January 10, a United States federal report revealed that rates of cesarean delivery in Puerto Rico (PR) have soared 12% from 2018 to 2022 for each age group younger than 40 (The Guardian). Now Puerto Rico represents one of the world’s largest c-section rates at more than 50% of infants delivered through surgery. While […]

Puerto Rico’s tourism industry is among the most prominent sectors of the island’s economy–almost $8.9 billion was generated in 2022 alone from travel and tourism and the island has more than 91,500 individuals employed in tourism-related jobs in the same year. These are all record highs (PR Newswire). Making up half of all tourists that […]

To begin the discussion on this topic, what is the Jones Act? The Jones Act was ratified and put into effect in 1920 and makes it so that any goods that are transported between U.S. ports must be carried on American-constructed and American-owned ships that fly the U.S. flag with crews consisting of American citizens […]

The outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7th 2023 has led to tensions in the Middle East skyrocketing. With conflict escalating in the region, the role of Iran and its relationship to militant groups operating throughout the region have become a new area of focus. For decades, Iran has been the most prominent state […]

With the nation’s first caucuses only a few months away, the issue of Puerto Rican statehood has become one of the latest topics of controversy among Republican candidates. In late October, the “Make America Great Again Inc.” SuperPAC endorsing Donald Trump shifted its campaign strategy to target fellow Republican candidate Ron DeSantis once again. The […]

Growing tensions in the Israel – Palestinian Conflict is forcing action from much of the international community, testing diplomatic relations and humanitarian and military discussions. Several countries have chosen sides denouncing Hamas as a terrorist organization or focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza claiming war crimes against Israel’s actions; each side with their own […]

Since November 17, 2023, Iceland has been grappling with the imminent risk of volcanic eruptions, marked by a relentless series of over 4,000 earthquakes striking the southwestern region. Situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland experiences heightened tectonic activity as the North American and Eurasian plates gradually drift apart. GPS and satellite data indicate the rising […]

The crisis in Burkina Faso has continued to worsen over the past year, making it one of the most violent and insecure countries in Africa. This crisis is defined by a widespread lack of resources and economic opportunities, interregional tensions, the absence of government authority, and violence stemming from criminal and armed groups within the […]

On Friday, September 8th, 2023 Secretary of State Anthony Blinken signed waivers and alerted Congress to initiate the process of transferring the sanctioned $6 billion of Iranian funds (State Department Press Briefing). Days later, on Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, Matthew Miller spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, addressed the negotiation in a press briefing. […]