Blogs

Since the collapse of the brief rapprochement which followed the end of the Cold War, Russia and the West have continued to compete for influence in a number of regions (DGAP 1). Most visibly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — an operation which Russia believed would grant control of the country within three days […]

This summer, the world’s most-watched sporting event will return. Beginning in June, the FIFA World Cup will take place across three host countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada, an unprecedented format in the tournament’s history. This year’s World Cup will also expand the number of national teams competing from the traditional 32 to 48 […]

The government of Puerto Rico, even before declaring its debt unpayable in 2015, has incentive economic development opportunities to uplift the financial health of the archipelago. On the surface, economic development or “Creating conditions for economic growth and improved quality of life by expanding the capacity of individuals, businesses, and communities to maximize the use […]

 On January 16th, 2026, President Donald J. Trump pardoned Puerto Rico’s former Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced alongside her co-defendants, the Britannia Financial Group founder Julio Martin Herrera Velutini and co-conspirator Mark Rossini of federal corruption charges she faced during her election campaign (POLITICO). Vázquez’s pardon is especially notable, as it is the first time a […]

After Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, one of Mexico’s top cartel leaders, was assassinated on February 22, 2026, mass violence has been set across the country (Al Jazeera 1). Airlines have cancelled flights to many of the country’s most popular cities and American and Canadian tourists have been warned about possible threats to their safety (Al […]

On December 28, 2025, Iranian shopkeepers took the streets of Tehran to protest the economic mismanagement of the Islamic Republic regime, which has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution (Amnesty International). Iran’s currency, the rial, fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar and inflation increased to 40 percent, rendering everyday items unaffordable for […]

Since the 1979 revolution, the Iranian government has seen increasing levels of sanctions, with former President of the United States, Barack Obama taking the first step to expand sanctions, in response to increased potential nuclear weapon proliferation, passing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA (Library of Congress; CCMES). The JCPOA was notable for […]

On October 31, 2000, the United Nations passed the UN Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace, and Security (UNSCR 1325). The resolution established an international goal of “full, equal, and meaningful participation” of women in peacemaking initiatives by 2030 (OSAGI). The meaningful inclusion of women in peace negotiations not only advances gender equality, but directly […]

A decade after the removal of the one-child policy in China, the nation’s birth rates have plummeted, leaving their population in a declining state (AP News). For the fourth consecutive year, China’s population has continuously shrunk, with birth rates dropping to 5.63 for every 1,000 members of the population (17%) (AP News). There are many […]

On October 21st, 2025, Japanese parliament made history by electing Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female Prime Minister (BBC). While her victory marks a major milestone, breaking a barrier that stood for the parliament’s 140-year history (Prime Minister’s Office of Japan), critics are questioning whether her rise truly represents progress for women overall. Takaichi’s […]