Every week, GPII Interns and Fellows scour the global news to write about what is happening in a specific issue area or region. Each post includes multiple sources and gives a brief recount of a timely event. Check back regularly to see what GPII Interns and Fellows have written.
According to a study and initiative by Stanford Earth and Stanford University scientist Rob Jackson, global methane emissions have reached the highest level ever recorded (Earth). The research shows that human activities, such as coal mining, oil and natural gas production, and cattle ranching, are the primary causes (NBC). Africa and the Middle East; China; […]
Posted July 15, 2020
PM Boris Johnson extended an offer of citizenship to up to 3 million Hongkongers in the wake of new security measures introduced by Hong Kong’s Chinese-led government. The measures punish crimes of secession and subversion, with police arresting at least 10 under the law last week (NBC). Under the plan, overseas nationals will have the […]
Posted July 13, 2020
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Guardian). Bolsonaro, who had been experiencing flu-like symptoms, was tested for the virus and underwent a lung x-ray on Monday afternoon (Rio Times). Bolsonaro assured supporters in Brasilia Monday night that all was well, and that his lung scan came […]
Posted July 13, 2020
On Friday, July 3rd, a Turkish court convicted four human rights activists on terrorism-related charges (NYT). Taner Kilic, former chairman of Amnesty International Turkey, was sentenced to over six years in prison for charges of being a member of a terrorist organization (NYT). Three other human rights activists were convicted of assisting a terrorist organization, […]
Posted July 13, 2020
On Wednesday 1 July, posts started appearing on social media accusing an Egyptian man in his twenties of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment (Egyptian Streets). Within days, an Instagram page set up to expose him identified 93 credible accusers, some as young as 13, the campaign organizers said (NY Times). Lawyer Tarek Elawady said […]
Posted July 13, 2020
Russian and Chinese officials cast vetoes to block the UN Security Council from extending approval of aid deliveries to Syria from Turkey for a year (Reuters). Officials of the UN said this resolution is essential to save millions of lives in Syria (Al Jazeera). The UN approval of aid deliveries is authorized until Friday (Al […]
Posted July 12, 2020
On Friday July 3rd, members of the German Parliament passed a bill to eliminate coal and nuclear energy as power sources (Reuters). The legislation encompasses two main features, the first is the creation of a legal avenue to gradually reduce emissions by 2038 at the latest (DW). The second feature focuses on regional economies and […]
Posted July 12, 2020
The fight against AIDS has taken a backseat as global and regional health organizations focus their attention on the COVID-19 pandemic (Reuters). Progress against AIDS was already falling behind, but with the pandemic, the fight against HIV may be set back by at least 10 years (Reuters). The World Health Organization (WHO) created a modelling […]
Posted July 12, 2020
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to abandon annexation plans, warning the plans would threaten peace with Palestinians (Reuters 1). Guterres spoke of the longstanding goal to establish a two-state solution with an independent and contiguous Palestine (France 24). Various UN experts agree experts with Guterres, stating released a statement declaring “The annexation of occupied […]
Posted July 1, 2020
A deadly earthquake hit southern Mexico near Oaxaca on Tuesday, killing at least six people (Reuters). The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (NPR). Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that 147 aftershocks had occurred before noon (NPR). Additionally, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico in the same […]
Posted July 1, 2020
