Blackout Strikes Natanz Nuclear Facility, and Iran Calls It Sabotage

 This Sunday is Iran, the Natanz nuclear facility mysteriously lost power and everyone is questioning what exactly happened. Although Iranian officials call it an act of sabotage. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEO), Ali Akbar Salehi calls the blackout an act of "nuclear terrorism" and that the international community must recognize this as a threat. This morning, Iranian officials left out who they blame on the lost of power but soon after the suspicions fell on Israel's lap, some assume that Israel may have something to do with the lost of power in the facility because previously with sabotaging Iran's nuclear work from cyberattacks to "outright" assassinations. Later today, a U.S. officials confirmed that an Israeli played a role in the power outage but claimed that the details were sketchy..

Blackout Strikes Natanz Nuclear Facility, and Iran Calls It Sabotage - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

By: Alexis Ferreira 

Prince Philip: What are the plans for his funeral?

BBC News reported on the tragic death of Prince Phillip and the plans for his funeral later this week. The article detailed the times, route, and schedule for the funeral as the days pass through the week. He will lie in rest privately at Windsor Castle until the day of his funeral, which is uncommon for British royalty. In the past, their coffins are normally accessible to the public to pay their respects and be able to attend the funeral procession; however, Covid has limited the number of people who are allowed to be there. Prince Harry will attend and it is unknown who else will be in attendance due to the limit of 30 people allowed at funerals in Britain currently. Union jacks (including those on royal buildings) and national flags will remain at half-mast and the royal family will observe 2 weeks of mourning. The public has been asked to pay their respects through donations to charity and an online book of condolence, but some citizens have been placing flowers, cards, and tributes outside the palace and at Windsor Castle. 

-Hannah Kohl (Blog #10)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56694327

What's behind the recent violence in Northern Ireland?

CNN reported on the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland and what is causing uprisings/riots. At least 74 officers have been injured as individuals have thrown objects such as manhole covers and fireworks at them. These escalating threats are feared to undermine the relationship between pro-British loyalists who want to continue to be part of the UK and pro-Irish nationalists who want to be more like the Republic of Ireland. The most recent “flareup” began on March 29 when police officers were targeted in a petrol bomb attack and April 2 when police were attacked again, leaving many officers with burns and head/leg injures. The violence has increased significantly since Easter weekend and Brexit remains to be the main cause for these riots. Protests are expected to occur in areas such as Derry/Londonderry, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Newtonabbey, and Belfast next Saturday, which is the 23rd anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. 

-Hannah Kohl (Blog #9)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/09/uk/northern-ireland-violence-explainer-gbr-intl/index.html

“Terrorist act” at Iran’s underground nuclear facility

A day after Iran revealed its new advanced uranium centrifuges, the underground Natanz nuclear facility was hit by a “terrorist act.” This latest incident happens as there have been diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which was abandoned under the Trump administration. The problem present here is that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated new centrifuges at the Natanz site, which is the key factor in producing enriched uranium. Centrifuges are what is needed to produce enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also material for nuclear weapons. The nuclear deal from 2015 only allows Iran to produce and store limited quantities of uranium enrichment up to 3.67% concentration. Recently, Iran has accelerated the breaches to this deal in an attempt to put pressure on the US, which has included operating advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium, making the enrichment up to 20% concentration, and stockpiling materials. So, the “terrorist act” that occurred was assumed to be a cyber operation and invasion possibly tied to Israel. With Iran progressing towards nuclear weapons capability, a defense analyst stated that it is “reasonable to assume that the problem... might not have been caused by an accident, but by deliberate sabotage intended to slow the nuclear race accelerated by the negotiations with the US on removing sanctions". 

Reese McMullen

Vaccine Supply to outgrow demand in as Soon as Three Weeks

 Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration and a current board member at Pfizer, said on “Face the Nation” Sunday that he sees the Covid-19 vaccine supply in the US outstripping demand as soon as three weeks from now. Dr. Gottlieb also explained that the US has not done a very good job of tending to Covid hotspots, he says the US should surge resources into hotspots, and that to begin with hotspot areas should have had more supplies.

by: Tommy McClernon

link: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-04-11-21/index.html

Prince Philip’s Death Marks New Chapter for Strained British Monarchy

 Following the death of Prince Phillip on Friday, April 9th, many wonder what is in store for the future of the Monarchy. As Queen Elizabeth gets older, many are beginning to wonder if the death of her husband will cause her to step down from the throne but Royal watchers claim that this is an unlikely scenario. Despite this officials can vote for the queen to step down if she is unable to perform her duties efficiently. Regardless of this situation, it has been known that Prince Charles will succeed the Queen after her passing but he has been quite the unpopular choice according to YouGov. They report that Prince Charles only has a 60% approval rating while a whopping 40% of Britons feel that Prince William should succeed the throne instead. With the Royals in hot water recently due to the expulsion of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the racist claims that were made against the family in an interview with Oprah, the family remains to be in a rocky place. 

By Kaytlyn Tyler

https://www.wsj.com/articles/prince-philips-death-marks-new-chapter-for-strained-british-monarchy-11617980489

Derek Chauvin Violated Department Policies, Minneapolis Police Chief Says

 

Ailworth and Barrett examine a trial that most of the U.S. is keeping its eye on as Derek Chauvin is being prosecuted for the murder of George Floyd. This event has been in the news nonstop for the past several months, but as the trial has actually recently begun, new information is beginning to come out. This article talks about the testimony of Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis Police Department Chief. In his testimony, Arradondo states that Officer Chauvin violated several different regulations with the way he handled the situation with George Floyd and that he did not act the way the academy taught him to. Furthermore, he states that the counterfeit twenty dollar bill, which Floyd was being arrested for, is not enough reason to arrest someone or to go to the extents he did. This testimony is huge for the prosecution of George Floyd because the defense has been basing most of its rationale on the belief that Derek Chauvin was simply doing what he was supposed to as a police officer. Arradondo makes it clear that Chauvin was actually not doing what he was taught and that his actions are not justifiable. This most likely will be some of the most impactful evidence used in this trial. It will be interesting to see how the rest of this situation plays out as the entire country is seeming to be paying attention to it.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/george-floyd-emergency-room-doctor-said-lack-of-oxygen-was-most-likely-cause-of-death-11617640266

Jeremy Cardenas Blog Post #8

A new North Korean crisis will soon kill thousands

 In North Korea, Kim Jong-Un has warned the people that a crisis similar to the 1990's North Korean famine is on the horizon. Due to the closing of borders, economic sanctions and trade with China slowing down. North Korea is on the verge of a new famine that will kill on a range from thousands to millions. The two storms that hit North Korea last summer aided on by the lack of food imported from China will kill more than Covid-19 has in the country and the indirect results of Covid-19 causing famine will be far worse. Of course Kim can take direct blame, roll back his missile program and sanctions and purchase food but he's not going to do that and will use this crisis to blame officials he does not like to be a cause and remove them if he sees fit. 

Chris Rauch

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56685356

Volcano in the Caribbean

 Thursday an evacuation in the Caribbean occurred due to an eruption in a volcano. The volcano is known as Lou Soufriere and has been dormant for decades with recent activity jumping in the past week. 16000 people had to be rushed out of the area as dangerous flames and smoke shards were being launched into the area. People who were educated were taken on cruise ships to safer parts of the island. Moving people through the sea was a much safer route as it takes away a lot of the hazards that moving on the ground does. Now that the education has occurred the key focus is getting the smoke removed that lands in the area as it can become a dangerous situation if just left thereof if it is rained on. It's interesting to see that even in the tough times we are in now due to the covid-19 pandemic a country can still come together to do such a major task. Hopefully, the Caribbean will get the situation under control so they can get back to as much normality as possible. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56693406

Matthew Rabick

Brazil: A Global Health Threat in a Global Pandemic

    In recent weeks, Brazil has been setting global records for coronavirus deaths and cases. In the most recent week, they surpassed 4,000 deaths on Tuesday, and had over 16,000 last week. This is largely due to President Bolsonaro's unwillingness to accept the seriousness of the virus. He has recently told Brazilians to stop whining, not stay home, keep businesses open, pushing against vaccines, and ensuring there will be no national lockdown. With an increasing number of cases, many health officials in Brazil are worried they could present a threat to the rest of the world. With such high COVID numbers, Brazil has a very high potential to create new strains/variants of COVID, which would increase the time we spend in the pandemic. Brazil's healthcare system is also in severe danger of full collapse, with a waiting list ICU and no guarantee of hospital beds for people in serious accidents. It's quite disappointing how Brazil's president has reacted to the pandemic, but given his history and populist approach, it also isn't surprising at all. Less than 10% of Brazil's citizens are vaccinated, and the government is giving false hope of a quick 2-3 month recovery. It is imperative that Brazil begins to take this pandemic seriously and works toward a recovery.

Kaitlyn Colvin

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/brazil-covid-bolsonaro-threat-1.5980507

EU investigating the J & J Vaccine for the side effect of blood clotting - Palahniuk #8

 Since the Johnson & Johnson's shot has come out 4 people who have received it have suffered from low platelet levels and clotting. This clotting so far has taken place within the brain or abdomen of these patients and has lead to one death. European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been the leading drug regulator on this case and has not made any claims that both the vaccine and clotting are correlated to one another. A change in possible protocols of where the vaccine is allowed to be released and what is labeled on the vaccine bottle is being processed for change because of these potential risk factors. Also, as the EMA has been keeping tabs on the AstraZeneca vaccine they have recorded 5 cases of individuals who have suffered from capillary leak syndrome; blood leaking from blood vessels into muscles and body cavities. Countries throughout Europe have considered this information and have chosen to only allow their citizens access to certain vaccines in order to help protect them from the possible side effects. Although this is something important for others to take into consideration throughout the world. The U.S is the leading consumer of the J & J vaccine, should there be more freedom to access other brands of the vaccine? 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/09/eu-agency-examines-reports-of-blood-clots-with-jj-covid-vaccine

In Mississippi, 73,000 Vaccine Slots and Few Takers

     In Mississippi, they are having trouble getting people to go out and get the COVID vaccine. There are more shot available in Mississippi, but there are very few people who actually are willing to get the vaccine. Mississippi had 73,000 slots open to take the vaccine but very few would take the opportunity for it. On one hand, it shows the great supplies Mississippi has to have so many slots for a vaccine but on the other hand it is a problem that no one wants the vaccine. There is worrisome in the state with the people taking the vaccine and the people handing out the vaccine with very few takers. Mississippi has just had about 25% take at least one dose while the rest of the nation had 33% of people take at least one dose.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/health/vaccine-mississippi-demand.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

Jimmy Patock     

Jordan Bans Media Coverage of Royal Family

     The country of Jordan has officially imposed a ban on all media coverage of the royal family as of this past weekend. This was in response to Jordian police arresting 15 people, two of which being a high-status political leader and a member of the royal family. The former prince Hamzah Bin Al Hussein publically criticized the country's leadership in a video sent directly to the media. He was soon banned from public political activities. It is now speculated that he has been put under strict house arrest following the release of this video, claiming he had the intent to destablize Jordan. The prince claims this is a false accusation and is evidence of the government becoming corrupt over time. Social media has been set ablaze with debates on the matter, and each party has been encouraged to make amends.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/middleeast/jordan-prince-social-media-ban-intl/index.html

Sydney Chmielewski

China shows off military to Taiwan

 For a long time there has been a tension between China and Taiwan. China is still working to take over Taiwan, no matter how much Taiwan resists. This week, the Chinese military participated in a drill where many ships and planes traveled near Taiwan, in the attempt to scare the Taiwanese and show off all of the power that China has. It is also seen as a warning to the Taiwanese that the Chinese government could overtake them at any moment, due to the fact that they are so powerful. 

Carly Nasman

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/07/asia/china-taiwan-military-surrounded-intl-hnk-scli-ml/index.html 

Five states account for 43% of the country's new Covid-19 cases in the past week

 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida have contributed more than 196,400 positive covid cases in the last week. A lot of this spread is due to the variant B.1.1.7. This is interesting for multiple reasons and gives me a lot of questions about why. As the vaccination becomes more common, why are cases on the rise in these places? Another interesting angle is why in these places?
Very strict places like New York as well as less strict Florida are on this list but the completely open Texas is not. This is adds to the ongoing debate on whats next as we combat Covid-19. 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/07/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html

Will Kettelkamp

Aegean Islands aim to become first fully vaccinated areas of Greece

 4/6

There are numerous Islands across the Aegean archipelago, which are set to become the first covid free areas of Greece. At least 69 islands hope to be vaccinated for summer to bring in summer visitors. With the use of armed forces, thousands of vaccines will be delivered in the next few weeks. With how badly quarantine has changed our policies on travelling, it will be nice to get back in the air!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/06/aegean-islands-to-become-first-covid-free-areas-of-greece

Nicholas Horky

Opening Day in Arlington

 The Texas Rangers held their first home game of the 2021 stadium in the newly built, yet scarcely used, Globe Life Field. The Rangers became the first sports team in America to allow full attendance to their stadium with just under 40,000 fans in attendance. Texas is also one of the states that has lifted their mask mandates thus meaning this was not a required staple at the event, though they were said to be "required". Is this a sign of America returning to normal or more of a showing of ignorance? Most would pick the latter. Many of the fans new of rules to wear a mask unless eating or drinking, which makes sense when considering the shoulder to shoulder fit of the stadium seating. However, many pictures can be seen of fans who were not indulging in ballpark treats who were also opting out of wearing a mask. This has caused quite a buzz in the baseball world as well as the country as a whole and rightfully so. There is a right and a wrong way to do things and if fans cause another spike in the pandemic then once again stadiums will be forced to either limit fans, as many ballparks are, or eliminate fan attendance for the time being once again. While many inside the stadium that day view themselves as pioneers, many have other adjectives they would like to use. We can only hope other ballparks and teams limit the risk and that the Rangers are not starting a downward trend.

Kolby Miller

https://abc13.com/texas-rangers-globe-life-park-mandates-no-in/10488577/

South Korea's Big Step Forward in Renewable Energy

With the world becoming more aware of the dangers due to climate change, countries have their own take on generating cleaner sustainable energy for the collective good of our planet. South Korea is no different and recently has announced plans for an offshore wind farm at a cost of about 42.8 billion dollars. South Korea's offshore wind farm follows a common trend in the renewable energy industry which focuses on wind energy production. Last year there were approximately globally 96.3 gigawatts of wind turbines installed. Although South Korea's wind farm is expected to generate only about 8.2 gigawatts which may not seem like a lot it has the potential to become a good consistent renewable source of energy which is a step in the right direction. This wind farm sounds great for South Korea but it does face a number of issues. The main one will be the location of the wind farm because to produce 8.2 gigawatts of energy you must have wind consistency which can prove to be difficult at sea. Locals even like the idea of having this push for renewable energy even at the cost of their jobs such as fishermen as long as it helps out better their nations transition to a cleaner more sustainable energy source. This project is a big endeavor for South Korea and whether or not they overcome their energy obstacles to become carbon neutral by 2050 we won't know until we get there.   

Link: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/worlds-biggest-wind-farm-may-be-answer-to-south-koreas-net-zero-dream/

Jonathan Vargas

Japan calls on China to Improve Conditions for Uyghurs, Hong Kong

China has set up concentration camps for the Uyghur muslims in their territory, it has continued to suppress the protesters in Hong Kong as well as having a military naval presence in the East China Sea islands that Japan controls. With multiple accounts of expansion of power over other nations and people, the foreign minister of Japan, Toshimitsu Motegi, has called on China to improve the conditions of its Uyghur population, stop its suppression of Hong Kong as well as raise concerns of the Chinese presence in Japanese island territories. So far, China has denied allegations of human rights issues, says that the Hong Kong is not an international matter as well as promoting the idea that they have the right to patrol the East China Sea waters and its islands. The Communist Chinese military has continued to deny any efforts of expansion but seems to be acting in a different manner. The Japanese government is trying to work with the Biden administration to build a consensus over its approach of China. The rising power of China holds a concern for all nations in Asia as well as any trade partners and allies to these states that could be controlled by the region's hegemon, China. 

 Jesse Solis

Wall Street Journal - Article by Alastair Gale

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQox811SBFUlwgMJCb2-J9lVn-qhu5hfB-_q81Yv2RM/edit

Jordan’s Ex-Crown Prince Vows to Defy Efforts to Silence Him

 The former prince of Jordan, Hamzah bin Hussein, vowed to defy the orders of the government and his half brother, King Abdullah II, to stop communicating with the world as he is under house arrest. The government accused Prince Hamzah of destabilizing the "security and stability" of Jordan. The Jordanian foreign minister suggested that the former prince was involved in a failed palace coup with foreign backing. King Abdullah named Hamzah crown prince in 1999 but stripped him of the title in 2004 and gave it to his son, Prince Hussein. Hamzah has been trying to rebuild his public image and was accused of directly working with a former finance minister and a junior member of the royal family to target the "security and stability of the nation". 

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/world/middleeast/jordan-royal-house-arrest.html

Sam Selakovich

Landslides and floods in Indonesia kill 41, displace thousands

Landslides and flooding caused by torrential rainfall killed 41 people and displaced whole villages last night in eastern Indonesia. The region has been increasingly hard-hit by natural disasters this year, ranging from floods, to earthquakes, to volcanic eruptions. It's unclear to what degree these disasters can be directly attributed to climate change, but it is well-known that climate change does exacerbate existing natural disasters, so what's going in Indonesia this year should serve as a wake-up call to the entire world; unless we start taking serious steps to mitigate climate change, the scope and number of natural disasters Indonesia has experienced this year might be emblematic of our future.

link: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/41-killed-landslides-floods-indonesia-dozens-missing-n1262997

Matt Jett #8

‘She Just Fell Down. And She Died.’

    I hate to do my last post on something so negative but crimes like these need to be addressed. In the article, 'She Just Fell Down. And She Died.' Author Hannah Beech writes about how Aye Myat Thu, a 10-year-old girl was shot in the head and killed by a Myanmar military agent. The Coup and subsequent protests in Myanmar have been taking place for a couple months now with little change other than the Myanmar military increasing its aggression against Myanmar citizens. Beech tells the story of how Aye Myat Thu was spending time with her father when she suddenly fell to the ground. The girls' father had originally thought she was struck in the head by a falling coconut but as he picked her up to console her, he realized her body was limp, that she had sustained a wound to her head, and that she was dead on the spot. Beech also detailed that since the coup and subsequent protests have taken place, a horrifying 114 people, 7 being children were killed by the Myanmar military.

    Things like this are absolutely intolerable. The military coup was egregious in of itself but when they further escalate the issue and kill innocent people, that's where I think the world community absolutely needs to stand against it. I have held this belief for a very long time. I don't think any government entity should be allowed to get away with killing its citizens the way that the Myanmar military is. It's very easy to look the other way and not get involved because "it's not our business" and I understand that this quote was applied in a different context but I firmly believe, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the world as a whole should condemn this behavior and seek to do something about it because no child or other innocent persons life should be taken as a result of a governmental power struggle. I could go on but simply put, human injustices should not and cannot be tolerated any longer by anyone.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/04/world/asia/myanmar-coup-deaths-children.html

Jake T. Domingo - Blog post #10

Russia creating large military power in the Arctic- Dalton Willett BLOG #10

 In an attempt to open up a key shipping route between Asia and Europe Russia has began testing weapons and accumulating military might in the Arctic. Due to the ice melting in accordance with the climate crisis Russia has been able to establish military strong holds in the region. American officials are worried about the weapons Russia has access to one in particular being the Poseidon 2M39 torpedo. Putin has said that this weapon is in a key testing stage in a statement made back in February of this year. This weapon is powered by a nuclear reactor and is considered to be a stealth weapon. It is interesting to me that the Arctic is being developed in this way and I am curious to see how the West will respond to this development in Russia. There is no doubt Russia has always tested the waters in terms of pushing the US and being a provacatour. Will the US attempt to slow down Russian development? Will they too begin to develop the arctic to control this massive trade route and opportunity? These are the questions I have and I will be watching closely. 

Dalton Willett- BLOG #10

Russia is amassing unprecedented military might in the Arctic (msn.com)

Global Corporate Minimum Tax Rate

https://www.axios.com/janet-yellen-global-minimum-tax-rate-51c7395b-e46a-4a5c-b18b-bdcf5d8bd352.html

Janet Yellen, former FED chairman, and current Biden cabinet Treasury secretary is planning on using her first major address to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to call for other countries to all impose a global minimum tax, which would reduce the likelihood of companies relocating offshore, as Biden eyes to increase corporate taxes 700 basis points to 28%. Yellen will also cover climate change and access to vaccines in poor countries, she will call for a $650 billion dollar "Special Drawing Rights" which will be lines of credit from the International Monetary Fund which can give more access to U.S. dollars.

Mason Meiring #10

Covid: Tests to be offered twice-weekly to all in England

 Everyone in England gains access to two rapid coronavirus tests a week from this Friday, under an extension of the government's testing programme. These are lateral flow kits and can provide results in around 30 minutes, and will be available for free at testing sites, pharmacies and through the post. They're already being offered to kids in school and their families, plus those who have to leave home for work. This comes at a time when Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to meet the cabinet to ease lockdown restrictions in England. This will see non-essential shops reopen and pubs and restaurants can start serving outdoors on April 12th. Later, he's also expected to outline plans to get coronavirus passports, so mass-audience events can take place in the months ahead. He will also confirm a traffic light system will be introduced when international leisure travel resumes. 

         https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56632084

Italy's Third Wave

 Italy is attempting to constrain the third wave that is sweeping through Europe. A year ago Italy was the first country to have a national lockdown and today as it prepares to go back into lockdown, it isn’t the first country to be facing a new wave. Germany has already been facing a third wave and France is facing the possibility of many hospitalizations, the highest it’s been since November that makes the authorities there consider having a third national lockdown. As we see in the United States, there are people in Florida who are crowding the streets and beaches. In the US, the death rates have also remained at 1,400 people every day. Rome has become closed off, as the Easter holidays were canceled. The problem is that many people kept thinking the pandemic was over, and that was ineffective in helping calm down the third wave. 

Tabby Zuniga Diaz

Horowitz, Jason. “Italy Imposes Lockdown Measures as Cases Spike across Europe.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/world/italy-covid-lockdown.html. 

US Capitol: Police officer dies after car rams security barrier - Kyle Remington

     On Saturday, April 3rd, an individual attacked and killed a U.S. capitol police officer in Washington D.C. Around 1 pm Capitol Police sent out a message alerting policymakers and all individuals around the local area to seek cover due to a threat. This message rang out after a man rammed his car into two officers at the North barricade outside the Capitol. The man then got out of his car and charged after another officer who then shot him dead. The attack led to the death of Officer William Evans and another officer being injured. Officials say that the attacker, identified as Noah Green from Indiana, seemingly acted alone and it wasn't deemed as a terrorist threat. This attack comes less than 3 months after the attack on the Capitol led by the pro-Trump mob. As of right now, capitol police are on much higher alert and policymakers have spoken out about the constant fear of working at the Capitol.  As result, President Joe Biden announced that he felt, "heartbroken to learn of the violent attack". It has overall led to a greater conversation about the safety of some of our nation's more prominent individuals. 

Kyle Remington

Iran’s Nuclear Program: How Close Is Tehran to Developing Nuclear Weapons?

 Since the breach of the 2015 nuclear deal, many raise fears that Iran is on its way to further develop nuclear weapons. The main argument Iran has for initially leaving the deal was because of the heavy economic sanctions the Trump administration imposed against them in 2018. Although no talks are scheduled now, many predict that future negotiations for nuclear compliance and non-proliferation will once again emerge. Some experts predict that Iran could have nuclear weapons within just 9 months as they picked up where they left off. Iran's stockpile and uranium enrichment limits being breached have forced pressure on Biden and the European partners in the deal to provide sanction relief as of now.    

Alec Kretovic, Blog Post #7

https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-nuclear-program-11610564572 

Flush With Covid-19 Vaccines, Hong Kong Struggles to Find Takers

Opposed to the rest of the world, Hong Kong, China seems to be in no rush to be vaccinated. The country seems to have access to vaccination at high rates but immunization sites seem to consistently be running below capacity due to the lack of individuals who have had the urge to sign up. Because of the slow amount of sign-ups, experts fear that it will take until at least the end of the year for the country to reach herd immunity and even then, this would only be 66% of the population that would be vaccinated. Many feel that the people of Hong Kong are so hesitant to receive the vaccine because of how politically divided the area is. Many are waiting to see not only how the vaccine affects other individuals physically before they receive it, but they are also basing their decisions about whether or not they will receive based on political beliefs and how people of their party will react to the vaccine rollout in Hong Kong. Not only does this slow down reopening for the city, but also this will cause the rest of the world to be very hesitant to travel to and from this area as the world begins to reopen again due to the high demand for vaccines everywhere else in the world. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/flush-with-covid-19-vaccines-hong-kong-struggles-to-find-takers-11617363003

By: Kaytlyn Tyler

Myanmar Protesters Return After Security Forces Kill at Least 90 People

This is a particular event in international news that I have been following for quite a while now. Myanmar was “on a decade long shift towards democracy” that has ended abruptly by absolute military rule (Mandhana). There have been large amounts of protests against this military rule, but the military seems to not care a single bit about the people’s opinions or even lives as mass destruction has occurred. There have already been over 420 confirmed lives lost in a two month period as the military has been opening fire on the civilians countless times. “The U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia and Japan, issued a statement against the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. “We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions”, but it seems way to late for that (Mandhana). As horrible as the situation is, it is interesting to see how other world powers are responding to the situation, and what they are legally able to do. Also, it is a reminder to appreciate the fact that I am a U.S. citizen and that I have a legal right to protest against my government. Comparing the recent protests in the U.S. with these ones in Myanmar truly displays just how messed up some governments are. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/myanmar-protesters-return-after-security-forces-kill-90-people-including-children-11616942696#:~:text=SINGAPORE%E2%80%94Protesters%20returned%20to%20the,opposition%20to%20last%20month's%20coup. 

Jeremy Cardenas Blog Post #7

Florida Declares State of Emergency Over Toxic Waste Water Leak

 A state of Emergency has been declared after a leak of toxic water waste had emerged in Tampa Bay. Officials said the 77-acre (31-hectare) reservoir holds millions of gallons of water containing phosphorus and nitrogen from an old phosphate plant. The pond where the leak was found is in a stack of phosphogypsum, a radioactive waste product from the manufacture of fertilizer. More than 300 homes have been evacuated, and one motor way as well. There are concerns the water may flood and damage the agricultural area.

by: Tommy McClernon

link:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56629013

Reports, footage of Tigray executions are 'deeply disturbing,' US senator says after CNN investigation

 A footage shows a massacre being filmed in Tigray, in Ethiopia’s region this Saturday. The video is disturbing to the eye, please be cautious. After the video was released, the UN is investigating the issue but Ethiopian government claim that anything posted on social media cannot be taken in for evidence. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office told CNN that the Ethiopian government has “indicated its open will for independent investigations to be undertaken in the Tigray region”. United States Department spokesperson told CNN reporters Friday that, the video violates human rights, abuses and atrocities. 

 https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/03/africa/tigray-executions-reaction-us-senator-coons/index.html

By: Alexis Ferreira 

Egypt mummies pass through Cairo in ancient rulers' parade

In Egypt there was a historic procession of their country's ancient rulers through the capital of Cairo. In hopes to revive the tourism in Egypt’s which is the country's prime source of revenue, they have decided to relocate 22 mummies consisting of 18 kings and four queens to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, known as The Pharos Golden Parade. The transfer of the mummies was "fit for royalty" by having each mummy carried on a decorated vehicle fitted with special shock-absorbers and surrounded by a motorcade, including replica horse-drawn war chariots. However, there is speculation that the relocating of the bodies could worsen the superstitious "curse of the Pharos" which entails that the high rate of misfortunes in Egypt are due to the curse. In 1980, President Anwar Sadat ordered the Royal Mummy Room at the Egyptian Museum closed, arguing that it desecrated the dead. He wanted the mummies to be reburied instead, though he did not get his wish.

Valeria Ramirez

Multiple arrests made in Jordan due to Coup allegations.

 Multiple government officials and Prince Hamzah bin Hussein had been arrested in what Jordon officials claim to be ties to an attempted coup. The state of Jordon have been in economical and political trouble before Covid and the resulting pandemic made problems worse. Prince Hussein was former crown prince but his young age made him a illegible candidate to take the crown of Jordon, in part of this and the recent bad leadership of the country Prince Hussein has made some comments critical of the government or he is at least tied to said criticisms.  As a result he is currently under house arrest. Jordon is a smaller country in the Middle East yet it is still a U.S ally and remains more stable than certain other parts of the region. This stability being recently tested with ISIS, Syrian refugees and Covid. While this arrest will most likely not result in a civil war, and the U.S, Egyptians and Saudi's governments all back the arrest. It shows the fragility of having a monarchy in a modern world. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56626370

Chris Rauch

Russian 'troop build-up' near Ukraine alarms Nato

    Russia has warned NATO against sending any troops to help Ukraine as Russia is building up their military around their borders. The reasoning for the ramped up security can be pointed to clashes in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists. All US forces in Europe are now on high alert due to the escalations of 'Russian aggression'. Allies within NATO have all shared their concerns regarding Russia's recent large-scale military activities near and in Ukraine. President Biden has 'affirmed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The issue with the Russian troops nearing Ukraine is that according to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the troops are illegally occupied in Crimea. It is clear that tensions are continuing to rise between Russia and Ukraine as territory becomes increasingly more and more important. 

Gall

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56616778

Police dies at captial building

 Recently, an attack happened at the United States Captial. From the article, the car rammed into a barrier. Due to the ramming, the attacker lunged out with a knife to attack but was killed by a gunshot from the police. Both the police and the attacker were killed in this incident. Some people are suspecting that the attack was tied to an act of terrorism as seen from the attack on the capital in January. People are thinking otherwise though as this attack and the terrorist attack happened three months apart from one another. The head police in Washington are looking for and advice so they can further the investigation at hand. Many head figureheads of the united states government are deeply heartbroken by this attack on the capital. It's interesting to see that this attack is the 2nd of the best two weeks with used vehicles as battering rams. First the case of the Islamic countries with the motorcycles into the building and now this on the capital. It really begs people to question is there something going on deeper than meets the eye. Time will tell how both these stories develop and if there truly is a connection between the recent attacks. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56620113

Matthew Rabick

Myanmar cuts wireless internet amid coup protests

Myanmar’s wireless internet servers were shut down on Friday by the order of the military. A directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications instructed on Thursday that all wireless data services be suspended until further notice. As we can see the protestors are continuing to defy the threat of lethal violence to oppose the military coup. This internet shut down was in addition to previous weeks of overnight cutoff to internet access along with reduced speeds on those using fiberoptic cables. The government shut down all but a small amount of military-run media outlets. Facebook has stepped up against this internet shutdown and has started to provide a safety feature to enable users in Myanmar to enhance their security settings and prevent access from non-friends. Facebook and other major social media platforms have also banned members of the Myanmar military and are blocking ads from military-linked commercial sites. In addition, Myanmar’s military has forcibly disappeared hundreds of people including politicians, elected officials, journalists, activists, and protestors without access to lawyers or even revealing their locations.  

Reese McMullen

U.S. and Iran Agree to Indirect Talks on Returning to Nuclear Deal

In this article, authors Steven Erlanger and Farnaz Fasihi write about President Joe Biden's plans to make a new nuclear deal with Iran. The United States left the previous nuclear deal with Iran in 2018, replacing it with tough nuclear sanctions that ultimately didn't accomplish the goal of ceasing or even slowing Iran's uranium enrichment practices. Erlanger and Fasihi also note that Iran will have enough enriched uranium to make one nuclear bomb, so time is of the essence.

I think it's good that the US and Iran are working towards making a new deal. I can only imagine how stressful and aggravating the process has been for Iran. The US changes its mind with every president, which makes it impossible to maintain a steady course. In class, we spoke about why Iran should have a nuclear weapon. So, perhaps it won't literally or figuratively be the end of the world if they have one but I think everyone can agree that the fewer nuclear weapons there are in the world, the safer the world will be.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/world/europe/us-iran-nuclear-deal.html

- Jake T. Domingo - Blog post #9

U.S. and China Not Present on Global Pandemic Treaty

 As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world and infect countries, several global leaders have created a letter to push better tactics into improving global health admist the pandemic. This treaty included need for more cooperation and transparency about the pandemic internationally. The letter discussed topics such as future pandemics, working together globally for transparency of things such as numbers of cases and deaths, and a need for countries to prepare a better system to handle this pandemic as well as ones that may arise for future generations. This treaty had the support of several global leaders, with over 20 signatures and publications in those countries. However, two of the biggest global powers, the United States and China, were missing signatures on the treaty. This doesn't really come as a surprise, as the US and China have been quite controversial and secretive in their pandemic response. Both countries have been accused of falsifying case numbers and death numbers, and the US has been said on numerous occasions to be improperly handling the pandemic. Although the WHO said this week that all major states would be on the treaty when the time comes, it's unclear as to if the US and China will hop on board, given their differences in pandemic response compared to other developed countries. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/30/global-pandemic-treaty-world-leaders-call-for-more-cooperation.html

Kaitlyn Colvin

Minnesota Rape Court Ruling

 A new court ruling in Minnesota rules that if the victim of the rape was voluntarily intoxicated, there can be no charge of rape. Since she chose to take the shots that she did, it is said that it is not considered rape because she decided to get drunk. This does not mean that she decided to get raped. As of 2016, intoxication revisions did not include it to be rape if the victim was voluntarily intoxicated, which is why this case went the way that it did. Nearly 10 million women have been raped while intoxicated, and many of their attackers did not receive nearly as bad of punishments as they did due to rulings like these. 

Carly Nasman

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/03/26/minnesota-rape-alcohol/