Topics Archive
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 25, 2017
Refugees who sheltered Snowden
According to reports on February 23, 2017, two refugees of Sri Lankan (SL) origin in Hong Kong (HK) are being sought by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The reason is their…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 23, 2017
Netherlands approves cannabis cultivation
On the 21 Feb 17, Dutch parliamentarians passed a bill that legalizes the cultivation of Cannabis. The move was put forth by the left wing- progressive D66 Party. The bill, will allow large-scale…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 23, 2017
Russian envoy suddenly dies
On Monday, February 20, 2017, Mr. Vitaly Churkin, Russian envoy to the UN suddenly died at the Russian Mission in New York. While the reason behind his death is as yet unclear, it is reported that he…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 22, 2017
Hanjin Shipping bankruptcy
On February 17, 2017 Seoul Central District Court declared Hanjin Shipping Co. bankrupt. It was the 7th largest global container shipping firm with almost 3% global market share. It had been…
World - Op-Eds - Feb 22, 2017
Cambodia's amended law
On 20 Feb 17, Cambodia’s Parliament approved legal changes that effectively bars the main opposition leader from participating in politics. The legislation prevents politicians with convictions from…
World - Op-Eds - Feb 22, 2017
Global arms trade
On 21 Feb 2017, data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), shed fresh light on the international arms market. SIPRI examines arms trade in five-year increments;…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 21, 2017
Assault on Mosul
On 19th February 2017, Iraqi forces launched an offensive on Jihadists defending Mosul's west bank. They swiftly retook five villages and set their sights on Mosul airport, marking a new phase in…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 17, 2017
Zuckerberg on globalization
In an interview with the BBC, the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg said that fake news, polarised views and "filter bubbles" were damaging common understanding. Mr Zuckerberg's interview comes…
World - Op-Eds - Feb 17, 2017
Donald Trump and the two-state solution
On 16 Feb 2017, President Donald Trump met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House. The new President had been perceived as a strong supporter of Israel and after his election, Israel…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 17, 2017
Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong arrested
On 16 February 2017, the heir of South Korean company Samsung has been arrested as part of an investigation into corruption and influence-peddling that caused President Park Geun-hye to be impeached…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 16, 2017
Trump national security adviser Flynn resigns over Russian contacts
On 13 February 2017, Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser resigned after revelations he had discussed U.S. sanctions with Russia’s ambassador before Trump took office and…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 16, 2017
Kim Jong-Nam
The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been killed in Malaysia. Kim Jong-nam was reportedly poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by female North Korean operatives with poisoned needles.…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 14, 2017
North Korean missile test
On 12th Feb 2017, North Korea has confirmed that it "successfully" fired a ballistic missile, in a test supervised by President Kim Jong-Un. The device was described as a surface-to-surface medium-to…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 14, 2017
Thousands told to evacuate in face of California dam risk
On 12 February 2017, at least 130,000 people have been asked to evacuate over concerns California's Oroville Dam's emergency spillway could fail. The tallest dam in the US was weakened by heavy…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 11, 2017
Elizabeth Warren impugned
On the 8th of February, Republican Senators voted to silence Democratic Senator, Elizabeth Warren while she was condemning the nomination of proposed Attorney General, Jeff Sessions by reading out a…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 10, 2017
Trump cabinet: Senate confirms Jeff Sessions as attorney general
The US Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, by a vote of 52 to 47. The confirmation follows a series of divisive hearings…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 8, 2017
Immigrant order chaos
On 6th Feb 2017, US Department of Justice defended President Donald Trump's travel ban and urged the Appeals Court to reinstate it, in the interests of national security. A hearing has been set for…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 8, 2017
Law on west bank settlements
On 6th Feb 2017, Israel’s parliament approved legislation that retroactively legalizes thousands of Jewish settler homes in the occupied West Bank. The bill was passed by a vote of 60-52 in Israel’s…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 7, 2017
Armyworms in Africa
Farmers in Limpopo, South Africa, have complained of an unknown worm ravaging their crops. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of Fall Armyworm, which is destroying crops in…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Feb 7, 2017
Romania protests
On 5 February 2017, at least 500,000 demonstrators rallied across Romania, despite the government revoking a controversial decree that had fuelled their discontent. Sorin Grindeanu, the Romanian…