The Question of Scottish Independence: The Next Brexit?

On October 9, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said she wants to hold a referendum in October of next year for Scottish Independence. The United Kingdom government has not agreed, but the UK’s Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday on the legality of Scotland’s administration voting for independence without the government’s consent.

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OHCHR Report on Uyghurs: Too Little, Far Too Late

China has been forcibly moving much of its Uyghur population to concentration camps, which it calls “re-education camps,” to combat “terrorism” in the ethnic Muslim minority community. According to the UN, the commission’s report stated that the deprivation of fundamental human rights, arbitrary detention, and credible reports of torture, ill-treatment, forced medical treatment, and sexual violence may amount to crimes against humanity.

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FOCUS on the Laws of War: Treatment of Civilians and POWs

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, information has come out pointing to incidents that could be considered violations of civilian and prisoner of war (POW) rights in many areas of the country. Many experts believe that the actions of the Russian Federation could violate the protection of civilians and POWs during wartime under the Geneva Convention of 1949, Protocol 1, and the Hague Convention of 1907, which Russia is party to, according to Human Rights Watch.

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The International Community Can Redress its Failed Response to the 2010 Haitian Earthquake

When a devastating earthquake hit Haiti in August 2021, countries and international organizations from around the world expressed their concern and sent aid in the form of donations and emergency relief. However, many Haitians fear that aid from international organizations and governments will not effectively help those in need.

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FOCUS on Separatist Movements: Catalonia 

The Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia is one with its own rich and distinct culture, customs, and language developed over thousands of years. Catalonian separatist movements have strengthened their presence and reignited the debate of whether there should be an autonomous Catalan state. 

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India Threatens to Deport Rohingya Refugees to Myanmar

Authorities in Jammu detained over 200 Rohingya refugees in early March and are threatening to deport them to Myanmar, the state from which they are fleeing. India claims that the refugees are considered “illegal immigrants” and explains they are in the process of deporting the detainees back to their home country, despite the continued severe violence against Rohingya Muslims in the region.

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Vienna Terrorist Attack Claims Five Lives, ISIS Claims Responsibility 

On November 3, shots were fired around the area of Seitenstettengasse Temple, one of Vienna’s main synagogues. Fejzulai Kujtim, the gunman, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who have since claimed responsibility for the attack. Local police believe that the gunman acted alone, although 14 individuals believed to have been involved in the attacks and having ties to Kujtim were taken into custody.

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