FOCUS on Narco-States: Mexico
As COVID-19 continues its rampage throughout the world, Mexico’s population grapples with a far deadlier fact of life: the war on drugs.
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2021
Failure to Pick New President Leads to Violence in Somalia
Somalia failed to pick a new president by the February 8 deadline after negotiations between the central government and the federal states broke down in the days leading up to the election, states Africa News.
Read MorePutin Critic Detained Upon Arrival in Moscow
CNBC reports that Russian opposition leader and Putin critic, Alexei Navalny, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison following his return to Russia in January. Navalny has been on a wanted list since 2014 for allegedly violating the terms of a suspended sentence. Upon his arrival at the airport in Moscow, Russian authorities arrested him before he could even get his passport stamped.
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The Eerie Future of U.S. Political Protests, a Warning from Brazilian Demonstrators
Brazil and the United States have experienced a rise in anti-establishment protests over the last decade. As leftist groups gained social acceptance in both countries, far-right groups started to emerge. These groups began putting greater pressure on sitting officials to make substantial changes, showing the need for political reform.
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Unequal World Vaccine Distribution Needs to Change
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently heavily criticized the disproportionate distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and called on states to coordinate to ensure that more people across the globe can receive the vaccine, reports the Associated Press.
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Glacier Collapse in Uttarakhand Leaves at Least 30 Dead and Nearly 200 Missing
On February 7, 2021, a massive glacier in the Himalayan mountain range collapsed, leaving at least 32 dead and almost 200 missing in the state of Uttarakhand. Part of a glacier near the Nanda Devi mountain broke off into a river, breaking dams, sweeping away bridges, and destroying hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers. Numerous towns had to be evacuated, and 13 villages are still being resupplied by air after being cut off by the flood waters, according to Reuters.
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COVID-19 Relief Packages Must Invest in Digital Infrastructure and a Green Economy
As the United States nears its one-year anniversary with the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, many Americans are struggling with rent payments, home mortgages, and even putting food on the table. As Congress continues negotiating a third stimulus package and vaccine rollouts continue across the country, many anxious Americans wonder if the bill should include further provisions like building up our digital infrastructure or investing in a Green Economy.
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FOCUS on Narco-States: Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau, a small African country that ranks as one of the poorest in the world, has been infiltrated at every level ‒political, economic, social‒ by the illegal drug trade. The country serves as a midpoint in cocaine trafficking routes from Latin America to Europe. Over a decade ago, it was labeled Africa’s “first narco-state.” Last year, Ruth Monteiro, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights, stated that the country is still a “paradise for drug traffickers,” reports BBC.
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FOCUS on Narco-States: The Netherlands
The Netherlands is currently confronting a narco crisis – it is a problem that has been evolving over the last four decades. The country, which is a global tourism hub due to its famed red-light districts and relaxed drug laws, has been plagued by organized crime related to the drug trade.
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Canada to Take Vaccines from COVAX
Canada is defending its decision to accept coronavirus vaccines from COVAX, a program developed to help low- and middle- income countries with the vaccination process. According to The Washington Post, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that the Canadian government “will never apologize” for doing what they can to vaccinate Canadians alongside the rest of the world.
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