FOCUS on firearm legislation: Australia
The National Firearms Agreement (NFA), a series of gun control laws that strictly regulate the ownership of semi-automatic and automatic firearms, heavily influenced Australia’s gun control policies.
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Students Attend Study Abroad Trip in Ethiopia
During the 2019 Spring break, fifteen diplomacy students and I had the opportunity to study abroad in Ethiopia. The trip’s parallel academic course, African Union Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, was open to both undergraduate and graduate students alike. Dr. Assefaw Bariagaber, Professor of African Studies and the Post-Conflict State Reconstruction and Sustainability Certificate Program, led the trip alongside Susan Malcolm, General-Secretary of the School of Diplomacy.
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No End in Sight for Algerian Presidential Protests
Protests continue to rock Algeria, an energy-rich country in northern Africa that hasn’t seen demonstrations this large since the 2011 Arab Spring. The protests follow the decision of the sitting president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, which he has since regressed from, to run for a fifth term and continue his two-decade-long rule.
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Anti-Hamas Protests Heat Up in Palestine
In March 2019, uniformed officers and plainclothes Hamas enforcers attacked demonstrators with pistols, batons, and wooden rods. They raided homes and detained protest organizers and participants.
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Brexit Delayed: London Protests Ensue
On Friday March 29, United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May was unable to secure the votes needed for a Brexit deal.
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ISIS Loses Final Stronghold in Syria, Yet Retains Funds and Influence in the Region
On Saturday March 22, The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the end of the so-called “caliphate” declared by the terrorist group in 2014. After fully liberating the small village of Baghouz in eastern Syria, the coalition of Kurdish and Arab soldiers backed by American, British, and French Special Forces said that it has officially defeated ISIS.
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Dutch Authorities Arrest Suspect of Utrecht Tram Shooting
On Monday, March 18, Dutch authorities arrested the man suspected of opening fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht, killing three people and injuring five others.
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Silver Lining Shines in Hanoi Despite Trump-Kim Summit Collapse
The widely anticipated summit in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27 and 28 turned out to be an unsuccessful effort to normalize diplomatic relations between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
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Saudi Arabia Moves Forward with Trial of Women’s Rights Activists
On March 1, Saudi Arabia’s Office of Public Prosecution announced its decision to move forward with their upcoming trials against women’s rights activists.
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Pope Francis Calls Historical Conference to Address Priestly Abuse
In a surprise move on February 17, Pope Francis called together a four-day meeting to discuss sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, which was attended by hundreds of bishops and other Catholic leaders.
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