Arrest Warrant Issued for Venezuela Opposition Candidate
Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, issued an arrest warrant for opposition figure Edmundo González following the controversial July 28 presidential election.
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FOCUS on Public Diplomacy Conflicts – Canada and India
In October 2023, India asked Canada to withdraw all but 21 of the diplomatic representatives they had located in India. To enforce this withdrawal and reduction of staff, India threatened to remove the immunity rights of all but the 21 specified Canadian Diplomats located in India by October 20, 2023.
Read MoreFOCUS on Public Diplomacy Conflicts – Mexico and Ecuador
Tensions between Mexico and Ecuador escalated on April 5, when Ecuadorian police invaded the Mexican Embassy in Quito. Jorge Glas, the former Ecuadorian Vice President, was arrested while taking refuge in the embassy after being convicted on accounts of corruption and bribery, leading to the diplomatic ties between the two countries being suspended.
Read MoreArgentina and Colombia Seek to Mend Relationship After Presidents Butt Heads
The governments of Argentina and Colombia have found themselves working to restore a friendly relationship in the wake of a dispute that started in late March of this year. According to a March 31 joint statement from both countries, “The respective governments have taken concrete steps to overcome any differences and strengthen this relationship.”
Read MoreBiden’s Refocusing Act
Leading up to his State of the Union address on March 7th, President Biden faced immense pressure to respond to a vast array of issues and political pressures. On both the domestic and international front, serious questions have arisen and continue to persist regarding his capacity, and the capacity of the U.S. government, to respond to a multitude of crises around the world. It therefore came as no surprise that foreign policy, an area of politics oft-ignored in the leadup to presidential elections, became a focal point of his speech.
Read MorePR Aid Stunts Are No Substitute for a Ceasefire in Gaza
For a population to go from relatively food secure to experiencing famine in such a short period of time is nothing short of a war crime, an assessment that many UN officials have agreed to according to The Guardian. EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell has consistently reiterated that this famine is not the result of a natural disaster but an engineered policy of collective punishment by the Israeli government, saying that “starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine.”
Read MoreFOCUS on: Ceasefire/Peacemaking Efforts in Yemen
Yemen has been identified as the most impoverished Arab nation, as the country grapples with one of the most severe humanitarian crises in history. This crisis stems from a prolonged civil war that began in 2014 and has resulted in the Houthi militant group maintaining control over the region. With the recent escalation of the War in Gaza, the future of the region’s security and continued peace in Yemen hangs in uncertainty.
Read MoreGang Leader “Barbecue” Becomes Haiti’s Most Powerful Leader after Prime Minister Resigns
Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, Haiti’s most prominent gang leader and former police officer, has reportedly filled the power vacuum left behind by Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation. Henry took power in 2021 without an election following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Jovenel Moise, but CNN reports that Haiti has not held elections since.
Read MoreFOCUS on Global Ceasefire/Peacemaking Efforts: Russia/Ukraine
The Russo-Ukrainian War has been waging on for over 2 years with no end in sight, capitalized by the recent reelection of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While many scholars believe the Russian campaigns in Ukraine will only stop if Putin is ousted, increasing calls for ceasefire, both in the warring nations and from the international community have surfaced in recent months.
Read MoreStarbucks Boycott Raises Questions of Ethical Investing Practices
Starbucks has recently faced backlash due to its perceived stance and position on pressing social issues tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Protests at Starbucks locations can be traced back to the company’s lawsuit against Starbucks Workers United which seemingly began in opposition to the union’s public demonstration of solidarity with Palestine.
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