General Briefs
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Russian-Ukraine War Halt and Winter Preparations
The Russia-Ukraine War has continued to escalate. As preparations for winter commence, there is increasing pressure on both governments to remain on the offensive.
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Canada Imposes Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods worth $20 Billion
On August 25th, Canada, imposed its own retaliatory dollar-for-dollar $20 billion tariff package against the United States. This marks one of the most significant low points of US-Canada relations, as nearly 79% of Canadians hold an unfavorable view of Trump.
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What’s Next for Myanmar and ASEAN Centrality
Burmese President, Min Aung Hlaing, had a recent three-day state visit to Vietnam to normalize relations with ASEAN. Despite his efforts to consolidate regional ties, the path to diplomatic reconciliation has been slow.
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Vanuatu Challenges French Control of Islands
The country of Vanuatu, founded in 1980, challenged French sovereignty over the Matthew and Hunter Islands on September 1st, 2026. They filed an official application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Through this, Vanuatu aims to establish a clear border between itself and French-controlled…
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You Have No Constitutional Right to Clean Drinking Water, Federal Court Rules
The past year saw a myriad of changes in environmental law, mainly by gutting regulations. Just recently, New York’s Climate Superfund Act was struck down, and now, a federal court has declared that clean drinking water is not a right guaranteed under the United States…
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Rising Bond Yields’ Impact on the American Financial System
In the United States, treasury bonds are bought at a specific face value and expire at a fixed maturity date. With a volatile market, this contractual agreement with the U.S. federal government always stays constant regardless of economic conditions.
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U.S. Reaches Oil Agreement with Venezuela
On August 28th, the State Department gained a 35% stake in North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) and he right to purchase 20% of NABEP’s production and the right of first refusal on the remaining 80%. Trump has called this the “biggest oil deal in…
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Opinion: The Problems with American Healthcare
The United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation in history, exhausting more than $5.2 trillion in 2024 alone. Yet, healthcare outcomes are repeatedly reported to be lower than in other developed nations.
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Deadly Flash Flood Along Nepal-China Border Leaves 2,500 Missing
On August 26, a massive flood swept across the Nepali districts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. The Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river valleys created mud and debris that buried infrastructure, leaving at least 616 deaths, 2,500 people missing, and more than 2,300 additional people still injured.
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Water Levels in Panama Canal Dropping Due to Climate Change
The Panama Canal, primarily being freshwater, is one of the most crucial chokepoints as an estimated 1.75 trillion dollars worth of goods pass through the canal annually. However, water levels are receding due to climate change, and it is imperative to examine the potential effects…
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Bill Gates Sounds the Alarm on AI and the Future of Work
On August 26th of this year, Bill Gates published an almost 6,000 word essay highlighting the escalating problem about artificial intelligence. He emphasizes how AI can move to physical occupations, including law and customer service to medicine, software development, and manufacturing.
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The Makings of a New Syria
The end of the Kurdish self-rule was marked when the Syrian Democratic Forces were announced to be integrated into the Syrian state. Kurdish rights point towards a hopeful future, but ultimately remains unsteady in the political system, making it crucial to understand the conflicts and…
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Peru’s Polarizing Politics: The 2026 Peruvian Election, Explained
Since 2016, eight different presidents have cycled through office in Peru. The prominence of political instability cannot be understated as citizens endure rampant crime and widespread corruption. As the new president, Keiko Fujimori emerged victorious, it is crucial to examine the 2026 election and it’s…
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Congressional Incumbents are Having a Historically Rough Year
This election year has been the most disastrous primary period for members of Congress in more than a decade as at least a dozen representatives and two senators who ran for their party’s renomination lost the primary election. It is crucial to understand the political…
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The Russian Wartime Economy
Five years after Russia’s initial attack on Ukraine, the war remains raging on. The Russian economy has since taken tremendous hits as the nation’s debt continues to rise, and many Russians fear an imminent economic collapse as they pull trillions of rubles out of the…
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China’s Surprising Response to Global Oil Shortages ⸺ Why Oil Still Runs Everything
The transportation of oil has long been the fuel for conflicts and competition across the world. As roughly 103-105 million barrels of crude oil are consumed every day, it is essential to understand it’s importance and global chokepoints.
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Myanmar’s Fragmented War Continues Into its Sixth Year
Myanmar has endured brutal internal conflicts stemming from a military coup in 2021, where members of Myanmar’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were deposed by the Tatmadaw. Since then, the civil war has revealed the consequences of modern warfare, and how the…
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Israel and Palestine: 70 Years of Conflict
Since October 7th, 2023, the the modern conflict between Israel and Hamas has continued to claim lives and serves as a divisive political issue globally. In order to understand the war, it is crucial to look at the near-century of animosity between Israel and Palestine…
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The Evolution of Drone Technology in the Russia-Ukraine War
The Russia-Ukraine war has drastically redefined how modern conflicts are fought, and that is through drone technology. Defying expectations, Ukraine has largely slowed the Russian advance, which has had crucial implications for European geopolitics and has already started to shape other conflicts.
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From Fringe to Frontline: The Rise of Democratic Socialism in U.S. Politics
Democratic socialist candidates continue to become frontrunners in political races across the United States. With the likes of Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) fighting for a democratic socialist agenda, it is crucial to examine the propulsion of democratic socialism into the mainstream…
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The Housing Affordability Crisis: Why Can’t America Build Enough Homes
The American housing shortage has become a large scale problem across the nation. With reports indicating the shortfall at over 10 million single-family homes, it is clear is that construction has not kept pace with population growth and household formation.