International Politics
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Outbreak After Outbreak: Global Health Authorities Respond
On May 2, 2026, passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship traveling across the Atlantic, reported an unidentified respiratory infection. After the death of a passenger, the WHO identified the deadly infection as the Andes strain of Hantavirus.
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The Trump-Xi Summit: The Global Standstill
On May 14 2026, Donald Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing for a major summit centered on trade policy, tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and the future of US-China economic relations.
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From Screen to State: Vijay’s Rise to Power
In the early morning hours of May 10, Tamil film star Joseph C. “Thalapathy” Vijay was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a monumental shift away from the two-party dominance that had controlled Tamil Nadu politics for nearly six decades.
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The World’s Sixth Mass Extinction
This specific sixth mass extinction is caused by anthropogenic sources instead of natural cycles or events. Scientists estimate that the world is currently experiencing approximately 50,000 species extinctions annually.
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Why Did the UAE Leave OPEC?
On April 28, the UAE announced that it would be leaving OPEC after 59 years in the group. OPEC will be left weakened, losing 15% of its oil exporting capacity and the world’s 8th largest oil producer.
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Reform UK’s Historic Election Surge Reshapes British Politics
On May 7, the United Kingdom held local elections across 136 English councils. The results were devastating for the two parties that have dominated British politics for over a century.
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Japan Alters Its Arms Export Rules
Japan scrapped decades of pacifist restrictions on April 21, allowing it to export lethal weapons for the first time since World War II. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet approved new guidelines that scrap the five-category restriction limiting exports.
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U.S. Rejects Iran Peace Plan Amid Rising Tensions
Iran has received a U.S. response to its latest peace proposal. President Donald Trump reportedly told Israel’s Kan News on Sunday that the proposal was unacceptable to him.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Lands in Russia
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, landed in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 27 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This comes after US-Iran ceasefire talks have stalled dramatically, with less and less progress coming by the day.
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A Brief Overview of Pope Leo’s Africa Tour
Pope Leo XIV completed his 11-day trip over Africa on Thursday, which took him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from April 13-23. Leo established himself as someone insistent on calling out injustice.
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Ceasefire Announced Between Lebanon and Israel
Lebanon and Israel have just signed a ceasefire deal, showing that the two nations have temporarily put aside their differences after weeks of growing tensions on their border. The ceasefire was made possible through mediation involving the larger international community.
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Russian Aggression and EU Pushback: Will Economic Policy Work?
The European Union has approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, with the goal of aiding them in their defense against Russia. Hungary has promised to drop their veto of the loan if Ukraine allows Russian gas to reach Hungary.
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A Path Forward: Hungary After Orban
On Sunday, April 12, Victor Orban’s reign came crumbling down. The foremost far-right populist leader in Europe and hailed as a beacon of conservatism in the American MAGA movement, Orban has clung to power since 2010.
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Sudan Enters Its Fourth Year of Civil War
As of April 2026, the United Nations estimates that nearly 14 million civilians have been displaced, with 4.4 million being forced across borders. Further, agriculture has been destroyed, placing nearly 21 million civilians in food insecurity. Despite the enormous humanitarian casualties, the war is only…
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Political Volatility: The Opening and Closing of the Strait of Hormuz
Amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels on April 17, declaring it “completely open” for shipping traffic following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire related to broader regional conflicts.
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The Sahel Conflict Where Everyone is in the Wrong
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been in a devastating war with Islamist insurgents. Currently, two groups drive a majority of the violence, one being an al-Qaeda affiliate.
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Fuel Protests Ignite Political Crisis in Ireland
What initially began as protests over fuel prices in Ireland has quickly snowballed into a broader political challenge. After multiple days of disruption, the government announced €505 million of public funds to quell some of the pressure.
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North Korean Hacker Group Strikes Amidst Growing Conflict
North Korea has emerged with a task force, the Lazarus Group, to conduct international cyber attacks. Recently, the group has struck again, gaining access to the account of a software developer who manages an open-source software called Axios.
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Greece Pulls the Plug On Social Media
Following Australia’s ban on social media for teenagers last December, Greece is banning social media for adolescents under 15 years old. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explains that he had spoken to numerous parents across the country before making this decision.
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Viktor Orban’s Day of Reckoning
“All they stand for is anger, hatred, and destruction,” yelled a hoarse Victor Orban speaking at a mass reelection rally in western Hungary. His rare outburst portrayed a different side of a politician used to cracking jokes and oftentimes charming critics.
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Cuba’s Prisoner Release Sparks Debate Over Political Detainees
Cuba has begun releasing more than 2,000 prisoners in what the government describes as a “humanitarian and sovereign” gesture, marking one of the largest amnesties in over a decade. However, the move has drawn intense scrutiny from human rights organizations.