A recent article in The New Yorker painted a troubling and vivid portrait of the opioid crisis facing many areas of the nation. In her piece, Margaret Talbot details a number of graphic overdoses that have taken place in West Virginia, the U.S. state with the highest rate of opioid overdoses per 100,000 people (39.3). What is the cause of this phenomenon, and what can be done…. see full article
US foreign policy and the birth of neo-conservatism
July 26th 2017 | Indiana | Russell Hall
When former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski died on the 26th of May, liberals mourned his loss and praised his accomplishments. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter called him a “superb public servant”. Barack Obama offered similar praise, stating Brzezinski’s “influence spanned several decades, and I was one of several Presidents who benefited from his wisdom and counsel”…. see full article
A tale of Scottish independence and social democracy
June 7th 2017 | Indiana | Russell Hall
When British Prime Minister Theresa May decided to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections, headlines everywhere predicted the fall of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. While Labour is set to win a greater share of the popular vote than it did under Ed Miliband in 2015, the implosion of the anti-immigration UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the exodus of its supporters to the Conservatives has made… see full article
How patriotic populism empowers authoritarian politics
March 11th 2017 | The Hague | Melih Uzun
Ever since Donald Trump was elected into office, critics have been suggesting that it is an indication of the global rise of right-wing populism, with similar rhetoric set to emerge victorious in European countries as well. The upcoming elections in the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders’s Party for Freedom…. see full article
If you want to protect yourself, protect journalism
February 17th 2017 | Wisconsin | Xavier Ward
Freedom of press is a fundamental tenet of the United States and is even written into its Constitution. Its purpose was to monitor the operations of government, protecting the people from tyranny creeping up on them before they could realize it. Journalists are often tasked with taking the humdrum language of statutes… see full article
January 31st 2017 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
Social networks are the defining innovation of this generation. They are a tool which has given us previously unimaginable levels of connectivity, as well as the ability to easily keep up to date with global news and specific issues that we care about.
Yet, in the midst of a discussion about the so-called “fake news”… see full article
The pitiful state of American politics and society
November 12th 2016 | Wisconsin | Xavier Ward
In the early morning hours of November 9th, Donald Trump secured the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency.
You might ask yourself – how is this possible? How did a candidate who was widely regarded as a dangerous joke by the media, the establishment… see full article
June 29th 2016 | London | Francisco Morales & Bartu Kaleagasi
In the aftermath of the EU referendum that shocked the world, many are left wondering how it happened, and what will come of it.
The UK had been a leading member of the European Union since 1973, bringing both economic prosperity and global influence to the country… see full article
June 12th 2016 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
As the Democratic primaries come to an end, a significant movement has been brewing among Bernie Sanders supporters: Bernie or Bust.
Those who advocate this approach argue that if Hillary Clinton is to win the nomination, voters should either write in Bernie’s name, or vote for… see full article
The past and future of Spain’s north-eastern separatism
January 17th 2016 | Barcelona | Martin Rogard
In recent months, the possibility of an independent Catalan Republic has been rapidly materialising.
The election of a separatist coalition by a slim 51.7% majority on September 27th was shortly followed by the passing of a resolution on October 27th… see full article
Petro Poroshenko visits the Netherlands for the EU Association Agreement vote
December 23rd 2015 | Leiden | Melih Uzun
“The thing about the bear is, in the long run, he seeks domination – not a compromise.”
These were the words used by Petro Poroshenko to warn Europe about the aggressive nature of their Eastern neighbour, Russia. The Ukrainian President… see full article
November 15th 2015 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
Anyone following the US Presidential Elections 2016 has no doubt heard the name: Donald Trump.
To the surprise of many, the real-estate mogul, TV personality, and professional controversy artist entered the Republican race in June. The media, and… see full article
Today, the nation has spoken, bringing about a massive electoral swing in favour of the ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP). Despite the massive crowds at opposition rallies, Singapore’s silent majority continues to trust and support the PAP.
The PAP won 83 out of 89 seats, just six seats shy from being the only… see full article
In the upcoming Singapore General Election (GE), for the first time ever, all 89 parliamentary seats will be contested. On 11 September 2015, every eligible Singaporean will be able to vote at a polling station, and most will be deciding between the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and alternatives like… see full article
A look at the past and future of the EU debt crisis
August 9th 2015 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
In the past few months, Greece has been the centre of attention of world media. As the possibility of a Grexit came closer than ever, the financial stability of the Eurozone, and arguably the world, was at play. On the 8th of July, Guy Verhofstadt gave a passionate speech in the European Parliament, directly addressing Greek Prime… see full article
The Presidential candidate from Vermont who represents the people
June 23rd 2015 | Pittsburgh | Will Tomer
When President Barack Obama first made his ascension to the highest office in the United States, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of American adults to see what word was most commonly associated with the president. The second most reported word was a ‘bad’ one: socialist. To Americans, “socialist” is an… see full article
A look at this exciting Star Trek technology and its skeptics
June 13th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
Rumours about the Electromagnetic Propulsion Drive, or EM Drive, have been echoing throughout the internet for several years.
This April, NASA tested this curious piece of technology at the Johnson Space Center, confirming that it was indeed able to produce propulsion in a vacuum… see full article
Today, Turkey voted in parliamentary elections to elect the country’s next government and Prime Minister. Due to the electoral threshold of 10%, only four parties were able to acquire seats: the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the… see full article
A recent article in The New Yorker painted a troubling and vivid portrait of the opioid crisis facing many areas of the nation. In her piece, Margaret Talbot details a number of graphic overdoses that have taken place in West Virginia, the U.S. state with the highest rate of opioid overdoses per 100,000 people (39.3). What is the cause of this phenomenon, and what can be done…. see full article
US foreign policy and the birth of neo-conservatism
July 26th 2017 | Indiana | Russell Hall
When former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski died on the 26th of May, liberals mourned his loss and praised his accomplishments. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter called him a “superb public servant”. Barack Obama offered similar praise, stating Brzezinski’s “influence spanned several decades, and I was one of several Presidents who benefited from his wisdom and counsel”…. see full article
A tale of Scottish independence and social democracy
June 7th 2017 | Indiana | Russell Hall
When British Prime Minister Theresa May decided to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections, headlines everywhere predicted the fall of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. While Labour is set to win a greater share of the popular vote than it did under Ed Miliband in 2015, the implosion of the anti-immigration UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the exodus of its supporters to the Conservatives has made… see full article
How patriotic populism empowers authoritarian politics
March 11th 2017 | The Hague | Melih Uzun
Ever since Donald Trump was elected into office, critics have been suggesting that it is an indication of the global rise of right-wing populism, with similar rhetoric set to emerge victorious in European countries as well. The upcoming elections in the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders’s Party for Freedom…. see full article
If you want to protect yourself, protect journalism
February 17th 2017 | Wisconsin | Xavier Ward
Freedom of press is a fundamental tenet of the United States and is even written into its Constitution. Its purpose was to monitor the operations of government, protecting the people from tyranny creeping up on them before they could realize it. Journalists are often tasked with taking the humdrum language of statutes… see full article
January 31st 2017 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
Social networks are the defining innovation of this generation. They are a tool which has given us previously unimaginable levels of connectivity, as well as the ability to easily keep up to date with global news and specific issues that we care about.
Yet, in the midst of a discussion about the so-called “fake news”… see full article
The pitiful state of American politics and society
November 12th 2016 | Wisconsin | Xavier Ward
In the early morning hours of November 9th, Donald Trump secured the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency.
You might ask yourself – how is this possible? How did a candidate who was widely regarded as a dangerous joke by the media, the establishment… see full article
June 29th 2016 | London | Francisco Morales & Bartu Kaleagasi
In the aftermath of the EU referendum that shocked the world, many are left wondering how it happened, and what will come of it.
The UK had been a leading member of the European Union since 1973, bringing both economic prosperity and global influence to the country… see full article
June 12th 2016 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
As the Democratic primaries come to an end, a significant movement has been brewing among Bernie Sanders supporters: Bernie or Bust.
Those who advocate this approach argue that if Hillary Clinton is to win the nomination, voters should either write in Bernie’s name, or vote for… see full article
The past and future of Spain’s north-eastern separatism
January 17th 2016 | Barcelona | Martin Rogard
In recent months, the possibility of an independent Catalan Republic has been rapidly materialising.
The election of a separatist coalition by a slim 51.7% majority on September 27th was shortly followed by the passing of a resolution on October 27th… see full article
Petro Poroshenko visits the Netherlands for the EU Association Agreement vote
December 23rd 2015 | Leiden | Melih Uzun
“The thing about the bear is, in the long run, he seeks domination – not a compromise.”
These were the words used by Petro Poroshenko to warn Europe about the aggressive nature of their Eastern neighbour, Russia. The Ukrainian President… see full article
November 15th 2015 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
Anyone following the US Presidential Elections 2016 has no doubt heard the name: Donald Trump.
To the surprise of many, the real-estate mogul, TV personality, and professional controversy artist entered the Republican race in June. The media, and… see full article
Today, the nation has spoken, bringing about a massive electoral swing in favour of the ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP). Despite the massive crowds at opposition rallies, Singapore’s silent majority continues to trust and support the PAP.
The PAP won 83 out of 89 seats, just six seats shy from being the only… see full article
In the upcoming Singapore General Election (GE), for the first time ever, all 89 parliamentary seats will be contested. On 11 September 2015, every eligible Singaporean will be able to vote at a polling station, and most will be deciding between the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and alternatives like… see full article
A look at the past and future of the EU debt crisis
August 9th 2015 | London | Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez
In the past few months, Greece has been the centre of attention of world media. As the possibility of a Grexit came closer than ever, the financial stability of the Eurozone, and arguably the world, was at play. On the 8th of July, Guy Verhofstadt gave a passionate speech in the European Parliament, directly addressing Greek Prime… see full article
The Presidential candidate from Vermont who represents the people
June 23rd 2015 | Pittsburgh | Will Tomer
When President Barack Obama first made his ascension to the highest office in the United States, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of American adults to see what word was most commonly associated with the president. The second most reported word was a ‘bad’ one: socialist. To Americans, “socialist” is an… see full article
A look at this exciting Star Trek technology and its skeptics
June 13th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
Rumours about the Electromagnetic Propulsion Drive, or EM Drive, have been echoing throughout the internet for several years.
This April, NASA tested this curious piece of technology at the Johnson Space Center, confirming that it was indeed able to produce propulsion in a vacuum… see full article
June 7th 2015 | London | Melih Uzun & Bartu Kaleagasi
Today, Turkey voted in parliamentary elections to elect the country’s next government and Prime Minister. Due to the electoral threshold of 10%, only four parties were able to acquire seats: the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the… see full article
Could CHP form a coalition to mark the end of Erdogan’s rule?
June 7th 2015 | London | Melih Uzun & Bartu Kaleagasi
Today, Turkey votes to elect the members of its Grand National Assembly, a parliament with 550 seats for which a total of 20 parties are running.
Yet, due to the extreme electoral threshold of 10%, only a handful of them can ever be represented. This includes the Justice and Development Party (AKP)… see full article
The chilling climate of arctic geopolitics in a time of global warming
June 3rd 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
“There are signs of climate change in nearly every aspect of our environment today, including the behaviour of the human civilisation. Melting ice caps in the last 50 years have had a ripple effect on the world. A few decades ago, the media… see full article
With more and more space debris, how can we achieve sustainability?
May 19th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
Sustainability is a fast-growing theme in our society, and one that will be of increasing importance as more and more humans venture into space… see full article
The hardships of an ethnic minority facing an uncertain future in their homeland
April 15th 2015 | Netherlands | Melih Uzun
“This blatant attack on freedom of expression, dressed-up as an administrative procedure, is a crude attempt to stifle independent media, gag dissenting voices, and intimidate the Crimean Tatar community.” Those were the words used by Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe… see full article
The search for extraterrestrial organisms on Jupiter and Saturn’s moons
March 24th 2015 | London | Bartu Kaleagasi
“Life is not a miracle. It is a natural phenomenon, and can be expected to appear whenever there is a planet whose conditions duplicate those of the Earth.”
Such were the words of Harold Urey, physical chemist famed for his contributions to our understanding of organic matter. Indeed, ever since humanity’s search… see full article
The science behind the European island’s geothermal resources
March 15th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano violently erupted in April of 2010, making international headlines as it grounded international flights on both sides of the Atlantic for several weeks to come.
The tephra produced by the eruption interfered with flight traffic into… see full article
A symptom, not cause, of a growing and changing world
March 11th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
Two minutes after midnight on October 12th, 1999, Adnan Nevic was born just outside Sarajevo, Bosnia. He was dubbed “Baby Six Billion”, as his birth marked not only the start of his own life but also the growth of human population beyond six billion worldwide.
Population had been growing rapidly since the industrial age, and today… see full article
Rising tensions as Obama reverses his stance on disarmement
March 6th 2015 | Pittsburgh | Will Tomer
“It is now three minutes to midnight.”
So began the most recent press release, dated Jan. 22, 2015, from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists regarding the latest adjustment of the historic Doomsday Clock. The symbolic clock represents humanity’s proximity to total extinction… see full article
Government prepares to pass Data Interception and Retention bill
March 2nd 2015 | Perth | Angadjeet Sanghera
“We are a free and fair nation, but that doesn’t mean we should let bad people play us for mugs, and all too often they have. Well that’s going to stop.”
These are the words of the Prime Minister Tony Abbott given in a speech on February 14th. ‘The Captain’, as he likes to refer to himself, was discussing… see full article
Canada’s economic future and the Dutch Disease theory
February 26th 2015 | New York | Alex Shapiro
President Obama made true his promise to congress that he would veto the Keystone XL Pipeline bill should it come across his desk.
The president stated that “through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether… see full article
The science behind Martian soil and NASA’s ‘Spuds in Space’
February 20th 2015 | Montana | Christopher Beddow
In the year 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supported a project called Spuds in Space, where simulated Martian soil called JSC Mars-1 and potato seedlings were transported off the earth on the space shuttle Atlantis.
The idea was to see if the crop would grow in a combination of… see full article
Sino-Japanese dispute over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands
February 13th 2015 | London | Godwin Tan Gelun
Nations often go all out to protect their disputed lands. In domestic politics, defending one’s land can stir nationalism and bolster the government’s popularity. In foreign policy, aggressively defending one’s land can deter potential enemies.
As neither party wants to give in, many nations remain stuck in… see full article
On Jan. 26 2015, former schoolteacher Moussa al-Zahrani likely spent much of his morning alone in his jail cell. If he had not already stirred by sunrise, he would have been awoken by prison guards – though he was almost certainly restless due to what awaited him. At that point, he was served his final breakfast and, if he was… see full article
Taken from Istanbul, the photograph above shows the moon during two different phenomena; the supermoon, and the blood moon.
During these events, astrophotographers from around the world all run to their telescopes, each attempting to snap their own perfect moment… see full article
Prime Minister wins Presidency with 52% of national vote
August 10th 2014 | Istanbul | Bartu Kaleagasi
Today, the Republic of Turkey held its first ever direct Presidential Elections. The current Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, secured his position as the next President with a simple majority (52%) of the national vote. As expected, the Western and Southern coasts of Turkey were in full support of CHP… see full article
The next era in Turkey’s politics – Erdogan v. Ihsanoglu
August 8th 2014 | Istanbul | Bartu Kaleagasi
For the first time in history, on this 10th of August, the people of Turkey will be voting to directly elect the republic’s next president. If no candidate secures a simple majority of 50%, a second run-off round will be held on August 24th between… see full article
