IRR ONLINE

The Canadian government recently signed an agreement to transfer full control over the northernmost territory of Nunavut to the territory’s Inuit-dominated residents. This is a huge milestone in the movement for indigenous rights, and autonomy for the region will also bring more sustainable resource assessment and the protection of biodiversity. It could also be a stepping stone for increased indigenous autonomy and biodiversity across the Americas.

“There has been a troubling resurgence of antisemitic attitudes across Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries. Given Scandinavia’s, and the continent as a whole, complex and painful history with its Jewish communities, the latest developments in the Middle East have sparked a wave of hostility in various areas.”

A delay in Senegal’s 2024 presidential elections sparked fear and unrest in the democratic West African country, but the nation’s system has been quick to uphold its democratic integrity.

China has experienced a spell of economic growth that is unique to global history, beginning in the late 1970s and continuing into the present day. For the past two decades, China’s real estate sector has cemented itself as a reliable driver of economic growth, but that saga has concluded with the fall of the Evergrande Group. Evergrande serves as an apt vessel to explore the collapse of a once dominant property sector, with this article seeking to analyze the causes of the group's fall as well as explain the greater impacts felt by China’s domestic economy.

The arrest of Evergrnade’s chairman, Xu Jiayin, sheds light on the complexities behind China’s domestic property market collapse. The intertwined history of China’s rapid economic growth, its unique property laws, and pandemic-induced challenges led to a high-risk bubble that not only damages the domestic economy but also questions the legitimacy of Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. 

Niger ends its military agreement with the United States, following a 12-year period of U.S. intervention in Niger affairs.

Ethiopia faces one of its gravest crises as federal security forces are implicated in the killing of civilians in the Amhara region, sparking escalating turmoil. The roots of this conflict trace back to historical grievances and the exclusion of the Fano militia from peace negotiations following the Tigray conflict, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive dialogue and internal reconciliation to achieve lasting peace.

Resistance has been a crucial part of Portuguese politics since the days of the Estado Novo dictatorship. College campuses and city plazas became the voice for public discontent amidst state suppression, acting as a catalyst for democratic reform and wealth redistribution. Decades after the 1974 Carnation Revolution ended this brutal regime in a leftist coup d’etat, many continued to protest the government regularly. Recent economic instability has brought Portugal to its knees on several occasions. Throughout this time, teachers have been the most vocal advocates for change. 

In Trinidad and Tobago there has been a record of gang-related violence that has made life unsafe for citizens of the island nation. Moreover, the gangs themselves are deeply institutionalized into Trinidadian society, even serving functions of government, thus making them exceptionally difficult to remove. 

While Venezuela and Guyana have been locked into a cycle of recurring dispute over the vital region of Essequibo, the most recent escalation of the contention over it has raised alarms internationally. While the conflict itself is nothing new, increasingly aggressive maneuvers by the regime of Nicolás Maduro have particularly worried indigenous communities. 

Although menstruation is a natural process, it is shrouded in misconception in various parts of the world. This stigma causes period poverty, characterized by the lack of access to menstrual products as well as limitations in regards to academic, professional, and overall life pursuits. This article seeks to shine a light on this hidden public health crisis, focusing on Latin America and in particular on a group of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil.

Water scarcity in Saudi Arabia has become a major threat to human life. In response to this threat, the Crown Prince has developed Vision 2030, which is meant to improve life in Saudi Arabia through three central pillars: economy, vitality, and ambition. However, despite this plan, the country still struggles with water accessibility. 

Internet blackouts have become a modern concern for many nations undergoing warfare and violence. Denying access to the internet has been determined to be a violation of human rights on the international level, yet instances continue to occur around the globe. Yemen, a nation undergoing a lengthy civil war, is an example of where internet blackouts have proven to become frequent and problematic for citizens’ safety and daily lives.

What differentiates the EGD from other global zero-emission attempts such as the Kyoto Protocol, the Rio Conference, or the Montreal Protocol is its dedication to promoting a long-term growth strategy that tackles the irreversible impacts of climate change within the EU. The EGD’s climate oriented policy goals includes building a climate-resilient society through the use of databases that strengthen access to climate resources and knowledge on climate change.

The Noto Earthquake in 2024 wasn’t as devastating as predicted. The limited casualties not only reflects Japan’s seasoned disaster response but also unveil the role of the Japanese civil society in disaster relief. The significant and positive role that the Japanese civil society plays in disaster relief can serve as a useful case study for countries that are prone to natural disasters.

In 2011, Bahrain witnessed swaths of protesters swarming the streets of the country and demanding social change and reform in the Sunni-led government that had long oppressed Shia Muslims. The government brutally crushed the uprising within weeks, but the desire for more freedom never died in the population. In August 2023, hundreds of inmates in a prison notorious for detaining political prisoners went on a mass hunger strike. After weeks of strike, the government agreed to provide more humane conditions for the prisoners. 

On February 27th 1900, Labour was launched as an official political party for Britain’s urban poor. At the time, the party maintained strong ties to the burgeoning unionist movement and helped broadly expand the welfare state while in power during the 1940s and 60s. Despite this earlier success, Tony Blair’s “New Labour” fully embraced the cult of neoliberalism at the expense of the working-class. In the face of encroaching corporate influence, Jeremy Corbyn remains the last major steward for Labour’s proletarian tradition.

Starmer's pragmatic approach, focusing on economic recovery and social justice, seems to strike the right chord with voters disillusioned with the Conservative government's handling of various crises.

The government of Ethiopia recently signed a port deal with the breakaway state of Somaliand, an autonomous state whose sovereignty has yet to be internationally recognized. The port deal has caused backlash from Somalia and may cause larger-scale issues in the Horn of Africa. 

As global temperatures increase every year, many institutions, from national governments to private enterprises, are making plans for decreasing carbon emissions. Costa Rica has taken carbon neutrality to the next level by seeking to completely transform not justits energy system but its entire economy. 

 Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the truce between the two nations; however, peace on the Korean Peninsula grows more precarious each day. Recent events, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s stark declaration of South Korea as the “principal enemy” and the symbolic dismantling of a major statue representing reunification efforts, have cast a shadow over hopes of stability in the region. With Pyongyang’s aggressive rhetoric and provocative missile tests, paired with South Korea amping up military tests with the U.S., the Korean Peninsula is, once again, seized by tension. As the world grapples with the implications of North Korea’s recent stance, calls to prevent further escalation have never been more urgent. 

Saudi Arabia has recently been experiencing an emerging arts and culture boom. The state has become a hub for both national and international artists, particularly for youth. However, some critics speculate that this new funding and celebration of the arts is a strategy to distract from other potentially unpopular legislation. 

The Sudanese military coup of 2021 reverberates far beyond the crisis-stricken nation, reshaping the regional landscape. Prompting swift responses from neighboring Egypt and Ethiopia, the coup has sparked an intricate web of security concerns and strategic considerations. 

A war is being waged against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has imprisoned and exiled approximately 15 percent of the total Nicaraguan clergy. Among these are figures such as Bishop Rolando José Álvarez, who was recently released from detainment on January 14, 2024. Ortega claims that the Catholic Church is part of a conspiracy backed by the U.S. to overthrow his regime. Such allegations have been derived from protests against Ortega’s government in 2018, along with having historical roots in the Nicaraguan Civil War.

Tensions flare as Rwanda is accused of backing an armed opposition group, based in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Sergei Parajanov’s birth. A reflection of Parajanov’s contributions and impact present a discussion about Ukrainian nationalism and identity in the 20th and 21st centuries. 

In Guatemala, the January 2024 inauguration of new president Bernardo Arévalo was tense due to the months-long efforts to prevent it from ever happening. Led not by the military, but by the bureaucracy, the coup d’etat that Guatemala avoided highlights how the nature of undemocratic practices is gradually morphing in Latin America.

In late 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called early presidential elections for February 2024, a year earlier than the end of his term. However, given that Azerbaijan is an extremely authoritarian state with staged elections, many have wondered why Aliyev would want to hold the vote a year early, especially since he would likely rig the elections regardless if they were to be held in 2024 or 2025. 

There are approximately 200 million cases of the parasitic disease, malaria, reported worldwide per year, 90 percent of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond its direct health consequences, malaria perpetuates structural inequities, affecting vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. The economic toll, estimated at $12 billion annually, exacerbates existing challenges, specifically in the agriculture sector. Despite global efforts, the persistent societal effects require continued intervention to address the far-reaching implications of malaria worldwide. 

African societies are suffering from the impact of climate change. This environmental issue is affecting women at a greater rate than the men who exist in the same society. This article delves into the socioeconomic role women have and continue to serve in African societies and how climate change directly impacts their daily endeavors.