An epidemic of illegal gold mining is threatening indigenous territories and other protected lands within the Amazon rainforest, according to a study published by environmental organization Minería Ilegal. Brazil’s recent…
This Week Around the World: Dec. 9–16
Dec. 9–14 West Bank, Palestinian Territories: A manhunt ensued in the West Bank following a drive-by shooting which left seven wounded including a young pregnant woman, who was evacuated to…
Persecuted in Xinjiang
Over 20 rights groups rallied in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva on Dec. 10–the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights–to protest the persecution and “cultural…
This Week Around the World: Dec. 2–9
Dec. 3 Qatar: The Gulf country announced Dec. 3 their decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries consisting of 15 member countries spanning the Middle East,…
Jewish perspectives on Hanukkah as a Hallmark holiday
Today marks the last day of Hanukkah, which begins annually on the 25th day of Kislev and spans eight days. According to NPR, the holiday commemorates a successful campaign led…
Women march in Dublin, demand rape trial reform
Protests swept Ireland following the acquittal of a 27-year-old man for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl whose underwear was used as evidence of consensual sex. Senior counsel Elizabeth…
Portland State’s vacant campus
Portland State is home to more than 2,000 international students from 88 countries, with the top countries of origin being China, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Japan. During school breaks,…
This Week Around the World – Nov. 25–Dec. 2
Nov. 25 Black Sea: In the latest confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian coast guard fired on three Ukrainian naval vessels, claiming they had traveled into Russian waters without…
The re-emergence of rising anti-Semitism in the west
In commemoration of Kristallnacht, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a speech on Nov. 9 at the Neue Synagogue in Berlin where she offered a stern warning concerning the dangers of…
Political plurality
While the United States has multiple political parties beyond Democratic and Republican—such as the Libertarian and Green Parties—the political scene is dominated by a two-party system. However, that may not…
This Week Around the World – Nov. 18–25:
Nov. 20 Kabul, Afghanistan: At least 55 people were killed and 94 wounded in a suicide bombing, which targeted a gathering of top Sunni religious leaders celebrating the birth of…