The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to reduce global deforestation by restricting imports and exports of goods linked to forest degradation. The regulation has sparked concerns from trade partners in South America and Southeast Asia who argue that it imposes heavy burdens on small producers and could disrupt global trade. The balancing act of economic and environmental impacts is critical as the EU prepares for the EUDR’s full implementation in December.

Turkey's controversial withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention raises questions about the nation's stance on women's rights and combating domestic violence. While the government claims to be prioritizing its interpretation of family values and social norms, critics argue this may be a political maneuver. The decision highlights the tension between international human rights standards and national sovereignty, revealing the complexities of implementing global agreements within diverse cultural contexts. 

The first 2024 presidential debate between Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump reaffirmed the disenchantment of many with contemporary American politics. An oft-stated grievance of voters and pundits alike is the uncivil speech and conduct of political candidates, which may no longer be “unprecedented” but ubiquitous in our system. The bitter aftertaste of the debate provokes the question of whether common decency has been abandoned by our politicians.

But is this perception accurate? And can we assess how the behavior of political candidates has changed, not only within the past ten years but also since the first televised presidential debate took place between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon almost six and a half decades ago? 

Meloni, hosting this year’s G7, wanted attending nations to turn south towards Africa. Meloni cleverly leveraged her role as host to sweeten Western economies’ taste of her grand strategy for Africa: The Mattei plan.

Many Western analysts have drawn comparisons between the ongoing protests in Georgia and the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests in Ukraine. While there may be various similarities, there are some important distinctions.

France’s far-right National Rally (RN) has captured widespread attention after winning a decisive 31.4% of the vote in the European parliamentary elections.

By passing the Foreign Agent Law, Georgia is not choosing to become a pro-Russia satellite nor is it choosing to abandon its aspiration of becoming a EU and NATO member. Georgia is choosing its sovereignty and its stability.

With a tumultuous tenure in office, Macron’s latest gambit has thrown French politics into upheaval, and may yet end poorly for the French President.

In the initial phase of the Ukraine war, combat consisted of uncoordinated skirmishes with limited strategic use of technology. However, as the conflict has progressed, it has evolved into a battleground for intricate and sophisticated drone dogfights.

In early 2024, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, marking the closest approach to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The world is on a precipice, and we must remain vigilant.

As the US and EU focus elsewhere, Italy and Turkey have increased cooperation in the Mediterranean. Despite differing foreign policy objectives, they share common interests in stabilizing Libya and playing a more active role in the Mediterranean’s security.

Though the latest United States Human Rights Report praises the government’s recent strides toward reform, there continue to be obstacles to accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

Russia is Estonia’s greatest security threat to Estonia, as driven by its geographical proximity, societal integration challenges with Estonia’s Russian minority, and rising cyber threats.

In the 23 years since the declaration of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (the WPS Agenda), national and international implementations have had both successes and failures in upholding the agenda. By evaluating the progress that has been made, we can better understand how to move forward with better solutions for the future.

Following Germany’s unification in 1871, censorship legislation has shifted significantly. What has been the effect of Germany’s censorship laws on Germany’s modern understanding of free speech?

On September 11th, Wang Huning, a Politburo standing committee member and the CCP's leading ideologist, was appointed as the chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPNR). The appointment of Wang has given spectators a good opportunity to poke into the organizational structure of the CCP’s central subdivisions and personal backgrounds of a Politburo member who is one of the most powerful politicians in China.

PANAMA — “We have unanimously decided to declare the entire law 406 unconditional,” said the Supreme Court president Maria Eugenia Lopez. After months of endless protest, Central America’s Largest open-pit copper mine has finally closed. How did Panamá get here? There is a complex and politically draining history regarding mining in Panamá. Operated by First Quantum Minerals, a Canadian-owned mining company contracted at the Cobre Panamá Mine had established roots in the Spring of 2013. Establishing itself in the Colon Province, the Canadian 34,000-acre project (bigger than the city of Manhattan) progressed in 2017 and was soon deemed unconstitutional by Panama’s Supreme Court. To uphold this ruling a fresh draft was made and passed through the Panamanian government as Law 406 on October 20th, 2023 marking the final step in revisiting the legal structure for the Cobre Panama Mine.

With global temperatures rising to unseen levels, the Caribbean lies at the center of the impact and the center of youth agency for climate change action. The summer of 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere broke historic heat levels and set itself as the hottest summer on record,[1] underscoring the Caribbean's susceptibility to climate challenges. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the region as ‘ground zero’ for the international climate emergency.[2] Due to extreme climate conditions, students protested in Puerto Rico for air conditioning during heat waves. This civic engagement highlighted the responsibility of that “climate resilience” effort from younger generations to restructure approaches using schools to claim climate justice by refurbishing policies.

Colombia has a long history of violence and conflict, including the well-known period called “La Violencia” between 1948 and 1957. Since then, international actors and the Colombian government have attempted to minimize the level of violence within the country, but fell short of making an effective change. Through the attempts these governments and organizations have made, including the 2016 Peace Deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), they have routinely mismanaged solutions and created more unrest and anger from the public and guerilla groups. In these situations of overwhelming violence, it is essential to recognize that Colombia’s marginalized communities have faced the worst impacts. Despite indigenous people having the right to their lands and to practice their traditions and culture as per the Constitution of 1991, they are still actively discriminated against in Colombia’s exclusive and traditional society. Not only do indigenous people face rampant discrimination in Colombia, but indigenous women are disproportionately impacted by the surges of violence and are ignored by most international communities and the local and federal governments.

In 2024, the global political landscape is marked by pivotal elections, including the anticipated rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the United Kingdom's general election, and India's general election. Africa is also hosting a number of elections this year, which will likely play a seminal role in shaping regional and international politics. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most important elections happening this year on the continent: Elections in Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa.