“The liberties included in Hong Kong’s constitution, the Basic Law, are freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, an independent judiciary system, and some democratic rights. This Constitution is meant to last at least until 2047, but now this Constitution is under attack with the introduction of the electoral reform bill.”
Read More“Last Tuesday, Johnson and Johnson vaccine injections were halted across the country after six recipients reported blood-clotting. Health officials nationwide have exaggerated the very low risk for those who already received the vaccine, emphasizing that the vaccine was taken down out of an “abundance of caution” for the safety of Americans, as stated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”
Read More“Following the shooting, Officer Potter announced she would resign from the force stating it would be “in the best interest of the community, my department, and my fellow officers.” Resignation is not sufficient for some in the community as tension is already high due to the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, prompting many to flood the streets outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department and protest. Protesters have reportedly thrown fireworks and bottles at police who responded with teargas; additionally around 20 businesses nearby have been broken into. In response, the Minnesota National Guard has been deployed.”
Read More“Amidst negotiations between Iran and the United States over a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was attacked, complicating negotiations.”
Read More“President Biden’s first 100 days in office have been an improbable three months of steady progress, kicking off a Biden administration that aims to be far more transformative than progressives initially expected. Few of us expected that this president — given his record, a knife’s-edge Congress, and a COVID-19 crisis that makes it hard to look an inch beyond one’s nose — would begin to be talked about as, potentially, transformational. One of the highlights of this progress is the $2 trillion infrastructure plan the president proposed in March, a plan that he has called ‘a once-in-a-generation investment in America.’”
Read More“George Floyd died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him on the ground with his knee, sparking protests around the world. Now, ten months later, arguments in the momentous trial that will determine Chauvin’s legal consequences are coming to a close. Chauvin faces charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.”
Read More“While the CDC is working to find a balance between promoting messages of caution concerning new strains of COVID-19 and pitching the vaccine as a means to return to “normalcy,” American’s have resumed old practices. The CDC has produced comprehensive plans to distribute the vaccine on a widespread level, but skepticism from vaccine-eligible individuals could be a detriment to these plans.”
Read More“As many state legislatures across the U.S. have introduced “school choice” bills to divert public education funding to private schools, the North Carolina General Assembly has joined the fray. Republicans in the North Carolina State House of Representatives introduced HB 32 during the first week of the legislative session in January. Last week, on April 1st, the bill moved to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, as it progresses through the governmental process on its way to a vote on the House floor. What exactly is included in this bill and what is its intended consequence for both public and private schools?”
Read More“On March 29th, the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin commenced as the defense and prosecution stated their cases for the charges of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin is accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in an event that highlighted police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. The killing and subsequent violent police to protests has spurred calls for police reform and abolition. With the trial nationally televised, the country waits with bated breath anxious to see if Chauvin will be held to account for his actions.”
Read More“There is no doubt more should be done to hold tech companies accountable, however, the issue is how should they be held accountable? This is when things become difficult because there is no clear answer, every action has a consequence. One thing is certain, tech companies are powerful and influential and this power needs to be reigned in before the situation spirals out of control leading to more events similar to that of January 6th.”
Read More“One thing is for certain in light of the pandemic-plagued days in which we live: there is no shortage of political and morally divisive policies on the horizon. On March 30th, over 25 heads of state called for an international pandemic treaty to greater combat and alleviate the risk of future life-altering pandemics from arising. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that “the world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one,” and during a news conference he campaigned on its urgency due to the WHO’s lack of ability for surveillance and oversight within member nations. Origins of the treaty stem from member nations, such as China over the past year, being able to deny WHO access to novel epidemic data or disease materials that could prove crucial in combating a novel pathogen.”
Read More“This maneuver will directly undercut America’s influence in the Middle East as China is opting in to buying Iranian oil, who is currently under American sanctions. These sanctions have isolated Iran in the Middle East and have limited Iran’s opportunities for foreign investment. Historically, sanctions have been an effective form of punishment as long as the nation has no one else to turn to economically. With China’s economic extension to Iran through a 25 year deal, this offers both a relief to Iran economically while also allowing it to think freely concerning other issues such as the Iran Nuclear Deal.”
Read More“Amidst growing concern about the stability of global supply chains and Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, Australia announces its plan to accelerate the production of a domestic guided missile program.”
Read More“The United States has historically let in a plethora of refugees who have enriched the nation through culture, industry, and productivity. Yet, those at the southern border are dehumanized and humiliated because they immigrated here looking for the one thing the United States prides itself on: opportunity.”
Read More“As vaccines become more widely available in the US and a return to normalcy hopefully draws near, private companies have started to work with the Biden administration to create standardized vaccine credentials. Already, industries ranging from entertainment to cruise lines have said they will require proof of vaccination from travelers, sports fans and others in order to provide customers with confidence and to provide some assurance that disruptions will not continue to plague their businesses.”
Read More“On the night of March 30th, an Italian navy captain was caught exchanging classified documents for money from a Russian military official in a Roman car park. The Italian captain was apprehended immediately after completing the exchange.”
Read More“On March 30th, the Senate passed the Excellent Public Schools Act. Though Democrats offered some criticism during a rare questioning period held by Sen. Berger, most lawmakers expressed support for the bill and the vote was unanimous. Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, pointed out that COVID-19 has only lowered literacy rates and has ‘left behind’ a number of students who may lack technology, parental support, or other resources crucial to staying afloat during remote learning. Robinson argued that ‘The ability to read is the background, the foundation of everything.’”
Read More“Big tech, which keeps getting Bigger and Bigger, had a wonderful 2020 and looks to continue in 2021 as COVID-19 continues to define how people live their lives. Just last week, the CEOs of Google, Facebook and Twitter faced questioning in front of Congress about various parts of their business, with all the questioning seemingly accelerating calls for regulation of Big tech. Taking it a step further than regulation, several Democratic primary candidates included antitrust enforcement against Big Tech in their campaign platforms, although President Biden was not one of them.”
Read More“In the wake of the deadly Atlanta spa shooting that sent shockwaves through the nation in March, many North Carolina lawmakers are reviving efforts to pass a hate crime legislation. Previously introduced in 2018, the reintroduction of this bill is not only in response to the recent shooting, but also to the surge in violent crimes being committed against the Asian American community since the start of the pandemic.”
Read More“However, Khater took a different path that led him to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He and his brothers owned Frutta Bowls health food cafe on Franklin Street until it closed and he moved to Pennsylvania to start another college smoothie shop, which is now also closing. Though he never officially had a North Carolina address, both his LinkedIn profile and past interviews indicate he was the owner of the Chapel Hill establishment for over a year.”
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