By: Maiy Chaabani

August 19th, 2021

On April 28th, 2021, violent protests erupted across Colombia. These protests began amid a tax proposal that stirred up discontent amongst thousands of people. While the country had already been battling corruption and the impacts of the pandemic, this tax proposal had created a mass movement against the government.

By: Shazia Emaan

July 24th, 2021

The small South Asian country of Bangladesh, barely half a century old, has made huge strides in the garment manufacturing industry in the past two decades. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest clothing manufacturer, and textile export is its main source of economic growth. However, churning out massive amounts of products at a high rate has some consequences. Bangladesh has been criticized numerous times in the past for its unethical labour practices.

By: Mara Rotaru

July 20th, 2021

Are the American Psychiatric Association and the US pharmaceutical industry whipping up mental illnesses and selling potentially dangerous drugs? Over the past decade, a fraudulent “epidemic” of mental illnesses has been highlighted more strongly. In the past 2 years, the United States of America has witnessed a 5% increase in the number of adults aged 18 or older with any mental illness.

By: Elsa Eal

July 15th, 2021

With vibrant traditions, crystal seascapes, and no COVID cases in 2020, the tiny Indian territory of Lakshadweep sounds akin to a paradise on Earth. The touristic archipelago covers a mere 32.62 sq. km

By: Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui

July 11th, 2021

Multiple stateless ethnic groups globally demand self-determination through an independent country, autonomous rights, federalism, or democratization. Among them, the Kurds are the largest stateless ethnic group. There are approximately 30 million Kurds spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Armenia. Despite the prevalence of Kurdish movements over almost a century, some critical factors have prevented their success in forming a nation-state. So, what is preventing the formation of an independent Kurdish state in the Middle East?

By: Areej Shaikh

July 6th, 2021

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, threatening the livelihoods of everyone on earth. Since then, we have witnessed one of the greatest scientific collaborations in history, with almost 20 different COVID-19 vaccines being authorized for use within a very short period of time.

By: Kishi Akinsunmade

July 3rd, 2021

I kept this poem short because no amount of words can express the tragedy that keeps being re-discovered every day. The undocumented deaths of 215 children in Kamloops to the unmarked graves of 715 in Saskatchewan.

By: Areej Shaikh

June 30, 2021

“As a French Muslim woman, I am exhausted and angry to see once again the policing of my beliefs, my choices, and my body. My country has made me choose between my hijab, and my education, my career, my engagement with sports… as a French citizen I am stripped of my most basic human rights”

By: Maiy Chaabani

June 26th, 2021

In February of 2019, a large number of Algerians staged a rebellion with anti-government demonstrations. Thousands of protesters engulfed the streets of Algeria throughout all parts of the country. Although this began as an abrupt movement, it has now transformed into a sustained revolution.

By: Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui

June 23rd, 2021

With a rich blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Animism, Taoism, and other indigenous and non-aligned beliefs, Southeast Asia could be considered the most religiously diverse region globally. Yet, in a world where religious atrocities and its securitization scramble for space on news headlines, how does such a region maintain its pluralist nature in harmony?

By: Aseel Elgarni

June 20th, 2021

The spread of misinformation within a society is like gasoline to stigma’s flame. It is a hazard that has led to the marginalization and discrimination of people with mental health issues. The Lancet’s study on stigma has shown that while the public may accept the medical nature of mental health disorders, many still have a negative view of those with mental illness. Shame - a common repercussion of stigma - leads to fewer people seeking aid, forming a threat to quality of life. In the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, this is especially crucial, considering the already existing detriments to quality of life.

By: Shriya Raghuram

June 17th, 2021

We constantly hear of the ice caps melting, hungry polar bears, tropical beaches smothered in the garbage, and dead dolphins with bellies full of plastic bags. But all of that seems distant as if it's a nightmare happening to someone else. Long-Standing traditions combined with constant innovation make Japan a place like no other. But now, the country is making history and headlines for reasons that go far beyond technological breakthroughs.

By: Elsa Eal Mathew

June 7th, 2021

Among Hong Kong's glistening skyscrapers and busy streets, Hongkongers struggle to survive in houses known as coffin cubicles. The region caters to the world's priciest and least affordable property rates. While the Hong Kong government devotes its resources to maintain prices, they also ignore the fact that they are destroying the residents' ability to call Hong Kong their home.

By: Christopher K.M. Egan

June 2nd, 2021

Corruption is a social plague. For much of the developed world, it only rears its head occasionally - when it does so, it reveals the unscrupulous and shadowy sides of public figures, who we are meant to trust. However, it is scarce: allegations of corruption are rare in the UK and the US. In the UK, the press attacks the government for handing out coronavirus contracts to companies linked to ministers, but it is very rarely termed ‘corruption.’

By: Shazia Emaan

May 29th, 2021

Tibet; nation of the Mount Kailash pilgrimage, one of the holiest sites in the world, geographically isolated for centuries and home to Mount Everest. Tibet is also a country that has suffered large-scale violence, religious divide, and political obstacles.

By: Kishi Akinsunmade

May 26th, 2021

Cold You take away the heat, so we brave the cold. In our jackets, we stand asking for security that was rightfully ours Instead, you take away our hats...

By: Mara Rotaru

May 19th, 2021

November 4th, 2020 marked Ethiopia’s descent into violence that etched a troubling start into a new decade of political friction in the MENA region. Swords were first crossed when a federal army division based in Tigray was attacked, in response to which the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, ordered a military offensive on the Tigrayan regional forces.

By: Mohamed Ahmed

May 17th, 2021

One of the most prominent events to take place in the Middle East and North Africa region is the 2011 Arab Spring. It was a period of huge change across the region, as people were finally taking back their countries and breaking free of the shackles put on them by their oppressive regimes. For people watching all around the world, it was the event of the decade. Every day there would be news of the latest dictator that was ejected from office or another encounter between the revolutionaries and the military. However, despite this outward news coverage, many people living inside these countries had no idea what was going on.

By: Shriya Raghuram

May 13th, 2021

Asian Americans constitute approximately 4% of the entire U.S. population, with a growing number of immigrants from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other parts of Asia. Asians are one of the fastest-growing minority groups in America.

By: Alazne Qaisar

May 8th, 2021

Tensions between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians are mounting in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. At least 205 Palestinians and 17 Israeli officers have been injured since the clashes began. The neighbourhood is predominantly inhabited by Palestinian families living within a one-mile radius of Masjid-Al Aqsa, the third holiest site for Muslims.

By: Anonymous

May 6th, 2021

Ten years ago, Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring, an array of reformist protests, that spread throughout the Arab world, one country inspiring the other. It began with the ‘Jasmine Revolution’ which was an act where a shopkeeper named Mohammed Bouazizi had his vegetable stand taken away by police for the fault of not obtaining a permit.

By: Issac Vinu

April 28th, 2021

As students, we are taught the basics of civics and social science. These teachings are sewn into our heads and allowed to be woven into a fabric of ideologies and ethics that govern every step of both our professional and personal lives. We begin with Lincoln’s definition of democracy; “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people”. It is almost ironic how utopian this idea sounds even though we grew up believing that this was the true meaning of democracy.

By: Anonymous

April 24th, 2021

In April of 2016, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of Vision 2030, a program established by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, with the goals of a vibrant society with a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. In order to do so, a setlist of sub-programs was created to pursue specific fields requiring change. Particularly focusing on the National Character Enrichment Program, as well as the Human Capital Development Program, the government is misled in its aspirations. Until the presence of human rights in the country is overcome, this project can never be fully realized.

By: Shazia Emaan

April 22nd, 2021

Though often misdiagnosed, Internet Addiction Disorder was theorized as a disorder as early as 1995 by Dr. Ivan Goldberg, who compared it to pathological gambling. The biggest obstacle we face while diagnosing and treating this disorder is a large part of the population not agreeing that it is a problem.

By: Areej Shaikh

April 15th, 2021

“I will never forget that day...since that day, my personality has changed and I’m depressed. …I’ve lost my love for this world because of what happened at the hands of people I trusted.”

By: Abbie Seto

April 3rd, 2021

The recent shooting rampage at the Atlanta-area spas in Georgia shook the Asian community, leaving many stunned and hurt by the tragedy. The occurrence incited an uproar on social media that was filled with grief, anger, and pain. In a matter of a day, the hashtag #StopAsianHate went viral.

By: Katherine K

April 1st, 2021

Insomnia. Swelled knots underneath the skin. Larvae swimming through intestines. Irreversible blindness. The symptoms of Neglected Tropical Diseases are unbearably cruel to over a billion people they affect.

By: Maiy Chaabani

March 29th, 2021

Syria. A country whose people have taken refuge all over the world, in escape from their country’s civil war, which has killed over half a million people, and created humanity's biggest refugee crisis since the second world war.

By: Aseel Elgarni

March 17th, 2021

December of 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring, numerous pro-democracy uprisings that spread rapidly throughout North Africa and the Middle East, specifically in the regions of Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and Bahrain.

By: Karina Zybaczynski

March 3rd, 2021

In the early hours of February 1st, 2021, shocking news broke out about Myanmar - the democratically elected government, as well as prominent politicians from the democratic parties were under arrest; Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s de-facto leader and state counsellor, and the president had been arrested before being sworn in as the official leaders of Myanmar.

By: Mara Rotaru

March 1st, 2021

Ever since the beginning of maritime trade, piracy has threatened the customary conduct of freight on the high seas. Unlike the romanticized imagery of the jolly roger, cutlasses, and treasure chests which are usually linked with piracy, the pirates of the twenty-first century present themselves with semi-automatic weapons on their plunder of the most valuable goods or seizure of hostages for ransom.

By: Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui

February 20th, 2021

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has issues affiliated with self-determination and autonomy in many of its regions. Along with those systematic conflicts, the country also violates various human rights. Despite this, most nations explicitly agree with PRC’s claim over certain territories- including even the most autonomous of all, Taiwan (Republic of China).

By: Areej Shaikh

February 13th, 2021

The Sahrawi people are one of the oldest refugee groups in the world, having fled their homes in Western Sahara in 1975 amidst a territorial conflict with Morocco and Mauritania. The brutal conflict continues to this day in a stalemate, leaving over 150,000 native Sahrawis in refugee camps in Algeria.

By: Christopher Egan, Karina Zybaczynski

February 10th, 2021

- Good morning, Miss America, I’m glad that you could make this appointment. What was the condition you had? Ah yes, I have it right here. A slight heart attack? It might be because of that drug you took a few years back. You seem to have had a violent reaction to it. I’ll see what I can do. - Yes, that’s right, doctor. Yes, what I took four years ago did not help my condition, but I feel as though there’s something much deeper at work.

By: Mara Rotaru

February 3rd, 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a dynamic developmental condition that includes chronic difficulties in social interaction, speech, and nonverbal communication, and limited, repetitive behaviours. The effect and severity of autism vary from person to person, yet its stigma remains constant throughout the Middle East.

By: Anjali Mehta

February 1st, 2021

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has had detrimental effects on the economy worldwide. Hit hardest of all have been those in developing countries.

By: Mohamed Ahmed

January 26th, 2021

It is no secret that the system America uses to elect its leaders is severely flawed. From the perspective of an outsider looking in, the problems seem incredibly obvious. Yet every election comes and goes, and nothing seems to be done to improve them. Issues such as gerrymandering, the electoral college, and winner-take-all elections have all been criticized as major faults of the American electoral system.

By: Maiy Chaabani

January 19th, 2021

During the 2011 Arab Spring, Libya’s longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was assassinated, resulting in Libya becoming a state of anarchy. During this unprecedented time, the Libyan people turned against one another and fought to fill the power vacuum that had appeared. The battle for Libya's capital hasn’t stopped since, and a man named Khalifa Haftar is determined to take over.

By: Areej Shaikh

January 6th, 2021

On August 13, 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for The United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, announced that the UAE had made deals with the Israeli government in order to normalize relations with Israel, in what will be known as a historic tipping point in Middle Eastern politics.

By: Eliz So

January 4th, 2021

Brexit, a word heard so often nowadays, is a combined word of Britain and exit. It refers to the United Kingdom exiting the European Union. If we look at Brexit’s cost and compare it to coronavirus, the price of Brexit is even higher than coronavirus. So what is Brexit? Why does it cost so much damage to the economics of the United Kingdom? And most importantly, how does it affect you?

By: Kishi Akinsunmade

January 2nd, 2021

SARS stands for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and their primary mission is to act as a part of the Nigerian police in order to deal with crimes like robbery. There has been an immense abuse of power, and now the squad has become a killing machine.

By: Mara Rotaru

December 28th, 2020

On September 27th, 2020, Armenian and Azeri forces clashed along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact, ripping the bandaid off of a centennial wound. The most severe outbreak of hostilities in the separatist region since the late 1990s is spilling into its fourth week, with a death toll approaching 1,000 and no end in sight.

By: Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui

December 9th, 2020

Indian resources and industries were depleted before gaining independence, and the socioeconomic status of the nation was in ruins. A lot was done to alleviate the perils that the young nation faced leading to various successes and failures.

By: Issac Vinu

December 3, 2020

The regions of Central Asia and the Middle East are considered some of the most economically diverse parts of the world. The dependence of the Central Asian economy on oil, tourism, and various other resources has led to an economic crisis fueled by the isolation presented by the pandemic. The International Monetary fund recently reported that many Central Asian and Middle Eastern regions are facing an unprecedented economic downturn. This report also brings to light their heavy dependence on tourism and oil.

By: Aseel Elgarni

November 21st, 2020

Over the last decade, the abuse of migrants and refugees travelling along the Central Mediterranean Route has destroyed and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of people.

By: Karina Zybaczynski

November 11, 2020

Thirty years later, the German reunification has been a resounding success as East Germans were freed from the yoke of communism. In three decades, the new liberated Germany has been a steady and pragmatic presence on the European scene....

By: Badra Abbas, Mohamed Ahmed

October 11, 2020

On August 4th, 2020, a massive explosion ripped through the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Over 200 people were killed and thousands of others were injured. Lebanese authorities have since stated that the blast was the result of the detonation of 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was stored unsafely at the Port of Beirut....

By: Abbie Seto

October 2, 2020

Women around the world have to go through and worry about an issue that’s specific to them regarding personal hygiene - menstruation...

By: Mohamed Ahmed

September 22, 2020

On June 5th, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates imposed a land, sea, and air blockade against the small Gulf country of Qatar.

By: Eimaan Shahid

September 13, 2020

You have probably heard it a thousand times: if you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food in the fridge, be grateful. Living in North America, many of us have been so accustomed to these luxuries in our life that having our basic needs readily available to us does not require a second thought....

By: Anonymous

August 25, 2020

Following the heightening of government-led terrorism in recent years, the CPC (Communist Party of China) of the People’s Republic of China has resorted to extremism and other forms of excessive ethnic cleansing to fulfil their agenda of Sinicization...

By: Mohamed Ahmed

August 9, 2020

The Arab Spring was a period of huge change throughout the Middle East. Starting in Tunisia, it consisted of a series of pro-democracy uprisings in many Arab and largely Muslim countries...

By: Alazne Qaisar, Badra Abbas

July 24, 2020

India’s treatment of minorities and in particular her Muslim population has recently surfaced on the international stage as a trend towards systemic oppression, suppression of cultural and religious identities, a rise in intolerance and discrimination.

By: Ayshka Najib

July 11, 2020

Global witness figures reveal that last year, more than three environmental activists were murdered each week on average, with countless more criminalized. The injustice faced by environmental activists is reprehensible. Hence it is high time that people stood in solidarity with the environmental defenders.

By: Anonymous

July 3, 2020

Maybe it’s better to be blind. Maybe then they would see beyond us and see me for what I am, Maybe they become colour blind and convict us because black is the new red, Maybe my shade appears inferior to their arguable colour...

By: Abbie Seto

July 1, 2020

While the rest of the world protests against racism, fights for human rights, and speaks up about injustices, the Bill 1 law was passed on June 17th, 2020 in Alberta. This bill worked to spark controversy amongst Albertans and Canadians. Bill 1 is also known as the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act and was initially proposed on February 25th, 2020 by the Albertan Premier, Jason Kenney....

By: Mohamed Ahmed

June 24, 2020

It is no secret that the Middle East is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Many of its governments are led by undemocratic rulers, there are countless militia groups that spread chaos and unrest throughout the region, and its nations are seemingly in constant conflict amongst themselves, as well as with nations outside of the region...

By: Mohamed Ahmed, Badra Abbas

June 18, 2020

Yemen is currently in the midst of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. The country has been in a civil war since 2015, with two major sides: the Houthi rebels and the government....

By: Kishi Akinsunmade

June 10, 2020

We live in a world of stand up comedy. Where news is a joke, and bias is the remedy.Newsbrands are now headliners, reporting accurate rumours.

By: Shayan Siddiqui

June 10, 2020

Canada prides itself as a nation that is progressive, free, and that cares about human rights. Time and time again, Canada has supported sanctions and embargoes against regimes with appalling histories of human rights violations. However, when it comes to China, Canada consistently prioritizes its economic relationships over doing what is right....

By: Abbie Seto

June 5, 2020

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has landed the world in some very unprecedented times. In the matter of a few short weeks, life was reimagined, and everybody was struggling to grasp this new norm. COVID-19 is a newly discovered cause of the coronavirus, which is an infectious family of viruses.

By: Julia Wang

June 3, 2020

On May 25th, George Floyd died not long after a police officer kneeled on his neck for at least 7 minutes. This was done proceeding arrests that were made on the alleged basis of forging a $20 dollar bill at a grocery store. Sadly, this type of story is not rare and the patterns that exist between each circumstance demonstrate a strong correlation to racism and prejudice towards minority groups....

By: Badra Abbas

May 28, 2020

There are many miracles modern medicine has afforded us, the ability to undergo organ transplantation, recovering from infected cuts and scrapes, and surviving some of the deadliest infectious diseases on the planet...

By: Andrew Wei

May 28, 2020

History tells grand conquests of extraordinary generals, tactical masterminds on the battlefield, and tyrannical rulers devastating the kingdom. It portrays the power and politics of the nobility and the crooked dealings of the Church. It tells the victories of the privileged elite....

By: Arya Khadka

April 20, 2020

The biological phenomenon of menstruation is indefinitely linked to the foundation sustaining human life and mankind, a process which shouldn’t be seen as sinful and an act of shame. This reality of normalizing menstruation amongst adolescent youth and women is only a dream for many in Nepal, primarily western districts of Nepal who continue to rigidly practice the social tradition of Chhaupadi Pratha - a form of menstrual exile...

By: Aysha Rasha

April 20, 2020

On February 3, the New York Times quoted the desperate plea of a Yazidi, a member of an ethnic-religious group facing communal extermination in the hands of ISIS terrorists. In simple, but moving terms he summed up the plight of his people, ‘Please help us. They are killing us and kidnapping our women and children.’...

By: Hanson Feng

April 15, 2020

All after a major corruption scandal, unmet fiscal promises, and policy that alienated the west; Trudeau still came out on top on a 2019 Monday night with minority control of the house all after what many Canadians called a battle of “evil versus evil...