Current Events

“They Can Arrest a Man, But Not a Belief”

By Natalie Andruchow (c/o 2026)

“They can arrest a man, but not a belief.” These words were shouted by a protester outside the Philippine Supreme Court just hours after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025. His arrest, carried out by the Philippine National Police and Interpol under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, has shaken the country and created divisions among Filipinos.

The ICC charged Duterte with crimes against humanity, based on the bloody “war on drugs” campaign he led during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. Thousands of people died in violent police attacks, and many families are still grieving the loss of their loved ones. Now, after years of local and international pressure, Duterte has been transferred to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he is expected to face trial. The charges claim that he allowed, and even encouraged, the killing of suspected drug users and pushers—without trial.

This moment is historic. No other Philippine leader has ever been arrested like this. But what’s even more shocking is how the country has reacted. The streets of Manila, Davao, and other cities have been filled with crowds—some waving signs that read “Justice for Victims” while others chant, “Free Duterte!”

Some people believe this arrest is long overdue. “He needs to be held accountable for what happened,” said Marissa Lopez, whose brother was killed during a police raid in 2019. “We were told he was a drug addict, but we never saw any proof. They just took him.”

 Others see the arrest as an attack on Filipino pride. “He kept our country safe,” said Jorge Santos, a pro-Duterte supporter who joined a rally in Quezon City. “They’re trying to make him look like a monster, but he was the only one brave enough to fight drugs head-on. This is all politics.”

While the ICC insists that Duterte is being tried for crimes, many Filipinos are asking a different question: who’s really in charge? The timing of the arrest and the fact that the current government allowed it raises suspicions. Some people, especially younger Filipinos, feel like the arrest is not just about justice—it’s about control.

“They manipulate us with what they call ‘justice,’” said college student Angelo Cruz. “They tell us this is for the victims, but it’s really about power. Duterte represented something dangerous to them, something that challenged the system.”

Social media has exploded since the arrest. Hashtags such as #JusticeForDuterte and #EndImpunity has been trending side-by-side. On TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), videos of grieving families, angry protestors, and Duterte’s final speech as a free man are everywhere. Some clips even show the moment he was handcuffed—a once untouchable leader now under arrest.

In the meantime, the Philippine government has stayed quiet. President Leni Robredo’s administration (which defeated Duterte’s allies in the last election) has neither celebrated nor condemned the arrest. This silence has only added to the confusion.

For many, Duterte’s arrest is not just about him. It’s about what comes next. Will this arrest lead to real justice in the Philippines? Or will it just lead to more violence and division?

One thing is clear: the country is at a turning point. Whether you see Duterte as a hero or a criminal, his arrest has forced everyone to ask hard questions about truth, power, and who gets to decide what justice really means.

Works cited 

OCCRP. „Rodrigo Duterte”. OCCRP, https://www.occrp.org/en/person-of-the-year/rodrigo-duterte. Dostęp 8 kwiecień 2025.

Reporter, Los Alamos. „LTE: Support Continues For Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte”. Los Alamos Reporter, 8 kwiecień 2025, https://losalamosreporter.com/2025/04/07/lte-support-continues-for-former-philippine-president-rodrigo-duterte/.

„Rodrigo Duterte”. Wikipedia, 8 kwiecień 2025. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rodrigo_Duterte&oldid=1284600783.

„Rodrigo Duterte: The Provocative but Popular Philippine Strongman”. BBC News, 29 czerwiec 2016. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-36659258.

Current Events

What was Trump Convicted of?

By Nicole Jimenez (c/o 2027)

On May 31, Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsification. Falsification of business records is a felony in New York. Prior to the 2016 election Michael Cohen, Trump’s Attorney, paid Stormy Daniels 130,000 hush money to hide the fact that Trump had an affair with her. In 2017, Cohen and Allen Weissellberg came together and calculated how Cohen will be repaid. The total ended up being 420,000 dollars. Cohen would receive 11 35,000 and 1 70,000 dollars worth of payments throughout the course of 2017. The first 3 payments were made from Trump's trust, the rest were made from his personal account. His 34 charges were 11 invoices he received from Cohen reminding him for the check. 12 vouchers and the 11 checks used to pay him. Trump was fully aware that the payments were for Cohen. After the verdict 57% of voters said their vote would not change, 24% are less likely to vote for Trump, and 19% are more likely. These polls should not be taken completely to heart since the people who said less likely were probably already not Trump supporters and the 19% probably Trump supporters. It is also still too early to draw conclusions but many polls show that the election is in favor of Biden and this conviction will most likely give him a boost.

Works Cited

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-charges-conviction-guilty-verdict/.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-guilty-verdict-first-polls-rcna155226.

https://abcnews.go.com/538/trumps-conviction-hurting-early/story?id=110790504. 

https://www.vox.com/politics/352465/trump-convicted-felon-elections

Current Events

Costa Rica: Stable and Sustainable

By Kaitlyn Kennedy (c/o 2025)

It's not a shock to find out that the United States isn't the most sustainable country. Between the overuse of solar energy and what seems like never ending water in wealthier parts of the country, the US has a great deal more of over consumption than other countries. Be honest with yourself, do you always turn off the light when you leave the room? When's the last time you thought about the food on your plate that you didn't eat and just tossed away? Do you really need more than one paper towel to dry your hands? These are questions that I never asked myself before traveling to Costa Rica, and am now ashamed of the answer. The sustainability practices implanted in Costa Rica have caused the country to maintain a high level of biodiversity, and even though they are thought to be “a poverty country” their economy is growing at a rate well above the global average (Niko). These are great stats and all, but how do they do this?

 When traveling to Costa Rica it was difficult to leave some of my worse habits behind. Costa Rica is known for sustainability and preserving what they have and that is showcased through the country. When in bathrooms users are asked not to flush any paper as their pipes cannot handle the size. The size is related to a water conservation effort. Water conservation is also a big event here as I saw as many signs asking guests to limit their water usage and turn off things such as sinks when they are not being used about as many times as I heard “pura vida” (something like the country's catchphrase). Other signs discussing sustainability also asked us to turn off the lights when we were not in that room. I think that unnecessary electricity usage is a big thing in the US. Even though we're in the building we don't think to turn off the lights in rooms we are not in. Now all these things are not big changes that they made to our lifestyle, but due to the signs and constant discussion tourists were more aware of the problems that their usability life has caused, meaning that the natives are mindlessly making the world a better place. These efforts although they don't seem like anything big or new cause for some crazy stats. More than 98% of its energy is renewable, forest cover now stands at more than 53% of the countries land, and a quarter has been turned into national parks and reserves, they also found that “limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require unprecedented changes to reduce carbon emissions by 45 per cent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero emissions around 2050” (UNEP). It is also estimated that by 2050 forest coverage in the country will increase by 60%. 

More about the insane forest land coverage: Costa Rica lost 40% of its land due to deforestation in the 80s, since then they have worked and are not 98% deforestation free. Now more than 25% of Costa Rica's land is dedicated to natural parks and reserves to continue to protect the land they fought too hard to regain, and teach others about the importance of sustainability (Original Travel). 

 The country's emphasis on sustainable practices is clear to all daily. From water conservation measures to energy efficiency initiatives; visitors to Costa Rica are always reminded of the importance of minimizing their environmental impact, fostering a culture of mindfulness and responsibility towards the planet.

Works Cited

“Costa Rica: The ‘living Eden’ Designing a Template for a Cleaner, Carbon-Free World.” UNEP, www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/costa-rica-living-eden-designing-template-cleaner-carbon-free-world#:~:text=Costa%20Rica’s%20environmental%20credentials%20are,into%20protected%20parks%20and%20reserves. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024. 

Niko. “Why Is Costa Rica so Sustainable?” Casa Kia Ora, Casa Kia Ora, 10 Feb. 2022, casakiaora.com/blog/costa-rica-sustainability#:~:text=Costa%20Rica’s%20sustainability%20initiatives%20have,rate%20above%20the%20global%20average. 

“Sustainability in Costa Rica: Original Travel - Original Travel.” Sustainability in Costa Rica | Original Travel - Original Travel, www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-guide/costa-rica/sustainability#:~:text=Sustainability%20in%20Costa%20Rica%20extends,solar%20power%20contribute%20as%20well. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024. 

Headline

Iconic Bridge Crumbles - Lives Lost

By Natalie Andruchow (c/o 2026)

The "MV Dali," a Singaporean-flagged vessel, experienced a critical power issue just moments before the impact, which is believed to have contributed significantly to the accident. According to the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, the ship lost propulsion and was unable to maintain its course, leading to a catastrophic collision. Governor Moore highlighted the crew's efforts to warn authorities of a "power issue" through a mayday call, a quick action that potentially saved lives by preventing more vehicles from crossing the bridge at the time.

The incident has sparked a broader discussion on the evolving scale of cargo ships and the infrastructure's capability to handle such developments. Experts like Benjamin W. Schafer from Johns Hopkins University and Barzin Mobasher from Arizona State University have weighed in, suggesting that no bridge could have withstood an impact of this magnitude without significant protective measures.

As Baltimore and the broader maritime and transportation community grapple with the aftermath of this event, the focus remains on understanding the sequence of events that led to the bridge's collapse. The loss of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is not just a physical gap in the city's infrastructure but a moment of reflection on the challenges of modern transportation and the need for adaptive measures to safeguard against such devastating occurrences. The investigation continues, with the hope that lessons learned can prevent future tragedies of this nature.

Works Cited

Baraniuk, Chris. “Why the Baltimore Bridge Collapsed So Quickly.” Wired. www.wired.com, https://www.wired.com/story/baltimore-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-dali-boat-collision-emergency-mass-casualty-event/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

“Economic Impact of the Baltimore Bridge Collapse.” Brookings, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/economic-impact-of-the-baltimore-bridge-collapse/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

Medina, Eduardo, and Pete Kiehart. “A Close-Up View of the Baltimore Bridge Collapse.” The New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/us/view-ship-key-bridge-baltimore.html.

“Timeline of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Shows Ship Appearing to Lose Power Twice.” USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2024/03/26/baltimore-bridge-collapse-a-timeline-of-the-incident/73109138007/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

Current Events

Countdown to the Paris Olympics: What to know

By Tallulah Lintern (c/o 2024)

On July 26, 2024, the Summer Olympics and Paralympics will officially begin in Paris with the Opening Ceremony. This year’s games are shaping up to be very different from previous years. First, however, some context. There are two kinds of Olympic Games: Winter and Summer. Each occurs every four years, with an Olympics every other year (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024, etc.). Every Olympics takes place in a different city around the world, and the locations are chosen years in advance. For example, the 2032 Summer Olympics, which are eight years away, will be in Brisbane, Australia. Billions of viewers all over the world tune in to the games, watching everything from triathlon to judo in the summer and alpine skiing to luge in the winter.

In terms of events, the Paris Olympics (a.k.a. Paris 2024) technically only introducing one event: breaking. According to the Paris 2024 website, breaking is a dance style that “took form in the lively block parties in the Bronx, emerging from hip hop culture, and is characterised by acrobatic movements, stylised footwork and the key role played by the DJ and the MC (master of ceremonies) during battles.” There will be two events in the breaking competition, one for “B-Boys” and one for “B-Girls,” where the athletes will compete solo, using certain “power moves” and improvising other moves to the DJ’s beat to earn points. It sounds like it’ll be very fun to watch! 

Paris will also hold three events introduced in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic): skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. Skateboarding and surfing are pretty self-explanatory, (visit www.paris2024.org to learn more), but sport climbing is a bit less obvious. There are three competitions within sport climbing. The first is boulder, where athletes climb 4.5 meter walls without ropes. In speed, athletes climb 15m, 5° incline walls within six seconds for men and seven seconds for women, and in lead, athletes climb as high as they can on a mystery route on a 15m wall in six minutes. In total, there will be two sets of climbing medals, one for boulder and lead, one for speed, unlike in Tokyo, where all athletes competed in all three events and only one set of medals were awarded.

The biggest change Paris is making, and likely their biggest challenge, is that the majority of venues are pre-existing. Very few buildings, for sporting or recreation, were built for the Olympics. From a logical standpoint, it makes sense, since Paris is a tightly packed city with many, many historical buildings, so building giant stadiums and athletes’ villages isn’t really feasible. But from a logistical perspective, not building those spaces means they had to be found somewhere, so many events will be taking place outside of Paris, in other parts of France. The football (soccer) tournament will be played in six different stadiums in Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille. Marseille will also host the sailing competitions, while basketball qualifiers and handball final phases will be in Lille. This means the Olympics crush, well-documented in past host cities, will be spread all over the country, as seen on the map below. Additionally, for the first time ever, an Olympic event will be held outside of the host country entirely. The surfing competition will occur at the Teahupo’o site in Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia, a semi-autonomous French territory.

 Created with Google Maps

The Paris Summer Olympics will be unlike any Olympics we’ve ever seen. But I think that’s a good thing. Tune in to Olympics events on NBC and Peacock beginning July 26.

Works Cited

“Breaking.” Paris 2024, 29 Jan. 2024, www.paris2024.org/en/sport/breaking/.

“Competition Venue Concept.” Paris 2024, 28 Sept. 2023, www.paris2024.org/en/competition-venue-concept/.

“The Olympic Games of Paris 2024.” Paris 2024, 26 Jan. 2024, www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/.

“Sport Climbing.” Paris 2024, 6 Nov. 2023, www.paris2024.org/en/sport/sport-climbing/.

“Sports | Tokyo 2020.” Olympics, olympics.com/en/sports/#tokyo-2020.

“Where Will the next Olympic Games Be Held?” International Olympic Committee, olympics.com/ioc/faq/future-olympic-games/where-will-the-next-olympic-games-be-held. 

Current Events

Increasing Global Temperatures: What, Why and How

By Kaitlyn Kennedy (c/o 2025)

Some people believe this to be an isolated incident, but according to Rebecca Lindsey and Luann Dahlam from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, some worldwide achievements took place this year, including this being the warmest year on record for land and ocean areas, and the warmest year on record for both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Along this we see it being the 40th warmest year for the Antarctic and the 4th warmest year for the Arctic. Although these trends aren't from, we can see a worldwide upward trend in global temperatures. 

For all of you wondering how this affects you, and what this has to do with you, here are the statistics. 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change (World Health Organization), and one of those people just might be you. We can also use this research to make assumptions about the future, one being that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, ranging from undernutrition and malaria to diarrhea and heat stress. This mainly comes from climate change and its impact: directly contributing to humanitarian emergencies like heat waves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes and their increase in scale, frequency, and intensity. Now, I don't mean to be totally pessimistic about this, so there are many ways we can help. One of the easiest, yet most impactful, is reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses through better transport, food, and energy (World Health Organization). This can not only help the environment, but also your health.

Graph from NASA Earth Observatory

Works Cited

“Climate Change.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%203.6%20billion,diarrhoea%20and%20heat%20stress%20alone. Accessed 27 Jan. 2024. 

Dahlman, Luann, and Rebecca Lindsey. “Climate Change: Global Temperature.” NOAA Climate.Gov, www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature. Accessed 27 Jan. 2024. 

“World of Change: Global Temperatures.” NASA, NASA, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures#:~:text=According%20to%20an%20ongoing%20temperature,1.9°%20Fahrenheit. Accessed 27 Jan. 2024. 

Current Events

COP28: What Came Out of the 2023 Climate Summit

By Tallulah Lintern (c/o 2024)

From November 30 to December 12, 2023, the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate summit, or COP28, took place in Dubai, UAE, attended by heads of states and governments and civilian delegates from around the world. From the very beginning, before the summit even began, its location in the UAE was controversial, according to the BBC. The production and burning of oil, a fossil fuel, is one of the main causes for global warming and climate change, and the UAE is one of the top 10 oil-producing countries. On December 1, UN Secretary General António Guterres set the tone of the summit with a speech telling the assembly, “we [must] ultimately stop the burning of fossil fuels. Not reduce. Not abate. Phase out.” 

The first part of COP28 was the World Climate Action Summit, in which delegates approved a draft plan for a fund to help vulnerable nations cope with climate disasters, called the loss and damage fund. According to the UN, commitments began coming in within seconds of the final approval, totalling over $700 million as of December 13, the UAE and Germany leading the way with $100 million pledges. The US, however, the world’s largest economy and one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, pledged just $17.5 million.

As they considered the language of this year’s global pact, distinct camps appeared within the delegates. According to the New York Times, “European leaders and many of the nations most vulnerable to climate-fueled disasters were urging language that called for a complete ‘phaseout’ of fossil fuels.” On the other side, however, were major oil exporters like Saudi Arabia and fast-growing countries like India, which rely on fossil fuels to support themselves. Since every agreement, by UN rules, must be unanimously supported, even one country vetoing strikes down a proposal. As a result, the final agreement was hotly debated, and, crucially, doesn’t contain the phrase “phaseout.” However, it’s a major step in the right direction, and, for the first time in summit history, explicitly mentions “fossil fuels.” Here’s what the “global stocktake” calls for nations to do:

1. Shift away from fossil fuels in a “just, orderly, and equitable manner” in this decade.

2. Stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by

3. Triple the amount of renewable energy installed around the world by 2030.

4. Majorly cut methane emissions. (Methane is a greenhouse gas that, short term, is even more potent than carbon dioxide.)

 In his closing speech, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, “‘Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end,’” calling for, “‘all governments and businesses’” to follow through on their pledges, “‘without delay.’” COP29 will take place in Azerbaijan in 2024.

Works Cited

Gelles, David. “The U.N. Chief Calls on Leaders to Quit Fossil Fuels" ‘Not Reduce. Not Abate. Phase Out.’” The New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/12/01/climate/cop28-climate-change-summit/. 

Poynting, Mark. “What was agreed on climate change at COP28 in Dubai?” BBC News, BBC, 13 Dec. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67143989.amp. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/climate/cop28-climate-agreement.html 

https://unfccc.int/news/cop28-agreement-signals-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-fossil-fuel-era 

Headline

Terror in Maine: the story of maine's mass shooting

By Nicole Jimenez (c/o 2027)

On October 25, 2023, Robert R. Card shot and killed 18 people ranging from ages 14-76 in 2 different locations, injuring 13 others. Card was a US army reservist with declining mental health issues. His family contacted authorities in May, with worries about him owning firearms and his mental health. In July he was put in a mental facility and evaluated. He was released soon after. 

In the middle of September, Maine issued a statewide alert. Card had threatened to shoot up the Saco National Guard facility. Come October 25th, a little before 7pm, a round of shots were fired at Just-in-Time Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, 8 minutes later multiple 911 calls were received from Schemengees Bar and Grill on Lincoln Street only 4 miles away from Just-in-Time Recreation. Then at 8pm, Lewiston, Maine was put in a lockdown and citizens were urged to stay in their house and keep their doors locked. Photos of Card were released less than 10 minutes after Lewiston was put on lockdown. His family were some of the first people to identify him in the photo. At 9:56 pm in Lisbon, Maine a car was found at Pejepscot Boat Launch. The car had a long gun inside of it and was registered under Card’s name. 

The lockdown was then extended to Lisbon. The FBI was on the hunt for him. They had helicopters looking all over for him, he was considered armed and dangerous. On Friday evening he was found dead inside a box trailer.

The future for gun laws in Maine is vague. People in Maine are biased since Maine is known for hunting but it’s also known as one of the states with the lowest murder rates. Many residents in Maine are furious that guns are still allowed after all these mass shootings but others still want their guns. Many are worried about the future of gun laws, not just in Maine but around the world.

Works Cited:

Bansinath, Bindu. “Lewiston, Maine Shootings: What We Know About Robert R. Card.” The Cut, 2 November 2023, https://www.thecut.com/2023/11/maine-shootings-18-dead-in-lewiston-suspect-at-large.html. Accessed 4 November 2023.

“Maine shooting: Probe launched into missed chances to stop gunman.” The Independent, 3 November 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/maine-lewiston-shooting-sister-victims-latest-update-b2440310.html. Accessed 4 November 2023.

Russell, Jenna. “After Mass Shooting in Maine, No Clarity on Whether Gun Laws Will Change.” The New York Times, 31 October 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/31/us/maine-gun-laws-mass-shooting.html. Accessed 4 November 2023.

Current Events

Lost, But Never Forgotten: Memory and the Children of Ukraine

A dive into the effects of war on youth and the remembrance of tragedy

By Isabella Amso (c/o 2025)

As the 2-year anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian war rounds the corner in the next few months, Ukrainian society looks to heal from the tragedies of conflict. However, many children and young adults, who are at the ages of major mental and physical growth, are at the highest risk for trauma. The war, having struck malevolent effects on their homes, may deter their socio-emotional development.

 The human brain begins forming blurred, basic memories around infancy, a pivotal age when children need to be nourished with care, moreover an era when they should especially not face any sort of traumatic events that may tamper with their cognitive growth. At this point, the brain is still new, as all parts that contribute to forming memories are not sufficiently developed. While children may not remember explicit details or places, they are able to recognize situations, sensations, and small bits of information that they are to lose later in adolescence. However, when prompted, they may be able to retrieve aspects from impactful events, just not a full episodic memory. It is instead more of a visual “throwback,” a light reminder of the full evocation.

 The children growing up during the war in Ukraine have unfortunately been exposed to the elements of war at an early age, from violence and danger to feelings of fear and panic being expressed by those around them or even themselves. Many still lack sufficient food, water, and housing, taken from them by shellings, bombs, or evacuation. While the average toddler or preschool-age child may not remember explicit details in a decade, it is highly likely that those who have faced harsh conditions of the war may face mental health issues regarding such later in life. A February 2023 UNICEF press conference released the statistic that out of the 5.9 million displaced by the conflict in Ukraine, an “estimated 1.5 million children are at risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, with potential long-term effects and implications.” The mental and emotional pressure these children face on a daily basis is often equal to that of adults, despite the efforts of caregivers and outreach aid organizations to best shield youth from their surroundings. Just as adults usually do not discuss topics such as death and violence to younger children, many in Ukraine have faced these experiences first-hand. Without proper emotional and physical care, these instances remain in the memories of young children, re-invoked as PTSD, anxiety, or other trauma-related mental health issues.

The concept of war is depressing upon any demographic, and unfortunately anyone may be victim to its tension. However, the long-term psychological effects it imposes upon vulnerable age groups may get lost in an array of coping mechanisms and eventually a journey of healthy healing, tainting their childhood memories for life. The study of trauma on these children further proves the malfeasance of war, as hopefully one day they will have the opportunity to mend their memories in a land of peace.

Works Cited

Amso, Dima. “When Do Children Start Making Long-Term Memories?” Scientific American, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-do-children-start-making-long-term-memories/.

Gonçalves Júnior, Jucier, et al. “The Impact of ‘the War That Drags on’ in Ukraine for the Health of Children and Adolescents: Old Problems in a New Conflict?” Child Abuse & Neglect, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 29 Mar. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8963741/.

“War in Ukraine Pushes Generation of Children to the Brink, Warns Unicef.” UNICEF, 21 Feb. 2023, www.unicef.org/press-releases/war-ukraine-pushes-generation-children-brink-warns-unicef#:~:text=The%20war%20is%20also%20having,long%2Dterm%20effects%20and%20implications.

Current Events

The Speaker of the House

By Tallulah Lintern (c/o 2024)

On October 3, Representative Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives, beginning a weeks-long struggle to fill the position. According to house.gov, the official website of the House, the Speaker race begins with nominations within each party to determine their top candidate. The Democratic minority steadily supported Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York as their candidate, but the Republican majority nominated three separate candidates: Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, then Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, and finally Representative Mike Johnson, also of Louisiana. Scalise and Jordan each withdrew their candidacies before taking it to vote because neither was able to get the required 217 votes, but Johnson was elected and confirmed on October 25, 22 days after the Speaker of the House role was vacated.

Three weeks doesn’t seem like an especially long time, but the House was unable to debate, present, pass, or reject any legislation until they had a Speaker, in a pivotal time for the government. According to the New York Times, the House has to decide on the federal budget for 2024 by November 17, including proposed additions from the Biden administration for funding for the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. If they began on October 25, the budget bill would have only 24 days to get debated and approved (or denied) by the House, the Senate, and the President. This budget is for the entirety of the federal government in 2024, including civil service salaries, the military, and schools, in addition to international aid. Now that Representative Johnson has been installed as Speaker, the House can continue its job as the first step in policy-making. But who is Mike Johnson?  

Johnson is a previously-obscure Republican known for his evangelical Christian beliefs and ardent support of Donald Trump. To the wider public, he is most familiar as the representative who used, and continues to use, his platform to deny the 2020 presidential election results. Before becoming Speaker, Johnson had never held a high level House leadership position or led a powerful committee, according to The New York Times. In fact, he has only been in the house since 2016,, and in that time has made few waves, with his voting and proposals consistent with the far-right block. According to NBC, some of his fellow Congressional Republicans said before the vote that they had never met him. He is an outspoken opponent of abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change legislation, and gun restrictions. Johnson’s election symbolizes the shift in the GOP towards Trump’s Make America Great Again deep right ideology, away from the semi-moderate ideas McCarthy espoused. As of November 1, Johnson hasn’t officially proposed anything from his new position.

Works Cited

Edmondson, Catie, and Annie Karni. “There’s Still No House Speaker. What Happens Now?” The New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/article/house-speaker-whats-next.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare.

Kapur, Sahil, et al. “Who Is Mike Johnson? Five Things to Know about the New Republican House Speaker.” NBCNews.Com, NBCUniversal News Group, 25 Oct. 2023, www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna122114.

Karni, Annie. “In Johnson, House Republicans Elevate One of Their Staunchest Conservatives.” The New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/mike-johnson-house-speaker.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare.

“Speakers of the House (1789 to Present).” US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives, 2023, history.house.gov/People/Office/Speakers-Intro/.

Current Events

Disaster and its Aftermath: Morocco’s Devastating Earthquake

By Tallulah Lintern (c/o 2024)

 Rescuers search the rubble for survivors on September 11, in Talat N’Yacoub. cbsnews.com.

 On September 8, at 11:11pm, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It was the biggest earthquake to strike the north African nation in over a century, with five provinces in western Morocco, including the historic city of Marrakech, at its epicenter. According to political news site The Hill, Its effects were felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria. As morning dawned, people around the world learned of the tragedy, and offers of help poured in from all quarters. Even rival Algeria, which has been locked in a dispute with Morocco over territory for decades, opened its airspace to allow for humanitarian aid or medical evacuation flights in and out of Morocco. Algerian airspace was closed to Moroccan traffic in 2021, when diplomatic ties between the countries were severed. 

In the largely-rural region, many homes and buildings were not up to construction rules for earthquake safety. Many of the survivors have lived in the same area their entire lives, like their ancestors before them. Their support networks, centralized in the villages and towns that are now piles of rubble, have collapsed, and they face an uncertain future. (CNN) The Moroccan government announced on September 14 that monetary assistance will be made available, ranging from 30,000 dirham ($3,000) for anyone who was impacted, to 140,000 dirham ($14,000) for those whose homes were completely destroyed. For those with no home left, this money is enough to construct a modestly-sized house. It is a glimmer of hope for thousands of displaced families living in temporary tent settlements. However, construction must happen quickly if housing is to be ready before the harsh mountain winter, just a few months away. 

As of September 12, the death toll had passed 2,900, with over 5,500 injured, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry. (CBS) Most of those were and are in remote, rural villages, with few access points for outside assistance. According to CNN’s reporter on the ground, Nada Bashir, rescue teams spent days clearing and traversing the “narrow, winding mountain roads” leading to impacted areas. 

Works cited:

Dev, S. “How to Help Those Affected by the Earthquake in Morocco.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 12 Sept. 2023, www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-help-morocco-earthquake-victims-donations/.

Kottasová, Ivana. “Morocco’s Quake Survivors Must Rebuild Their Homes and Lives. but Decimated Communities Can Do Little to Help.” CNN, Cable News Network, 16 Sept. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/09/16/europe/morocco-earthquake-recovery-rebuilding-intl-cmd/index.html.

Metz, Sam, and Mosa’ab Elshamy. “Powerful Quake in Morocco Kills More than 2,000 People and Damages Historic Buildings in Marrakech.” The Hill, 9 Sept. 2023, thehill.com/policy/international/ap-powerful-earthquake-strikes-morocco-causing-shaking-in-much-of-the-country/.

“Moroccans Impacted by Earthquake Desperate for Humanitarian Aid.” Performance by Nada Bashir, and Kim Brunhuber, CNN, Cable News Network, 16 Sept. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/09/16/exp-morocco-earthquake-aid-relief-live-bashir-cnni-world-091605aseg1.cnn.

“Photos: Morocco Earthquake Survivors Deal with Mental Scars.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Media Network, 21 Sept. 2023, www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/9/21/photos-morocco-earthquake-survivors-deal-with-mental-scars.

Sundby, Alex. “Morocco Earthquake Death Toll, Map and More Key Details Following 6.8 Magnitude Disaster.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 12 Sept. 2023, www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/morocco-earthquake-2023-marrakech-map-death-toll-magnitude-when/. 

Current Events

iExploitation: The Hidden Face of Apple's Success

By Natalie Andruchow (c/o 2026)

In the heart of the technological age, where highly innovative gadgets and portable communication devices can be purchased almost anywhere, it’s hard to believe that one of the most well-known companies we invest billions of dollars into each year is one of the most prominent examples of child labor. However this statement is in fact true, and is getting worse day by day. 

Many people nowadays perceive phones as a ‘necessity’ in life, and can’t go one day without them. In fact, more than 1.6 billion people have an iphone right now. Recently, many students have been preoccupied by their phones instead of their dedication to school. This can result in a decrease in attentiveness and engagement from students, lowering their grades. Nearly all students, including myself, have somehow snuck their phone into lessons, or have procrastinated on it instead of completing their homework or studying. Many students will even admit that they would rather be on their phones all day instead of school. Even though us students spend so much time on this device each day, very few of us know the backstory behind it. We understandably are more interested in admiring, using, and flaunting our gadget than pondering over the process of its production. And while most of us don’t know much about where our phones come from, other than the Apple store, the truth behind the production of Apple items becomes way more darker and sinister than we think.

 Flipping the world of Iphones from familiar to unfamiliar helps us understand that as we complain about attending school, we have to remember that our frustration exists within a world where children yearn for the opportunities we often despise. 

There are several solutions which Apple could use to effectively end child labor within their manufacturing institutions. Despite having a large amount of rules on ethical practices, Apple's real-time usage of these principles has been found lacking (Khan and Alam, 2015). To address this issue, Apple should revisit its corporate social responsibility guidelines, creating strict rules and ethical standards that explicitly prohibit child labor work.

Works Cited:

Child labor and the human rights violations embedded in producing technology. (2022, January 18). Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. https://www.culawreview.org/journal/child-labor-and-the-human-rights-violations-embedded-in-producing-technology

Garside, J., & correspondent, telecoms. (2013, January 25). Child labour uncovered in Apple’s supply chain. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/25/apple-child-labour-supply

Sonnemaker, T. (n.d.). Apple knew a supplier was using child labor but took 3 years to fully cut ties, despite the company’s promises to hold itself to the “highest standards,” report says. Business Insider. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-knowingly-used-child-labor-supplier-3-years-cut-costs-2020-12

The issue of child labor in apple [1960 words]. (n.d.). Edubirdie. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/the-issue-of-child-labor-in-apple/

Current Events

After China’s Inclining Recovery From Covid, Locals Nibble in Zibo

By Isabella Amso (c/o 2025)

The style combines traditional flavors and grilling methods, as an open flame covered by a metal grid is the centerpiece of those cooking. The meat, usually pork belly but also sometimes chicken, sausages, or duck, is then dressed with sauces and scallions inside a thin, bubbled, crepe-like pancake. The experience, comparable to Korean barbecue by tourists, went viral for both its delicious charcoal taste and cool, urban take on old family-style traditions.

Both locals and tourists are drawn to the great crowded streets of Zibo, and continue to share their meals with the world through Douyin (Chinese: 抖音, the adapted version of Tik Tok), BiliBili (Chinese: 哔哩哔哩, equivalent of YouTube) and WeChat (Chinese: 微信, messaging app). The trend has boosted the city's economy since the beginning of the year, as the growth from February to May is an incline of about 4.5%. Alongside such, the 16- to 24-year-old employment rates had climbed to 20.4% by April, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, as a result of boatloads of restaurant job openings for entry-level students. 

Whether it be through the trendy advertisement methods of youth or family-run barbecue stands, Zibo’s economy, society, and culture flourish from the charcoaled-meat craze. This means well for both students in the city and those of CGS, as maybe one day our Chinese learners and others who wish to immerse themselves in the experience may get a taste of our sister school’s local treat.

Special thanks to our friends in Zibo for the first-hand pictures and information!

Current Events

Is the Sun Approaching its Solar Maximum?

By Natalie Andruchow (c/o 2026)

A powerful ground-based solar telescope has taken new photographs of the sun's surface that show sunspots and other characteristics in unmatched detail. The eight photographs above, which were made public on May 19, were captured with the 13.1-foot Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope of the National Science Foundation, which is situated on the Hawaiian island of Maui. 

The photos reveal the quieter regions of the solar surface, despite the sun's rising activity as the July 2025 solar maximum, the pinnacle of the sun's 11-year cycle, approaches.

The photosphere, or the area of the sun's surface where the magnetic field is strong, is dotted with cool, dark sunspots that can be as big as the Earth or bigger. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which release plasma and a portion of the magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, and shoot throughout the solar system, are brought on by sunspot clusters.

According to the National Science Foundation, the photos captured over the last year were among the first observations made utilizing the largest and most potent ground-based solar telescope in the world during its commissioning phase. The agency claims that the telescope is currently being upgraded to its full operational potential. The capabilities of the telescope are expected to help scientists unravel the mysteries of the sun's magnetic field and provide answers to important puzzles concerning the sun, such as where solar storms come from. The telescope was made to produce never-before-seen photographs of the solar atmosphere and to continuously measure the magnetic fields in the sun's corona. Inouye's imaging capabilities are three times greater than those of other observatories, allowing it to capture tiny solar characteristics.

Some of the sun's long-standing mysteries can be solved with the aid of solar data from the Inouye Solar Telescope, two space-based projects named Solar Orbiter and the Parker Solar Probe, and beautiful new vistas of our star. 

Works Cited:

CNN, Ashley Strickland. “New Unprecedented Images Reveal What’s Happening on the Sun as It Approaches ‘Solar Maximum.’” Albany Herald, 25 May 2023, https://www.albanyherald.com/news/new-unprecedented-images-reveal-what-s-happening-on-the-sun-as-it-approaches-solar-maximum/article_24526629-cc5b-54cc-b605-c0e671771990.html.

“New Unprecedented Images Reveal What’s Happening on the Sun as It Approaches ‘Solar Maximum.’” WPTZ, 27 May 2023, https://www.mynbc5.com/article/sun-photos-2023-daniel-k-inouye-solar-telescope/44008500.

“NOVA UNIVERSE REVEALED: Age Of Stars.” KPBS Public Media, 21 Oct. 2021, https://www.kpbs.org/news/2021/10/21/universe-revealed-on-nova-age-of-stars.

Solar Orbiter’s First Views of the Sun. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/07/Solar_Orbiter_s_first_views_of_the_Sun4. Accessed 29 May 2023.

Current Events

The Sudan Darfur

By Natalie Andruchow

Aid organizations are now warning that the West Darfur region of Sudan is on the verge of a "humanitarian catastrophe" as entire towns have been completely destroyed by marauding militias. Many people now have little to no access to food, clean water, and medical care due to widespread looting and the destruction of essential infrastructure. Violence in the area of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, has decreased as a result of a ceasefire between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Darfur, meanwhile, has seen ongoing fighting, and as the crisis there approaches its seventh week, the area now seems to be in a state of disarray. In order to keep out militia members who have been destroying everything in their path, those who are unable to flee the conflict have dug trenches around their neighborhoods and erected barriers.

Satellite photographs once again reveal how attacks have targeted people' vital lifelines, such as the main market, which has suffered some fire damage. Given that Nyala supplies the area and even some neighboring nations, this is a significant loss. People are in desperate need of assistance, and humanitarian workers are scrambling to gain entry to the area. They have congregated in adjacent Chad with the intention of crossing the border as quickly as they can into Darfur.

"We know it is a very high level of risk," says Justine Muzik Piquemal, from the French NGO Solidarités International. "But we need to send humanitarian goods as soon as we can. Because what we are going to find, I think, will be dead bodies everywhere, and no water. No latrines. And no food."

In order to provide a water tank to El Geneina, the capital of Sudan's West Darfur province, Ms. Piquemal has organized 13 tonnes of donations. She tells me that there are practically no water pumps left in a place where temperatures can reach 50C (122F) due to a lack of gasoline. Since international aid workers left El Geneina in the middle of April, communication with that community has likewise been extremely spotty.

Those racial tensions have returned as a result of the current battles.

"The problem is that it's not the two parties," says Konstantinos Psykakos, a project co-ordinator from the organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), whose hospital in El Geneina was attacked and looted.Mr. Psykakos is likewise awaiting a chance to cross back into Chad at the border, but he is keenly aware of how fleeting any such access may be.

"The problem is that you start having inter-communal fights on the ground and you cannot verify when the military party starts and when the communal fight begins," he says.

"The communal fight will not care about humanitarian corridors. That's why everyone says it needs to stop now, because we are at the very peak of the cliff before we start declining in terms of fight and conflict."

Work Cited: 

Holocaust Museum Houston. https://hmh.org/library/research/genocide-in-darfur-guide/. Accessed 29 May 2023.

Salih, Zeinab Mohammed. ‘We’re Not Safe’: Darfur Violence Sparks New Displacement Crisis. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/29/were-not-safe-darfur-violence-sparks-new-displacement-crisis. Accessed 29 May 2023.

“Sudan Darfur Crisis: ‘Everything Civilians Can Use Has Been Burned or Destroyed.’” BBC News, 29 May 2023. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65722123.

“Sudan: New Conflict Escalation Exacerbates 20 Years of Suffering for Civilians in Darfur.” Amnesty International, 24 Apr. 2023, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/04/sudan-new-conflict-escalation-exacerbates-20-years-of-suffering-for-civilians-in-darfur/.

VOA News - Disagreements Over Darfur Peace Plan Spark Conflict. 15 Aug. 2006, https://web.archive.org/web/20060815040233/http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-09-voa33.cfm.

“War in Darfur.” Wikipedia, 22 May 2023. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=War_in_Darfur&oldid=1156429090.

Headline

Mifeprex to be Mediated by Supreme Court, Yet Remains Available

By Isabella Amso (c/o 2025)

Pro-abortion protest on April 15, 2023 in Washington, DC- Forbes 

The Friday nights of Americans on April 21st were bombarded by breaking news as the Supreme Court rejects the decision of blocking abortion pill Mifeprex accessibility nationwide. Mifeprex, otherwise known as Mifepristone, was previously planned to have its FDA approval circa 2000 revoked. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas) ruled on Friday, April 7 2023 to repeal its approval in response to an anti-abortion lawsuit, claiming that the ruling was defective. 

Approximately an hour later, Judge Thomas O. Rice (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington State) released a counteractive ruling on another lawsuit, banning the FDA from future blockage of access of Mifepristone. As a stark contrast to the Texas ruling, debate on the topic caught the attention of the Biden administration. President Biden criticized the lower court's decision, claiming it would have "undermined FDA's medical judgment and put women's health at risk,” and called for an appeal to settle the dispute between Rice and Kacsmaryk’s decisions.

abortion-outlawed states. She told Forbes that anti-abortion pharmacies may grow skeptical of and possibly even resist patients taking the drug for other conditions, suspecting that their true intentions are for clandestine and illegal contraceptive usage.

America's Last Dose?

 As the Biden Administration and Department of Justice immediately rejected Kacsmaryk’s ruling as an ultimatum, a three-judge panel of the New Orleans Court of Appeals defends that Mifepristone would remain legal and available despite the Texas decision. They disagreed with Kacsmaryk’s belief that the FDA approval established in 2000 was “invalid,” yet maintained further restricted access to the pill such as denying consent to mail prescriptions. 

However, the final verdict is yet to be heard. The US Department of Justice appealed the second court decision to the Supreme Court in hopes to further block the decision of prohibited pill delivery and generate nationwide support. As the Court ruling has been expedited, they have not released a set date yet for the oral arguments and hearing beyond the delay. For now, those who seek the use of Mifepristone are legally allowed to with prescription and the following of implemented rulings. It is the future Supreme Court Ruling, if heard, that will ultimately determine its fate.

Works Cited

Bendix, Aria. “What the Supreme Court's Decision in the Fight over Abortion Pills Means for Mifepristone Access.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 12 Apr. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-questions-future-access-rcna79455.

Durkee, Alison. “Mifepristone Ruling: Here Are the Unintended Health Consequences of Attacks on Abortion Pills.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/04/11/mifepristone-ruling-here-are-the-unintended-health-consequences-of-attacks-on-abortion-pills/.

Quinn, Melissa. “Supreme Court Maintains FDA Approval of Abortion Pill, Preserving Access for Now.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-abortion-pill-access-mifepristone/.

Vansickle, Abbie. “Supreme Court Delays Decision on Abortion Pill, Preserving Access for Now.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/us/politics/abortion-pill-supreme-court.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare. 

Current Events

The Rejuvenation of the Kuttamperoor River

By Natalie Andruchow (c/o 2026)

The Kuttamperoor River, which once provided water for drinking, irrigating sizable areas of rice fields, and moving products, has been reduced to a sewer and has been dead for about two decades. Encroachments had reduced the 100-meter river to less than 15 meters in various places. Its poor condition had also caused wells to dry up in several spots. Due to years of littering trash, encroachments, and other human-caused damage, the 4.5-mile waterbody, a tributary of the Pampa and Achencoil rivers, called the Kuttamperoor River, perished slowly around 2005. Involvement from the public and government action over six years allowed for its revival. 

To revitalize the river, the Major Irrigation Department cleared out encroachments, deepened the waterway, and built platforms on both sides. The regenerated river is 50 meters wide. According to Major Irrigation department officials, the government had approved ₹15.7 crores ($1,912,162) for the project, they finished the job for only ₹13 crores ($1,583,319).

for the river project was donated by several riverside residents. Numerous freshwater fish species have returned to the river due to the restoration of water flow, and this is anticipated to benefit the area's flood control efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of the river restoration project in Mann Ki Baat received all the media attention that it still gets to this day. The project was also included in the CBSE textbook for Class VIII. The restoration of the river, according to officials, will also increase tourism in the area. The river will be connected to the history tourist project for Mannar, Chengannur, and Aranmula.

The people of Budhanoor are sure that eventually, they will be able to use the water for drinking and cooking, even if they are not able to do so now.

“It had a lot of waste, so at present, we don’t use it for drinking. It is used for all other purposes though, and within a short period, we will be able to use it for drinking too,” Viswambara, the president of Budhanoor panchayat, says. 

The village is prepared to begin fishing shortly, due to the recently revived river now having fish in it, further adding to the joy!

“We have had acute water shortage issues for the last many years, this project has finally been a solution. It is the success of a group of socially responsible people,” Viswambara says.

Works Cited: 

“A River Reborn: How 700 Workers Cleaned a Once-Still River in Kerala’s Alappuzha.” The News Minute, 26 Apr. 2017, https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/river-reborn-how-700-workers-cleaned-once-still-river-kerala-s-alappuzha-61038.

Bureau, The Hindu. “Back to Life: Rejuvenation of Kuttamperoor River in Alappuzha Complete.” The Hindu, 9 Apr. 2023. www.thehindu.com, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kuttamperoor-river-rejuvenation-alappuzha-complete/article66717313.ece.

“How 700 Kerala Villagers Waded through a Dead River, Cleansed It and Brought It Back to Life in 70 Days.” Hindustan Times, 7 May 2017, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-700-kerala-villagers-waded-through-a-dead-river-cleansed-it-and-brought-it-back-to-life-in-70-days/story-6ZQbllXDeutd7eOsYWYBeN.html.

“How a Kerala Village Panchayat Revived a Dying River.” The Indian Express, 3 May 2017, https://indianexpress.com/article/india/how-a-kerala-village-revived-a-dying-river-4639365/.

Headline

A Year Into The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin Pays A Visit

By Isabella Amso (c/o 2025)

On February 24, 2022, news of a determined Russian invasion of Ukraine broke the internet and took over American news. Over a year later, the even though the nation receives aid from other countries such as an elevated $13 billion from Germany (CNN), the frontline still faces large numbers of casualties among both civilians and fighters. Alongside the now over 8 million Ukrainian refugees, many militants are now under care for injuries, tons more are in custody for mental health and dealing with war trauma (PBS). 

Russia’s leader and President Vladimir Putin has ordered the forces upon Ukraine over the last year, using tactics such as drones, bombings, and threats of nuclear weaponry. Under his succession, a documented 653 incidents involving war crimes have been convicted, over 220 attacks targeting civilians, 60 upon medical facilities, and approximately 40 involving the unfortunate deaths of children (PBS).

Birdseye view of the Ukraine-Russia border, Crimean Peninsula, and location of the city of Mariupol, CGTN Europe 

Cities and regions such as the Crimean Peninsula, Kyiv (Ukraine’s capital), Kharkiv, Bakhmut, Kherson,and Maruipol have been main points of annexation for the Russian military and checkpoints for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit and assist war efforts. They have been hotspots among fighters on the frontline, as many residents flee to neighboring countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. However, the city of Mariupol, officially under Russian control as of May 2022, has seen more than ruins and attacks. 

On the night of March 19th, President Putin unexpectedly landed in the city and drove through the streets. While it was suspected he was en route to Crimea to mark the 9th anniversary of its annexation, the visit was reportedly spontaneous. Reactions of locals were mixed, many Ukranians of Mariupol and other regions showing distaste. According to CNN, “An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, slammed the ‘cynicism’ and ‘lack of remorse’ over Putin’s visit.” Podolyak tweeted soon after “The criminal always returns to the crime scene,” similar to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry quoting “a thief visiting under the cover of night” to shield his damage or crimes. Over the past year, Mariupol has taken a toll of Russian attacks, including an ambush on a maternity hospital and the bombing of a theater housing hundreds of civilians. 

As the city has hosted 20,000 deaths since February 2022, many Ukranians took great offense to Putin’s visit. He was also reported to have stopped by a new Russian arts school, a children's summer camp, and yacht club, as well as conversing with locals in a friendly and open manner. While his appearance was controversial, it has proven the strength of Ukraine through various attacks. Mariupol is maintained to its best ability, withholding its notorious steel plant until its recent fall yet still preserving elements of culture.

Works Cited:

Al Jazeera. “Russia-Ukraine War: List of Key Events, Day 399.” Russia-Ukraine War News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 29 Mar. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/29/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-399. 

Berlinger, Joshua, et al. “March 29, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine News.” CNN, Cable News Network, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-03-29-23/index.html. 

Horti, Laurence Peter & Samuel. “Ukraine War: Putin Pays Visit to Occupied Mariupol, State Media Reports.” BBC News, BBC, 19 Mar. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65004610. 

“Operational Data Portal.” Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation, https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine. 

“Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, One Year Later.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 24 Feb. 2023, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/russia-ukraine-invasion-war-one-year-later/. 

Sidhu, Sandi. “Defiant Putin Visits Occupied Mariupol, Symbol of Ukrainian Resistance.” CNN, Cable News Network, 20 Mar. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/19/europe/putin-mariupol-visit-icc-intl-hnk/index.html.

Headline

The Good, The Bad, And The Unsolved: Calling Action To Those Left In Need After Earthquake Strikes Turkey and Syria

By Isabella Amso (c/o 2025)

Turkish and other European aid trucks cross the border to Syria’s rebel-held area through Bab al-Salama, NPR.org 

On the morning of February 6, the world awoke to calamitous news of one of the deadliest earthquakes among the past century. At 4:17 AM EST, an infamous 7.8 scale earthquake struck across 10 Turkish provinces, including the Syrian cities of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Idlib. Not only was the event named the Kahramanmaras Earthquake (a city in Turkey known for its ancient empires and translating to “Heroic” from Turkish), it was also dubbed a major call-to-action for other current atrocities of the area. As Kahramanmaras approaches its third week of aftermath, many continue to grieve as aid trickles into both Turkey and Syria. 

What Can We Do?

 While we are far, many trusted online resources have opened up donations for money, medical support/supplies, and even food. These organizations promise to use their collected funding and supplies for those in need, especially to areas that are underprovided for or already were in ruins. They have also been known for their continuous support of the Middle East in the past, reaching into vital yet often forgotten areas of aid such as sanitation, water, and warmth. For more information and ways to help, please check out: 

• Save the Children

• The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations

• The Syrian American Medical Society

• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (cash assistance)

• Worldvision.org

• CARE.org

• OXFAM.org 

Works Cited:

 Al Jazeera. “Death Toll Climbs above 50,000 after Turkey, Syria Earthquakes.” Earthquakes News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/25/death-toll-climbs-above-50000-after-turkey-syria-earthquakes#:~:text=In%20Turkey%20alone%2C%2044%2C218%20people,toll%20in%20Syria%20was%205%2C914. 

Batrawy, Aya. “Aid Groups Help Turkey-Syria Quake Survivors amid Global Crises and Donor Fatigue.” NPR, NPR, 18 Feb. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/02/18/1157783760/turkey-syria-earthquake-aid-donor-fatigue#:~:text=More%20than%209%20million%20were,provinces%20hit%20by%20the%20earthquakes. 

“Death Toll from Turkey, Syria Earthquake Tops 47,000.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 23 Feb. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/2023-turkey-syria-earthquake-earthquakes-6bc8e1b7ab6e7bb6ba0cf9257cb86069. 

Frost, Natasha. “How Strong Is a Magnitude-7.8 Quake?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/05/world/europe/how-strong-is-a-magnitude-7-8-quake.html#:~:text=A%20magnitude%207%20earthquake%20has,told%20The%20Times%20in%202013. 

Omer, Sevil. “2023 Turkey and Syria Earthquake: Facts, Faqs, and How to Help.” World Vision, 24 Feb. 2023, https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2023-turkey-and-syria-earthquake-faqs. 

Shpigel, Ben. “Here's How to Help Victims of the Earthquake.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/world/europe/helping-earthquake-victims-turkey-syria.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&module=&state=default®ion=footer&context=breakout_link_back_to_briefing. 

Timur, Ben Hubbard and Safak. “Quake Death Toll Passes 15,000 in Turkey and Syria as Desperation Builds.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/08/world/turkey-syria-earthquake?action=click&pgtype=Article&module=&state=default®ion=footer&context=breakout_link_back_to_briefing#the-eu-will-work-with-the-un-to-get-aid-to-syrians-an-official-says.

Current Events

The NFL's Hidden Messages: A look into the NFL's Social Justice Movements

By Sabrina Arastu (c/o 2025)

The annual thrill of the Super Bowl brings the nation together in a night of wings and pizza that has all the characteristics of a national holiday. But even though we watch the Super Bowl for the game, the unity, and of course, the food, Super Bowl LVII made it impossible to ignore the broader national conversation around race in the United States. As the first Super Bowl with two Black quarterbacks, it signaled a welcome change to a sport that has been plagued by internal racism for years. 

Works Cited

“Inspire Change” NFL Football Operations, operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/social-justice/inspire-change.

Levenson, Michael. “N.F.L. Will Allow Six Social Justice Messages on Players’ Helmets.” The New York Times, 6 Sept. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/sports/nfl-social-justice.html.

Maaddi, Rob. “All Rams Will Wear ‘Choose Love’ Helmet Decals Vs Bills.” AP NEWS, 8 Sept. 2022, apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-los-angeles-rams-nfl-sports-racial-injustice-89b114c876d1db361f98af01b5631cbc.

Polus, Sarah. “The Hill.” The Hill, 13 Feb. 2023, thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/3855191-black-national-anthem-performed-at-super-bowl-for-first-time.

Today, Usa. “NFL Returns Social Justice Helmet Decals, End Zone Stencils.” , Associated Press, 2 Sept. 2021, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/09/02/nfl-brings-back-social-justice-helmet-decals-end-zone-stencils/5696217001.

Current Events

2022 Pakistan floods

By Natalie Andruchow, 9th Grade

$16 billion dollars is currently needed to help Pakistan recover from the catastrophic floods.

On June 14th, 2022, heavy rainfall started to affect southern and north-western Pakistan causing floods and flash floods resulting in damage. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), by the 18th of July, almost 3,400 houses have been destroyed. Currently, on October 16, 2022, an estimated 1.3 million houses have been damaged, and 800,000 destroyed. 5.5 million people no longer have access to safe drinking water, and 14.6 million people require emergency food.

"What we are facing today has been no above-average monsoon. It is an entirely new level of climate-led catastrophe,"claimed Pakistan’s foreign minister, Bilalwal Bhutto Zardari while at the launch of a joint appeal with the United Nations raising $160 million for emergency aid.

On the roadside of the highway from the Pakistani capital to the northern city of Nowshera, you will notice multiple people building their tents, and some even making shelter for the cattle they managed to save from the flood waters.

Qurat Al-Ain Wazir had made an effort to alert people to evacuate before the river flooded. Wazir herself even went in person at some locations, persuading people to leave.

“We had informed people through mosque loudspeakers, through social media, through WhatsApp. We evacuated and rescued a lot of people.”

Saved, but all their belongings were destroyed.

Many of the flood victims have turned to colleges for help. The Nowshera Technical College has recently opened for displaced people. On the first three days of opening 500 families have registered. Victims of the flood have grown desperate, smashing windows of registration offices when trying to register. Volunteers helping register the families resulted in using a chair to jam the door shut.

Now you may be asking yourself why these horrible floods are occurring. There are many components to the still ongoing humanitarian crisis. Some being meteorological, some economic, some societal, some historic, and some construction oriented. One of the reasons for this event is global warming. Climate change has increased the average rainfall by 50% in the southern provinces of Pakistan! This means that the rainfall Pakistan received was nearly 8 times more than it usually was! Add to that weather records that don’t go back far enough in time so we don’t know exactly if humans caused this incident.

“The team looked at just the two provinces over five days and saw an increase of up to 50% in the intensity of rainfall that was likely due to climate change. They also looked at the entire Indus region over two months and saw up to a 30% increase in rainfall there.” - AP News

Floods are not the only climate change result that has affected Pakistan. A deadly heat wave in the region earlier in the summer, which was made 30 times more likely because of climate change, increased the temperature differences between land and water. That differential determines how much moisture goes from the ocean to the monsoon and means more of it drops. Climate change seemed to slightly change the jet stream, storm tracks, and where low pressure sits, bringing more rainfall for southern provinces than they usually get.

“Pakistan has not contributed much in terms of causing global climate change, but sure is having to deal with a massive amount of climate change consequences,” - Jonathan Overpeck 

In all, what Pakistan is going through is destructive and horrific. Although there is nothing we can currently do in order to stop the flood, we could do something about it in the long run, such as taking part in fundraisers and overall helping the environment. Below I will list links to various fundraisers and more information about this topic!

Resources

https://www.hidaya.org/pakistan-floods-landing-page/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnbmaBhD-ARIsAGTPcfW6_JEHruWPzS_bP7Aauro8U9qXpvE-JXE-GArPIMMs-Zq6LuRazMIaAloaEALw_wcB -- Fundraiser

https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-rushes-aid-families-hit-heavy-monsoon-rains-pakistan/40307?form=FUNAXUPGCEF&utm_content=flood_pakistan_RSA&ms=cpc_dig_2022_flood_pakistan_RSA_20223008_google_flood_pakistan_RSA_delve_None&initialms=cpc_dig_2022_flood_pakistan_RSA_20223008_google_flood_pakistan_RSA_delve_None&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnbmaBhD-ARIsAGTPcfVOqjiSWbm4SAldsY-TzoNpcHGF1pMABDR55CExveb5yQKtj5iRiMEaArheEALw_wcB -- Fundraiser

https://apnews.com/article/floods-science-pakistan-monsoons-climate-and-environment-a21077f92cd77bb32cde522fbc1cfddc

https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2022-000254-pak

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/pakistan-vows-imf-reforms-flood-damage-estimated-over-us16-billion-3009241

Current Events

"Woman, Life, liberty"

By Natalie Andruchow

Currently hundreds of protests have erupted in dozens of cities. Burning of hijabs, chanting ‘Woman, life, liberty’, shaving and cutting hair, and destroying government signs/banners. Due to these actions, multiple people have been killed, injured, and detained while protesting. Why is this happening you make ask?

Long before protests started spreading throughout Iran, hijabs and lose fitting clothing that the Iranian law requires women to wear in public had been the center of conflicts over national identities, religious authority, and political powers for decades. Worn by mandate, the veil has often symbolized a reminder of the Islamic Republic’s power since the 1980’s.

Mahsa Amini was only 22-years-old when she was detained and later on murdered by the country's morality police for not fully complying with Iran’s veiling laws.

“Enforcement of modesty laws” was the reason we were given to why the police had arrested Mahsa. The police claimed Mahsa had suddenly collapsed to the floor from a ‘heart attack’ throughout the manditory training on the hijab rules, but when photos of her in the hospital were spread and shared through the internet, viewers were horrifed and infuriated by the condition Mahsa was in. Details describe Mahsa as being in a state of a coma (at the time when the photo was taken) with bruises covering her face and her ear bleeding.

Mahsa’s crime? Showing a few locks of her hair.

After Mahsa’s death, protests exploded in multiple cities such as San Fransico, Los Angeles, Karaj, and many others. For example, schoolgirls in Tehran, Iran are the latest to join the protests of anti-government. After their classmate, Nika Shakarami, was found dead in a youth detention center due to her protesting, dozens of determined and courageous girls showed up to the alleged murderer’s house.

This is much more than anger over tragic deaths of multiple innocent women. These protests, led by women, have shocked a large part of Iranian society to rise up in one of the most political and signifigant movements that the Isreal Republic has seen since its founding 1979. While Mahsa’s death has been the spark of these movements, the tinder that turned them into a series of events and changes has been playing out for decades in Iran, leaving the government progressively out of step with the demands of the population.

Why are we still debating about what women should, and shouldn't wear?

Why are we losing our young minds over the unjust aspects of the government?

Why do we have to live in fear for our lives for not complying with unfair rules?

Sources

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/iran-protests-explained 

Understanding-protests-iran 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/world/middleeast/iran-protests-sharif-university-masha-amini.html 

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/06/1127182531/iran-morality-police-protests-mahsa-amini-pardis-mahdavi 

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/06/treasury-sanctions-iran-violent-protests-00060799 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran/local-laws-and-customs

current event

the ukraine and russia conflict

By: Alexa Lugo, 12 grade

CURRENT EVENTS

Acid Rain

By: Katherine Chavarriaga, 12th Grade

CURRENT EVENTS

School Shootings

By: Alexa Lugo, 12th Grade

The thought of sitting under a desk and having to text those you love goodbye is something that none of us should ever experience. Recently schools in our area and all around the United States have been leaving students and teachers on edge. It causes the school community to become one that is unsafe, weary, and devastating. With these threats come anxious thoughts, and also the arrests of students who sadly think it’s a big practical joke.

Shedding light to the Oxford students, what they thought would be a normal day of school turned into a tragic and deadliest shooting this year. According to local authorities, at 12:51pm on November 30th, the authorities received the first from 100 different calls reporting the shooting. Within five minutes, the authorities said, 11 people had been shot. Dale Schmalenberg, 16, who is a student at Oxford High School, said “I was just kind of sitting there shaking,” and that, “(he) didn’t really know how to respond.”

On the night of the shooting, the authorities identified those who lost their lives earlier that day. Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Tate Myre, 16, who died on his way to the hospital. A fourth student, Justin Shilling, 17, died the next morning at a hospital. Madisyn was a talented artist. Tate was a linebacker and had recently earned an all-region award. Justin was on the boys’ bowling team. Hana played on the volleyball and basketball teams. Six other students were injured in the age ranges of 14-17 and a 47-year-old teacher was grazed by a bullet.

According to the New York Times, “The suspect was charged as an adult with one count of terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder, which could lead to a life sentence if he is convicted.”

While this is only one recent incident of a school shooting, around 150 shootings happen per year losing the lives of many underserved. We need to take a stand. We need to put a stop to being scared to even go to school. School is supposed to be an environment where we can learn and develop into the young adults we have potential to be. These shootings are taking away the lives of innocent teenagers who had a bright path in front of them. Let’s put a stop to gun violence, and let’s do it now.

CURRENT EVENTS

Coral Reef

By: Katherine Chavarriaga, 12th Grade

CURRENT EVENTS

Deforestation

By: Katherine Chavarriaga, 12th Grade