TikTok is a social media application that allows individuals to connect from around the world, sharing content that is suited for any need. Most notably, TikTok is known for endless scrolling and a user curated algorithm that seems to read users’ minds. TikTok has over one billion users globally and has driven $15 billion in revenue for US small businesses, increasing sales by 88%. The social media app has fostered opportunities and discovery for millions of entrepreneurs across the globe. TikTok tracks which videos users engage with and how long they do so. Their privacy policy enables the app to track the contents of direct messages, country location, internet address,…

Did you know that every year thousands of artifacts vanish from museums, churches, private collections or archeological sites? From ancient coins and religious relics to world-class oil paintings and archaeological treasures, the illicit trade in cultural heritage has evolved into a highly organized and pervasive crime. Known as cultural heritage trafficking – or looting – this illegal practice involves the unauthorized removal, destruction, or transfer of cultural property, including monumental, archaeological, and anthropological artifacts. When an artifact is taken from its original context, it loses its ability to tell future generations about the lives, traditions, and histories of past civilizations. The theft of cultural heritage not only erases invaluable stories…

On January 20, 2025, shortly after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14160, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.” This order sought to redefine the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, specifying that children born in the U.S. would not automatically acquire citizenship if neither parent was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. However, this executive order faced immediate legal challenges. Twenty-two states, along with the District of Columbia and the city of San Francisco, filed a separate lawsuit to block the order. On January 23, 2025, Judge Coughen in the Western District of Washington temporarily blocked the order. The judge’s ruling halted the enforcement of…

The 2024 United States Presidential campaign appeared to ignite a fresh conversation about American family values. As with a majority of issues in America, there was a significant partisan split over the importance of this topic, with 59% of Trump’s supporters saying they believed society is better if people prioritize marriage and family, as opposed to only 19% of Biden’s supporters expressing this sentiment. One aspect of the topic of the American family was noticeably missing from these conversations: paid parental leave.             The United States’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires employers to guarantee eligible employees up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period…

2025 began during a time of turmoil. From the U.S. presidential election to the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in Israel, the new year brings about a time of conflict and international disruption. Alongside these tensions, as has been seen for some time, the civil war in Myanmar has caused much disruption in the Indochinese region. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2021, the Myanmar civil war has been overshadowed by the more recent wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Even while somewhat overshadowed by other conflicts, this destructive war has led to countless deaths and large swathes of destruction both within and without the nation of…

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan has reached a catastrophic level, demanding that global organizations and international entities intervene to provide emergency relief. Therefore, the question at issue is why Russia vetoed the UN Security Council Resolution on protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid to Sudan. In April 2023, a civil war began between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. The two armed factions were allies who overthrew a civilian reform government in 2021. However, the current conflict is a power struggle between the RSF and the SAF, as each faction’s leaders believe they are the country’s rightful leaders. The conflict has led…

In an era where people are constantly tweeting or posting on Facebook, it is no wonder that social media has become a new medium for folks to express their views and opinions. From shopping recommendations to viral TikTok dances, social media has taken the world by storm and allowed people to communicate on a level that has never been seen before. This technological revolution has started to change the way the court has viewed free speech as well. For example, there is a major debate today about whether social media owners, such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerburg, should be held accountable for the things posted on their sites by…

Medical tourism is nothing new, but as of recently, an increasing number of people have been traveling abroad to receive medical services. Medical tourism includes individuals traveling to foreign countries to receive a type of medical procedure, with the most common procedures being cosmetic surgeries, dental care, fertility treatments, and elective organ transplants. Many of these individuals seek procedures and medical treatment abroad due to lower costs or an inability to access certain procedures in their native countries. For instance, cost-sensitive and market-driven procedures, such as elective transplants and cosmetic surgeries can be 50% lower in developing countries, making it an attractive option to go abroad for many individuals. Most…

Gone are the days of standing outside a box office in the freezing cold or blazing heat to buy tickets to see your favorite artist. Now, tickets are bought primarily online, and while it may be more convenient, this system brings a new set of problems. With the introduction of the global sensation, The Eras Tour, Taylor Swift inadvertently started a conversation in the United States about ticket prices and resellers. The issue arose when Swift’s fans, otherwise known as “Swifties,” were unable to purchase tickets during the Verified Pre-Sale and now are unable to afford tickets because of ticket resellers. The underlying issue is that ticket resellers, buy tickets…

With the United States being the leading economic power that it is, the outcome of the presidential election affects not only the U.S. economy, but the global economy as well. The U.S. makes up more than 20% of the world’s total income, has the largest national economy, and is one of the lead global traders. The president’s role in implementing tax plans and tariffs therefore matters significant not only to Americans, but the rest of the world as well. The 2024 presidential election leaves the world with two potential economic outcomes: a reversion to Trump’s 2016-2020 economy or a similar and slightly improved economy from Biden’s presidency now under Kamala…