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Nike’s International Shipping Ban on Retailers Means Trouble for “Sneakerheads”
By Imani Deas, Associate Editor YOU GOT EM!— Every sneakerheads favorite thing to see. If you are familiar with the Nike brand or the Nike SNKRS app, then you know that “you got em” means that you just secured the sneakers you’ve been dying to get your hands on, or better yet your feet in. What is a sneakerhead, you might ask? A sneakerhead is an individual who collects limited, rare, original, or flat out exclusive sneakers. The collection usually consists of Nike Air Jordan’s but is not limited to such category. Moreover, a sneakerhead has a passion and knowledge of specific sneakers. Those who purchase limited or rare sneakers…
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Power Play in Moscow: Putin’s Attempt to Stay in Power
By Moneeka Brar, Associate Editor On January 15, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin surprisingly announced constitutional amendments that would drastically change the Russian government. This includes amendments that would strengthen the powers of the prime minister and parliament, coming at the expense of the Russian presidency. However, with growing unrest in Russia amongst its political and economic economies, only time will tell if these changes will prove to be successful or lead to the end of his power. If these amendments to the Russian Constitution are successful, Putin will maintain his long-term grip on power after his current (and final) presidential term ends in 2024. With these amendments, it is…
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U.S. Strike on Qassem Soleimani Leads to More Questions than Answers
By Troy Parker, Associate Editor On January 3rd, 2020, the United States conducted an airstrike on a car departing Iraq. The car contained the second most powerful man in Iran—General Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was responsible for dozens of attacks on U.S. personnel over many years and was labeled as a terrorist in 2011. However, many questions now emerge from the ashes of this strike, including: how did we get here? Did President Trump have the legal authority to do this? And what is to come of the growing tensions between the two countries? The U.S. and Iran have not had a diplomatic relationship since 1980. A breakthrough appeared imminent with…
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The NBA’s China Debacle: How Corporations Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Chinese Market
By Max Hubscher, Associate Editor On October 4, 2019, one tweet, and its subsequent fallout showed the influence that a foreign government can have over an American company. On that day, Daryl Morey, the General Manager of the Houston Rockets NBA team tweeted a picture that read “fight for freedom stand with Hong Kong”. The since deleted tweet was posted in support of the ongoing protests in Hong Kong against increased Chinese governmental control over Hong Kong. The tweet had almost instant ramifications for the Rockets. The day after the tweet was posted Tencent, an official broadcasting partner of the NBA in China and China Central Television (CCTV) announced that…
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The World’s Most Wanted Man is Dead
By Shannon Bausinger, Associate Editor In the early hours of October 27, 2019 President Trump announced ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had died by suicide after being surrounded in a tunnel by U.S. forces. No U.S. personnel losses were suffered, although many of Baghdadi’s people were killed including his three children who were alongside him when the suicide vest was detonated. This successful mission followed the cancelation of other attacks set to take place in preceding weeks. Baghdadi rose to prominence in 2014 when he declared the creation of a caliphate. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS has been held responsible for a reign of terror; displacing millions…
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Ecuador Agrees to Resume Fuel Subsidies After Weeks of Violent Protests
By Grace Mandry, Associate Editor For the past two weeks, the world has watched as conflicts unfolded in Northern Syria, Turkey, and the streets of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, in South America, thousands of protestors shut down the streets of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Violence erupted after the President, Lenín Moreno, announced the end of fuel subsidies and controversial labor reforms. The protests are the biggest to occur in years. The government announced the law, Decree 883, as an austerity measure in an effort to secure a $4.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). President Moreno initially signed the agreement in March. Decree 883 ended forty years of…
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From Sanctions to War: An Analysis of America’s Relationship With Iran
By: Sarah Hansen, Associate Editor On Saturday, September 15, 2019, drone strikes hit oil installations in Saudi Arabia. While Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, the United States and Saudi Arabia maintain that Iran was responsible. The Trump administration claims intelligence assessments and satellite photos show evidence of Iranian involvement. Iran has denied any involvement and American officials have offered no evidence beyond satellite photos, which analysts said were insufficient to prove the source of the attack and responsible parties. Despite a lack of sufficient evidence, the U.S. continues to blame Iran for the attack. President Trump announced on Twitter he would “substantially increase sanctions” on Iran after…