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Biden on Russia: Imposing Another Round of Sanctions, but Expecting Different Results?
Written by: Justin Lange, Associate Editor It was made evidently apparent to me, and from a rather young age I might add, that there is an important difference to be found between “acting” and “being.” For me, this became clear when I found out that Toby Ziegler didn’t write the President’s speeches, and that Tony Soprano didn’t run North Jersey.[1] This, however, raises an important question in more recent times: that is, what exactly is Joe Biden’s stance on Russia? Now, let’s walk down memory lane for a moment, because for now-President Biden, it’s been quite the journey to say the least. Biden was of course Vice President…
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North Korea Hacks Pfizer in an Attempt to Obtain the COVID-19 Vaccine as Country Suffers Under the Weight of Corona Virus and Sanctions
Written by: Associate Editor, Aaron Strom On the week of February 16, 2021, it was reported that North Korean hackers attempted to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine information from Pfizer. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service informed lawmakers that the hack was an attempt to obtain both the vaccine and the treatment technology currently protected by intellectual property law. North Korean access to medical tools and equipment necessary for vaccine distribution has been arduous because of sanctions that were adopted against the country limiting the importation of computers and other metal products. North Korea has urgently requested access to COVID-19 vaccines and is set to receive 2 million for their population of…
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Moscow, We Have a Problem: Current Protests in Russia a Sign of Trouble for Putin?
Written by: Associate Editor, Rachel Combs Tens of thousands of people gathered in cities and towns across Russia over the weekend protesting the current detention of opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Navalny was arrested January 17th after returning from Germany where he has spent the past 5 months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning which he has blamed on the Kremlin. He was arrested for violating the terms of his probation by failing to register while in Germany. His probation stems from a 2014 money laundering case, which Navalny claims was politically motivated. Navalny has been a long-time critic of Vladimir Putin and has spent the better part of a…
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“Democracy” on Display: World Leaders Respond
Written by: Esther Kim, Associate Editor The events of January 6, 2021 have raised multiple and concerning inquiries into what constitutes American democracy. The storming of the Capitol shocked individuals domestically, as well as abroad and in response, world leaders have not been shy in voicing their reactions in observance of the transpired upheaval. Internationally, politicians expressed their shared condemnations, and they called for the seemingly past ideal of what was once considered to be a peaceful transition of power. Many leaders described the events as an “attack on democracy,” and a “horrifying” and “disgraceful scene.” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson posted on his Twitter, “The United States stands for…
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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…