Author: Amanda Martinez

After 15 uninterrupted years as Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina resigned abruptly on Monday, fleeing the country amid a political crisis. Her resignation marked the end of her long tenure, making her the longest-serving leader in Bangladesh’s history and the longest-serving female head of government globally. Political unrest began weeks earlier with protests against a controversial government job quota scheme. These demonstrations quickly became broad resistance to the Awami League party and Hasina’s rule. The situation worsened, leading to public discontent and deadly clashes. Leading Bangladesh since 2009, Hasina won a fourth consecutive term in January through dubious elections. As…

Far-right rioters have launched attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers in the UK, marking the country’s most severe unrest in over a decade. On Sunday, violence erupted near a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, where rioters threw bricks at police, smashed windows, and set fire to bins. Lindsey Butterfield, Assistant Chief Constable, denounced the violence and emphasized the responsibility of both the assailants and the inactive bystanders. She reassured us that police are watching the footage and will shortly act against the implicated parties. Later on Sunday, rioters once more targeted a hotel in Tamworth, close to Birmingham, causing further…

The Gaza Strip is reeling from a devastating series of Israeli strikes that hit two schools and a hospital, killing over 40 Palestinians and injuring dozens more. The attacks, which occurred on Sunday, have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. In the past ten months, Israel has targeted at least 172 “designated shelters,” mostly schools, that house thousands of displaced families. The Israeli military claims these shelters are being used as Hamas military compounds, but Hamas denies this. The latest strikes hit the Hassan Salama and Al-Nasser schools, which were sheltering Palestinian families. Footage shows bodies scattered in the schoolyard, with…

The IRGC investigation revealed that a short-range projectile killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh outside his Tehran residence on Wednesday. Consequently, the IRGC vows to punish Israel severely for Haniyeh’s assassination, claiming US government support. However, Israel neither confirms nor denies involvement, while the US denies knowledge or participation. Haniyeh’s death sparks fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East amidst Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. Meanwhile, his presence in Tehran was for Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, inauguration. Thousands attend Haniyeh’s funeral prayer in Doha, Qatar, on Friday. Notably, his assassination follows the killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr…

On Friday, Japanese stocks plunged significantly as worries about the US economy and the Bank of Japan’s planned interest rate hikes put more stress on markets worldwide. It was the most significant drop in the Nikkei 225 in a single day since March 2020, with a 5.8% drop. This steep plunge made a global stock market drop that started when weak US economic data worsened. It had already dropped 2.5% the day before and is now at its lowest since January. The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 1.4%, which also shows how bad things were for markets in Europe. The…

The United States is embarking on a new era of nuclear capabilities, and the Pentagon has revealed an updated US nuclear strategy to counter the growing dangers posed by Russia and China. Dr. Vipin Narang, now serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, unveiled the revised strategy during a presentation at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in Washington, D.C, on Thursday. Narang called for a more competitive strategy to confront Russia’s possible space-based nuclear weapons and China’s expanding nuclear arsenal. Russia is constructing a new satellite capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, which…

At a recent convention of Black journalists in Chicago, Donald Trump accused Kamala Harris of changing her racial identity for political reasons. Trump stated during the panel at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention that Harris, Black and South Asian, had earlier highlighted her Indian background before abruptly declaring as Black. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black,” Trump said. “So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” He added that Harris had always been associated with her Indian background before this alleged shift. Trump’s…

President Joe Biden is presently contemplating increasing US defenses in the Middle East. This decision comes as the US braces for Iranian retribution in the Middle East. Officials anticipate Iran to retaliate to Israel’s actions, possibly targeting American personnel. Biden reaffirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support for Israel during a phone call on Thursday. This support may include fresh US military deployments in the region. The statement did not specify the details of these deployments, which officials are considering ahead of a potential Iranian response. The Pentagon has debated changes to the US troops posture with US Central Command.…

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed home three Americans, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan, freed from Russian prisons in a historic exchange deal. Meanwhile, the Biden administration’s secret negotiations, spanning over a year, had secured the release of 24 individuals. Consequently, 13 Western detainees were flown to Germany, while eight Russian prisoners were released from US, German, Norwegian, Slovenian, and Polish prisons. Notably, Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal journalist, faced false espionage charges. He maintained his innocence throughout, despite the odds. Similarly, Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty journalist, was wrongly accused of spreading false…

Officials are warning residents west of Riverside Drive in Suicide Basin about a potential flooding situation due to rising water levels. Residents should prepare for possible evacuation by assembling a go-bag with essential items and creating an emergency plan, including a safe meeting point and evacuation route. Last year’s devastating flood, which caused widespread damage and disruption, highlights the importance of preparedness. To mitigate the risk, workers are now putting in place reinforcements like sandbags and water barriers, and multiple agencies are collaborating to ensure public safety. The 2024 state fair program is now available, featuring a vibrant cover design…

The Department of Defense claims three individuals accused of planning the September 11, 2001, strikes on the US have reached a 9/11 attack pre-trial agreement. Years without a trial have seen Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsafi imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Although the specifics of the agreement are unknown, the men will plead guilty to avoid the death sentence. Nearly 3,000 people in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania were murdered in the strikes, which set off the “War on Terror” and later invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Concerned about the 9/11…

Hamas Mourns the Loss of Leader Ismail Haniyeh With deep sorrow, Hamas announces the martyrdom of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in a Zionist raid in Tehran. Notably, Haniyeh was a devoted leader, fighter, and martyr who dedicated his life to the Palestinian cause. Moreover, he played a significant role in shaping Hamas’s resistance movement, contributing to its growth, unifying national efforts, and directing the compass toward Jerusalem. Furthermore, his life culminated in martyrdom during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle, fought to defend Al-Aqsa and its sanctities. Consequently, Haniyeh’s assassination is a dangerous event that shifts the battle…