Iran protests continue as government cracks down

Iran protests continue as government cracks down

Iran has been plagued with nationwide protests since last December as its citizens continue to demand fundamental rights from the government. Recently, Iran has banned the use of Telegram — a secure messaging app — to block communication and collaboration efforts by protesters. This has led to activists relying on more creative methods to get […]

Committee formed to investigate ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk

Committee formed to investigate ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk

When the city of Kirkuk changed hands between the Peshmerga and Hashd al-Shaabi militants last October, many residents fled their homes as looting and murder began. Now, order has been somewhat restored by Iraqi security forces but these same displaced citizens believe they cannot return home. An investigative committee has been established by the central […]

A Quiet Place: Silence has never been so terrifying

A Quiet Place: Silence has never been so terrifying

Directed by John Krasinski Starring: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward This movie is the definition of non-stop. It manages to capture a level of intensity in a post-apocalyptic world that far transcended the overdone zombie and monster films and shows that have been so popular in the last few years. […]

Metropolis: The head, the hands and the heart

Metropolis: The head, the hands and the heart

“Head and hands need a mediator. The mediator between head and hands must be the heart!” – “Metropolis” If you haven’t seen the version of “Metropolis” (1927) that was recovered in 2008 and restored in 2010, I would recommend going and seeing that before reading. However, if you need convincing to go see a 2.5 […]

South Korea to remove loudspeakers from DMZ

South Korea to remove loudspeakers from DMZ

South Korea has decided to dismantle many of speakers used to blast propaganda and K-pop across the DMZ. This was one of many psyop missions to attempt to influence soldiers and civilians from North Korea. Historically, these speakers have also been a profound source of irritation for the North Koreans, even prompting an exchange of […]

Turkey attempts to quell foreign press

Turkey attempts to quell foreign press

Turkey, and more specifically President Erdogan, has a long-standing feud with social media. From banning access to Twitter and Facebook during the Gezi Park protests in 2013, where 11 people were killed in the four months of the unrest, to continuous protests of the Turkish government against social media companies. Interestingly, the protests in Gezi started […]

Human trafficking in small-town Florida

Human trafficking in small-town Florida

Ocala, FL — A man has been proclaimed guilty by a jury of his peers and sentenced to 30 years for human trafficking. Ocala, a town of approximately 57,000 people, lies in the central Florida in Marion county. Marion County Detective Zackary Hughes said that, “This was the fourth case of human trafficking case in […]

On this day in history: The Sultana steamboat explodes, killing over 1,500

On this day in history: The Sultana steamboat explodes, killing over 1,500

April 27, 1865 — The Sultana was overcrowded with almost 2,000 recently released Union soldiers that had been held by the Confederacy. They were packed into the steam boat as it powered up a relentless spring-time flood on the Mississippi river, and though it was cramped, many were probably happy to be there. After the […]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports on Afrin

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports on Afrin

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is a United Kingdom based conflict zone monitor that has documented the current situation in Afrin, Syria. They have focused heavily on the Turkish occupation that has resulted from their military incursion into Syria under Operation Olive Branch. On Wednesday they released the statement that, “Demographic change is being carried out, […]