February 22 sits at the intersection of two distinct election stories that illuminate a broader truth about democracy. On February 18, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission held a public hearing focused on election audit standards. Officials and experts discussed how structured, transparent audits can strengthen public trust in American elections. Audits are technical exercises. They verify counts, examine procedures, and assess compliance. But they are also symbolic. In a

On February 23, the United Nations Human Rights Council opens its 61st regular session in Geneva. By February 20, much of the diplomatic positioning has already taken place. The Council is often portrayed either as symbolic theater or as moral authority. In reality, it is a negotiation arena. States defend policies, civil society groups document abuses, and resolutions are drafted with language that can echo for years. What happens in Geneva does not automatically transform c

As the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics approach their closing ceremony on February 22, the narrative is predictable. Medal counts rise. National pride intensifies. Host cities celebrate smooth execution. Italy has already recorded one of its strongest medal performances in Winter Games history. That achievement deserves recognition. But mega events like the Olympics are never only about sport. They are also tests of governance. Hosting the Games requires enormous coordination

This week in New Delhi, artificial intelligence is being discussed in rooms filled with executives, diplomats, and policymakers. But what is unfolding is not just a technology summit. It is a geopolitical alignment moment. The India AI Impact Summit, running February 16 to 20, has drawn global tech leaders at the same time that Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begins a state visit to India on February 18. That overlap signals something important. Artificial intell

Gambia’s Supreme Court is preparing to rule on a legal challenge that could overturn the country’s 2015 ban on female genital mutilation, a practice internationally recognized as a form of torture and gender-based violence. The case was brought by religious leaders and lawmakers who argue that the ban violates constitutional protections for religious and cultural freedom. If successful, the challenge would reverse a decade of legal progress aimed at protecting girls and wome

The International Court of Justice has concluded hearings in a landmark case that could determine whether Myanmar violated the Genocide Convention through its treatment of the Rohingya people. The case, brought by The Gambia in 2019 , alleges that Myanmar’s military campaign in 2016–2017 amounted to genocide against the Muslim Rohingya minority. During the hearings, judges heard testimony detailing mass killings, sexual violence, the burning of villages , and the forced disp

Politics in the United States is a vast, ever-changing landscape. It shapes our laws, our rights, and our daily lives. I find myself drawn to the currents of change, the debates, and the stories that define this moment. Today, I want to take you on a journey through some of the most popular US politics topics. Together, we will explore what they mean, why they matter, and how they might shape our future. Understanding Popular US Politics Topics Today When we talk about popula

Only a year ago, the United States boasted a prospering, growing alliance, unmatched credibility on the world stage, and numerous trade agreements & partners. Only a year ago, being American would not have been met with immediate wariness or hostility in Greenland or Canada. Only a year ago, the United States was the force that countries and people in need alike appealed to for protection against oppression and violence. Now, the US has utilized violence to force the hand of

In the first days of January 2026, widespread protests erupted across Iran amid soaring inflation and a collapsing currency. Demonstrations that began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar quickly spread to dozens of cities, with security forces responding with tear gas, live ammunition, and mass arrests. Rights groups reported that at least 34 protesters had been killed and more than 2,000 arrested within the first week of nationwide unrest. At the same time in the United States, protes

The world of human rights is always evolving. Every day, new stories emerge that challenge our understanding of justice, equality, and freedom. I find myself drawn to these stories, not just as a witness but as someone who wants to understand the deeper currents shaping our societies. Today, I want to share some of the latest developments in current human rights headlines that have caught my attention. These stories reveal both progress and setbacks, reminding us that the fig

How endless debate weakens rights without removing them Public conversations about democratic decline often rely on dramatic imagery. The fall of institutions. The suspension of elections. Authoritarian takeovers. These images are not wrong, but they are incomplete. Democratic erosion rarely arrives as collapse. More often, it arrives as dilution. Rights are not typically abolished outright. They are discussed. Reconsidered. Reframed. Narrowed. Qualified. Deferred. Each step

Nicolás Maduro Moros, born on November 23, 1962, in a working-class neighborhood of Caracas, rose from a bus driver and trade union leader to become one of the most polarizing figures in modern Latin American politics. A devoted follower of Hugo Chávez, Maduro served as foreign minister and vice president before succeeding his mentor as president of Venezuela in 2013. His 12-year rule, marked by deepening authoritarianism, economic catastrophe, mass migration, and internation

Sudan is living through one of the gravest humanitarian crises of this decade, and it is unfolding largely beyond the attention of the global public. Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, the country has been pushed into a state of prolonged collapse. What began as a power struggle has metastasized into mass displacement, famine conditions, and the near total breakdown of civilian life. According to the United Nat