The globe

By Julie  In a political shockwave reverberating across Europe, France is witnessing the unprecedented rise of the far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen’s protégé, Jordan Bardella. The first round of France’s snap parliamentary elections has thrown the country into a state of tension, as President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance falls far behind. With the National Rally securing a strong lead, and the leftist New Popular Front alliance trailing close, France is now at a historic crossroads: a potential far-right-led government in one of the EU’s strongest democracies. But what’s driving this political earthquake? Why This Matters Globally: A far-right win in France could shake the EU: France is a core EU member and nuclear power. A shift in Paris could affect policies on immigration, climate, and foreign aid. It signals a broader trend: Across Europe, far-right movements are gaining ground — in Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, and now possibly France. France’s for...

  Global Unrest in 2025: The Protest Movements Shaping Our World 2025 has become a flashpoint year for civil disobedience and political protests . From the streets of Nairobi to the boulevards of Paris and the cities of Taiwan , people are rising up against corruption, inequality, and authoritarianism. These protests are more than viral hashtags they are reshaping governments, sparking global debates, and calling out injustice at scale. Join us as we highlight the most significant protest movements happening across the globe right now and what they mean for the future of democracy. Kenya: Youth-Led Protests Demand Accountability The Spark: Police Brutality and Fiscal Oppression In June 2025 , thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets to protest police brutality, rising unemployment, and the controversial state sponsored abductions. Why It Matters: Death of activist and blogger Alfred Ojwang while in police custody ignited national outrage. Protesters, mainly Gen Z , are us...

   “No Kings” Movement: How 5 Million Americans Stood Up Against Authoritarianism What Is the “No Kings” Movement? On June 14, 2025 , a record-breaking 5 million Americans gathered across 2,100+ cities under one message: No Kings. No Dictators. Just Democracy. The “No Kings” movement began as a digital campaign against what many see as creeping authoritarianism in the United States—especially with the rise of Donald Trump’s return to the political spotlight. But what started as a hashtag quickly became one of the largest coordinated protest actions in modern American history. Why Did It Explode in Popularity? The movement’s success wasn’t by accident. It hit a nerve. Here's why: 1. Deepening Authoritarian Fears Trump’s rhetoric about immunity from prosecution, controlling the DOJ, and silencing opposition has sparked fears of a future dictatorship. 2. Grassroots Organizing Done Right The decentralized network of local organizers, especially the group 50501 , coordinated r...

  US Interventions in Middle Eastern Wars: A History of Power, Politics & Consequences The United States has played a significant and often controversial role in shaping the modern political landscape of the Middle East. From covert operations to full-scale invasions, US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts has been driven by a complex mix of geopolitical interests, oil politics, counterterrorism, and regional alliances. Lets  explore the major instances where the US interfered in wars or conflicts in the Middle East and examine how these interventions turned out. 1. Iran (1953): Operation Ajax In 1951, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, angering Britain and the US. The CIA and British intelligence orchestrated a coup (Operation Ajax) to overthrow Mossadegh and reinstall the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. As a result: -Western control of oil was restored. -The Shah's authoritarian rule sparked resentment, culminating in t...

  Near Misses: When the World Stood on the Edge of World War III Throughout modern history, there have been chilling moments when global tensions escalated so dramatically that World War III seemed imminent. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed or luck intervened , and the world pulled back from the edge. These incidents serve as powerful reminders of how fragile peace can be. 1. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Perhaps the most iconic near-miss in history, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. When the U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, it responded with a naval blockade. For 13 days, the world held its breath. A secret backchannel deal saved the day: the USSR removed the missiles in exchange for the U.S. quietly withdrawing missiles from Turkey. 2. The Able Archer Scare (1983) During NATO’s routine military exercise known as Able Archer 83 , the Soviet Union feared it was a cover for a real nuclear strike. Sovi...

Iran vs Israel: A Clash of Missions and Strategic VisionsThe Middle East has long been a theater of complex rivalries, but none has captured global attention quite like the ongoing tension between Iran and Israel. While the two nations have never directly gone to war, their missions, political, ideological, and military have collided on multiple fronts over the past few decades. Here’s a breakdown of their distinct past missions and how they’ve shaped the regional balance of power. Lets start with IranSince the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has pursued a mission of exporting its revolutionary ideals. The country views itself as the protector of Shia Islam and a challenger to Western, and especially U.S. influence in the Middle East. This has guided Iran’s support for proxy groups such as: Hezbollah in Lebanon Houthi rebels in Yemen Militias in Iraq and Syria Iran’s military involvement in Syria helped keep Bashar al-Assad in power, while in Iraq, it built deep political and para...

From Tiananmen to the Tropics: How China Took Over Global Infrastructure. In 1989, the world watched in horror as China’s government brutally suppressed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. What followed was diplomatic isolation and Western sanctions. China was viewed as a pariah—but that didn’t last long. Today, the same country dominates global infrastructure development, especially across the Global South. From highways in Kenya to ports in Sri Lanka, China's reach is everywhere. So how did it get here—and why did it focus on the Global South? Rather than embracing Western-style democracy, China turned inward and focused on economic transformation: Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour in 1992 revived momentum for open markets. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) like Shenzhen attracted global investment. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) embraced authoritarian capitalism, maintaining tight political control while opening its economy to trade and innovation. This set the foundat...

According to recent crime statistics, tens of thousands of vehicles are broken into annually across the UK, with urban areas like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool being hotspots for such offences. One of the driving forces behind the rise in car burglaries is the value of the items often left inside vehicles—laptops, smartphones, wallets, designer goods, and even tools can attract opportunistic thieves. Additionally, advancements in car technology have created new vulnerabilities that criminals are increasingly exploiting. But how do these burglars get into your car? 1. Keyless Entry Hacking Modern cars often come with keyless entry systems. While convenient, these systems can be exploited by thieves using relay devices. One criminal stands near the house to pick up the signal from the key fob, while another stands near the car to receive that signal and unlock the door. 2. Window Smashing The oldest trick in the book—smash and grab. This method is still common,...

The Rise and Fall of the Romanian Dictatorship (1989) Romania’s journey through dictatorship is one of the most brutal and unique among the former Eastern Bloc countries. Spanning over four decades, the Romanian dictatorship began with Soviet influence after World War II and ended dramatically in 1989 with the execution of its infamous leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu. This blog post explores how this authoritarian regime came to power, how it operated, and how it ultimately crumbled. Communist takeover of Romania after Nazi Germany's defeat (1944) The roots of the Romanian dictatorship trace back to the end of World War II. As Nazi Germany was defeated, Soviet troops occupied Romania in 1944, shifting the country’s political trajectory sharply to the left. In 1947, King Michael I was forced to abdicate under pressure from the communists, effectively ending the monarchy and paving the way for the Romanian People's Republic. The Romanian Communist Party, with Soviet backing, took comp...