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World News

CDC sends monkeypox vaccines 

The Biden administration has shared 1200 vaccine doses for individuals that have high-risk exposures to the monkeypox virus to minimize the consequences, which could be a major outbreak. U.S. health officials have stated that monkeypox is spreading more rapidly than they believed. The World Health Organization stated that there are more than 550 cases of the virus across 30 different countries. There have been a confirmed amount of cases of 20 in 11 states in the US. “A monkeypox outbreak of this scale and scope across the world, it has not been seen before,” Dr Raj Panjabi, a doctor that leads the White House pandemic preparedness office. But the CDC has been quick to reassure that monkeypox is very contrasting compared to Covid-19, as upon its first arrival, there were no ‘cures’ or vaccines for Covid. While monkeypox has been known about since 1958.

Bangladesh fire 

A storage depot caught on fire and erupted a large explosion in the city of Chittagong, Bangladesh, killing 32 people and injuring hundreds. The depot had millions of dollars of garments that were in wait to be exported to different Western retailers, as Bangladesh is a major supplier of clothing to Western regions. After the arrival of hundreds of people to help the fire, numerous containers exploded at the storage site. The origin of the fire is still unknown but there were chemicals within the containers that caused the explosion after the fire had started. Due to the numerous injuries, the hospitals nearby have been overwhelmed and have appealed for donations of blood, as there are many in critical condition with burns that cover 60%-90% of their bodies.

Shooting in Philadelphia 

There were 3 casualties and 11 injured due to a shooting in Philadelphia. Shortly before midnight on late Saturday, police officers on patrol that were in a popular nightlife area heard gunfire and had witnessed that there were ‘several active shooters’ who were firing into a crowd. An officer attempted to fire on one of the gunmen, but is unaware that the man was hit, as the gunman left his weapon and fled the scene. There were 14 individuals that were shot and were rushed to the nearby hospitals, however, three individuals, two men and one woman were pronounced dead as they arrived at the hospital.

- Written by Jenna Cho; Source CNBC, BBC, The Washington Post

Hindu People Flee the Kashmir Region Following Targeted Attacks

Mirroring attacks in the 1990s, Hindu people residing in the Kashmir region of India are once again the target of militant attacks. Within the last few weeks, over 900 Hindu families fled the region, following the government’s drive to implement their ideas into the region. Included in these attacks are targeted killings, with at least 19 civilians being victims.

Police in India has claimed that the murders were the work of Pakistan-backed militant groups, which is a possibility seeing as both Pakistan and India control parts of the Kashmir region but lay claim to its entirety. The region has a large Muslim population, and there have been claims that the attacks were carried out by Islamic groups although evidence is still unclear seeing as the Indian government hasn't conducted large-scale investigations on the issue. Following attacks in the 1990s by Pakistani militants, over 65,000 Kashmiri Hindus fled and by 2010 a few thousand had returned and began to put down roots. Those who returned are now faced with the possibility of fleeing again due to the uptick in violence-- many of whom have spent most of their lives as refugees running from violence.

The recent killings and targeted instances of violence have prompted an exodus on a smaller scale than in the 1990s, and those who have chosen not to flee have had their lives derailed as some went into hiding and others have suffered losses of key workers or those close to them who fled. The Indian government has held meetings on the situation in the region due to security concerns but is yet to issue an official statement.

Liberal Political Commentary

The unrest in the Kashmir region is deeply unsettling and is a take all too familiar for ethnic and religious minorities across the world; it is one of fear, persecution, and death. As Hindus in the region are once again the victims of hateful, targeted attacks and killings, the Indian government hasn’t taken action to help this portion of their people who are in desperate need of aid. It’s true that the diplomatic situation in the region is rocky since both Pakistan and India lay full claim to the region, but India clearly controls the parts that are the most dangerous for Kashmiri Hindus, so it’s their responsibility to take action

The best thing governments can do in times like these is to side with their people boldly and definitely and enact comprehensive protections for minorities of all kinds. In the past, the government made an effort to bring Hindus back into the region by supporting job growth in the area, providing nearly 4,000 jobs. Efforts like these need to continue in this critical time to protect the livelihoods of Hindus in Kashmir and ensure attacks like these stop.

Two key mistakes have been made by the Indian government and its police: security presence has not increased in Hindu communities, and serious investigations haven’t taken place following the hate killings. As soon as a clear pattern was emerging, police and military presence should have increased in the region to deter future attacks and keep the Hindu population safe. It isn’t too late to fix these oversights, and in this crucial time for the Kashmiri Hindus, we must hope that the Indian government provides aid for the group both in policy and protection.

- Written by Ashlyn Hill

Conservative Political Commentary

It appears that Islamic terrorism rears its ugly head once again in Kashmir. These attacks against local Hindus are not a new mechanism of menace in the region. The great exodus of over 300,000 Hindus (locally known as Pandits) that occurred in the 1990s was a direct result of Islamic terrorism tactics(Kumar and Mashal). This “orgy of violence” in Kashmir against local Hindus is just another way that Islamic supremacism is trying to integrate an “ethnic-cleansing exercise” in the region by targeting and threatening Pandits(Jain). This has been going on for decades as Pakistan has fought against India for sovereignty in the area. As a result, they have fueled the Islamic terrorists by funding and training them to target civilian casualties(Kumar and Mashal). Just in the last week, 3 Hindus have been killed causing many others to feel they must flee for their lives(Kumar and Mashal). Since 2019, when Kashmir lost its semi-autonomous state there has been an increase in attacks on Hindus as the terrorists aimed at inspiring enough terror that New Delhi leaves the region to Pakistan as either a friendly Muslim neighbour or as a merged asset(Jain).

The terrorists have shifted tactics since the 1980s and instead of targeting public images, they have switched to targeting the everyday man(Al Jazeera). Teachers and low-rung government workers have been killed leading to greater panic as Hindus in the region fear they will be next(Al Jazeera). Many have attempted to flee or stopped going to work out of fear for their safety. But fleeing the area doesn’t stop the terrorism but instead incites it as the Islamic supremacists realize their petty policy has real results. These terrorists are good at inciting fear amongst civilians, but they cause the opposite of their true cause. Instead, it makes the argument stronger for India to protect this region for the Hindus present. These families have lived in the region for centuries prior to the mass exodus forced on them(Jain). For many, they had finally been able to return to their original homeland and begin anew. These terrorists need to be stopped and the local Hindu population protected rather than run off.

- Written by Alexis Walker; Source NY Times, Al Jazeera, OpIndia

Economy

Russian companies have long-relied on US technology, but due to sanctions following the Ukraine War, they have faced an absence of critical technologies and maintenance. Sanctions from European NATO members have made an impact as well, making it even more difficult for Russian companies to find alternatives to US technologies. Some have tried producing semiconductors and other components themselves while others have found a solution with China just as other industries have. (Source: New York TImes)

The analysis of the United States economy in May has concluded, and revealed that inflation remained high. One of the largest drivers of inflation, the US trade deficit (which hit a peak in March), was still in effect in May as well as supply shortages. China experienced a small rise in inflation in May as well, driven by higher pork prices and irregularities caused by COVID lockdowns. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

- Written by Ashlyn Hill; Source Wall Street Journal, New York Times

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