China Celebrates 70 Years of Communist Rule
This month, China celebrates a birthday of sorts: October marks the 70th anniversary of Communist rule in the country and the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At that time, Mao Zedong imposed a Marxist system of government, in which there was no more private property and all workers were equal. But has the […]
Hong Kong: Understanding the Unrest
This summer has been a challenging one in Hong Kong, filled with protests and political unrest. Now, the government has escalated the situation even further by arresting several prominent pro-democracy lawmakers just days before a large protest was scheduled to occur. Here, btw takes a look at what’s happening in Hong Kong, why, and what […]
Iran Shoots Down U.S. Drone
Earlier this month, btw brought you the story of rising tensions between the United States and Iran over the explosion of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has continued to deteriorate. Here, btw takes a closer look at what’s happening now. Looking Back…. Tensions between […]
Oil Tankers Attacked in Persian Gulf
Last month, Election Central brought you the story of rising tensions between the United States and Iran. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated significantly since Trump pulled the U.S. out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and then began imposing a series of economic sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation. Now, that tension […]
Japanese Emperor Abdicates Throne
Emperor Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, is stepping down from the throne he has held since 1989. Why is this such significant news? Because Akihito is the first Japanese emperor in modern history (since about the mid-1800s) to abdicate, or leave, his throne. Here, btw takes a closer look at the decision, and at […]
New Zealand Grapples with Mass Shooting
On March 15, fifty people were killed and another fifty wounded when a 28-year-old Australian shooter attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Here, btw takes a closer look at the tragedy. What Happened? At about 1:40 pm on March 15, the shooter, a white supremacist dressed in military gear, walked into the Al Noor […]
Trouble in Helsinki
On July 16, Donald Trump met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The two hours of closed-door talks between the two leaders was followed by a news conference, which turned out to be one of the most troubling moments of Trump’s presidency so far. Here, btw takes a look at […]
Europe’s Immigration Crisis
If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve probably heard a lot about Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy, and the controversy surrounding the separation of immigrant and refugee parents and children at our nation’s borders. But the United States isn’t the only country facing an immigration crisis. Europe is also harshly divided over […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Shareable Scooters Hit the Road Move over, buses and subways and ride sharing. A new public transportation trend is hitting the streets: e-scooters. E-scooters, or shareable electric scooters, are stand-up, battery-powered personal transportation devices that are part of the growing micro-mobility trend in cities nationwide. Here’s how they work: you use an app on your […]
A Look at Vladimir Putin
Last week, Russian president Vladimir Putin–who is up for re-election later this month–gave a fiery annual address to his country. In it, he talked a lot about domestic policy: improving living standards, cutting the poverty rate in half, emphasizing technology and business growth, and growing the economy. But that’s not what earned his speech international […]