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Source The Biden administration is facing a new challenge in the form of rising violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The latest spate of deadly incidents has further complicated the trip of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region, where he is expected to discuss de-escalation with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken’s trip comes after a weekend of deadly shootings by Palestinian attackers that killed seven Israelis and wounded five others in Jerusalem, as well as a raid by the Israeli military in the West Bank on Thursday that killed 10 Palestinians. The violence has made January one of the bloodiest months in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem in several years. Blinken’s trip marks the first high-level engagement with Netanyahu since his return to power and the surge in violence. The Biden administration is already grappling with the new Israeli government’s far-right policies and its opposition to a t

Photo by  Caleb Perez  on  Unsplash On December 23, 2022, the United States House of Representatives passed a massive spending bill that will fund the government through September of 2023. The bill, which passed by a wide margin, includes provisions for a wide range of programs and initiatives, including funding for national defense, education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The spending bill, which has been referred to as an "omnibus" bill, is the result of months of negotiations between the House, the Senate, and the White House. It represents a compromise between the various parties involved, and it includes a number of provisions that are likely to be controversial. One of the most controversial provisions of the spending bill is the allocation of funds for national defense. The bill includes funding for the military and for national security programs, as well as provisions for military construction projects. While some have praised the bill for providing the necessary r

Photo by Aram Grigoryan on Unsplash Armenia is a small country located in the South Caucasus region, nestled between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Iran. It has a rich history dating back to ancient times, and is home to a vibrant culture and highly educated population. However, Armenia has faced many challenges in recent years that have impacted its economic development and quality of life for its citizens. One major issue is the political landscape in Armenia, which has been marked by ongoing conflict and aggression from neighboring countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkey. These tensions have led to economic sanctions and blockades, which have had a negative impact on the country's GDP and overall economic growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, as the country has struggled to provide adequate healthcare and support to its citizens during this difficult time. In addition to these external factors, Armenia has also faced significant historical repression, i

     Censorship is a predominant issue in Eastern Europe that reaches the Caucuses, where Armenia is located. Since the drop of the Soviet Union, Armenia has had an interesting and complicated relationship with Russia. Unlike Russia’s President Putin and the Kremlin's extreme censorship over media, Armenia is becoming more diverse after the Velvet Revolution, but the media remains schismatized. And while Armenians often face multiple levels of disinformation and fake news, the journalists in the country face numerous challenges that lead to additional poor coverage. Censorship against journalists in Armenia is a reminder of the echoing past of the Soviet Union; although the Velvet Revolution began to welcome democratic ideas of the western world, the government has still failed to reduce the media’s polarization.       Media in Armenia was relatively dictatorial and not free after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Armenian journalists then faced occasional threats, violence, and in