Home About Sarah Press Contact Portfolio: Human and Civil Rights Portfolio: Policy, Politics, and Governance Portfolio: Features and Longform

International Affairs and International Security

Bustle •

What Is Triple Talaq? India Is Dismantling The Sexist Divorce Law

On Tuesday, India's Supreme Court ruled the controversial Muslim practice of "instant divorce" unconstitutional in India, something which women's rights advocates and organizations have been fighting to achieve for years. With its new ban on "instant divorce," India now joins many other countries that had already banned the practice due to its detrimental impacts on women.

The Muslim practice of instant divorce is known as "talaq-ul-bidat" or "triple talaq." Triple talaq allows a man to instant
Bustle •

The U.S. & Australia Have a Refugee Deal

While the Trump administration has certainly made its stance on refugees known after the President issued an executive order banning all refugees from the country for at least 90 days, there actually exists an exception to this order. Indeed, Australia and the United States do have a refugee deal in which the United States promised to take in up to 1,250 refugees from Australia's refugee detention centers.

The refugee agreement between Australia and the United States is a one-time-only deal ent
Bustle •

Who Is Hassan Aden? The Former Police Chief Alleges His Name Got Him Detained

Since the advent of Donald Trump's presidency in January, foreigners and Americans citizens alike have reported facing increased scrutiny at customs and immigration checkpoints when entering the United States. Recently, Hassan Aden, who is a former police chief and an American citizen, was subject to this increased scrutiny as he made his way back from France via New York's John F. Kennedy airport. Hassan's story is receiving a great deal of attention due to his career as a high-profile U.S. law
Bustle •

"Marry Your Rapist" Laws Are Finally On Their Way Out In These High-Risk Areas

Historically, many countries have employed legal loopholes for rapists that allow them to avoid prosecution for rape if they agree to marry their rape victim. In many locales, these laws have been abolished. However, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, or MENA, they have remained in place. Thankfully, marry-your-rapist laws are slowly being eradicated in the region due to a significant push from women's activist groups.

Marry-your-rapist laws were reportedly designed to protect a
Bustle •

Was The Levallois-Perret Vehicle Attack On Soldiers Terrorism? An Investigation Has Been Opened Up

As news continues to emerge about the vehicle collision with French soldiers in the Parisian suburb of Levallois-Perret, many are wondering whether the incident was an act of terrorism. French counterterrorism prosecutors recently announced that they have opened a case that is further examining the incident.

The incident being investigated occurred around 8 a.m. local time. A group of soldiers from from the 35th Infantry Regiment were repotedly leaving their barracks at the Place de Verdun in L
Bustle •

Is North Korea A Threat To The U.S.? Trump's "Fire & Fury" Rhetoric Heightened Tensions

As the news media widely reported on Tuesday, North Korea threatened to attack the U.S. territory of Guam as a means of sending a warning signal to the United States. The reclusive country's threats toward Guam are certainly disconcerting and have also likely led many Americans to contemplate whether North Korea actually poses a threat to the continental United States as well.

The question of whether or not North Korea veritably poses a threat to the continental United States is certainly compl
Bustle •

Are The U.S. & Pakistan Allies? Trump Accused It Of "Harboring Terrorists"

On Monday, President Donald Trump gave a speech on U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan, in which he appeared to blame Pakistan for contributing to the spread of global terrorism and noted that the U.S. plans to expand its strategic partnerships with Pakistan's historic rival, India. In light of Trump's speech, many are likely wondering: Are the U.S. and Pakistan allies?

In short, the answer is that the U.S.-Pakistan relationship is complicated. While one could write an entire thesis and bey
Bustle •

This Paris Agreement Update Shows All G20 Leaders Except Trump Are Committed

This weekend, President Trump attended the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, meeting with leaders from around the world as they tackled pressing economic issues. Climate change was one of the main topics discussed at the summit, with many countries, save one, reiterating a strong commitment to addressing the issue. Indeed, a related Paris agreement update showed that all G20 leaders — except Trump — agree on how to diminish climate change.

As CNN described, a joint statement on climate cha
Bustle •

Why Donald Trump Should Reassure NATO Of The United States' Commitment Sooner Than Later

Throughout Donald Trump's presidential campaign, he was particularly critical of the United States' membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), often deeming it too expensive and somewhat obsolete. While President Obama recently gave a speech assuring U.S. allies that Trump's commitment to NATO would remain strong, there is still much uncertainty about Trump's dedication to the historic transatlantic alliance. Firstly, the President-elect has not directly expressed his commitmen
Bustle •

The Ebola Outbreak In Congo Is Now A Global Health Emergency — Here’s What That Means

On July 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now a global health emergency, a declaration rarely made throughout history. More than 1,600 people have died from the virus, according to the BBC, since the outbreak began in August 2018. And as more days pass by, the number of cases continue to rise.

Technically, the WHO declared the Ebola virus outbreak in the DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
Bustle •

Donald Trump Consistently Promotes Anti-Globalization Policies & It Could Be A Dangerous Move Backwards

Throughout his campaign and during his tenure thus far as President-elect, Donald Trump has continually promoted anti-globalization policy preferences and stances. An anti-globalization stance, especially in our modern and interconnected world, is highly unprogressive and could cause serious instability for both the United States and world across a variety of sectors. It would serve Trump well to carefully consider his globally-focused policy decisions and continue the modern United States' tren
Bustle •

Why Is Venezuela Protesting? Trump Has Lots Of Thoughts On The Political Unrest

Recently, the international community has become increasingly involved in the political unrest in Venezuela, as the country faces a leadership crisis. As news about this unrest continues to emerge, you might be wondering why exactly Venezuela is protesting — and whether Trump's administration has become involved in the crisis. In fact, Trump has taken an assertive stance on the country's political crisis, and even delivered a speech on Monday in Miami to address the issue.

Venezuela's political
Bustle •

15,000 Scientists Are Urging Climate Change Be Taken Seriously Before It's Too Late

On Monday, Bioscience, a scientific journal, published a letter from more than 15,000 scientists about the environmental damage humans are causing. The letter, entitled, "World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice," called attention to rampant environmental harm and implored that people take action to protect and preserve the planet before it is too late.

Monday's letter is actually a follow-up to an warning from 1992 entitled “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity.” That letter was
Bustle •

El Salvador's Abortion Ban Means A 20-Year-Old Sexual Assault Survivor Is Facing Decades In Prison

In El Salvador, abortion is illegal in all circumstances — and women who undergo the procedure can face steep criminal penalties. The country's law has always been highly controversial and, once again, El Salvador's abortion ban is sparking renewed outrage worldwide.

This outrage stems from the prosecution of a 20-year-old Salvadoran woman, Imelda Cortez, who was charged with attempted murder after giving birth to her rapist's child. The rapist is the woman's stepfather, who, according to the C
Bustle •

How Trump's Global Gag Rule Is Devastating Abortion Rights & So Much More One Year Later

It has been one year since President Donald Trump reinstated and expanded the global gag rule. Unfortunately, in that time, Trump's global gag rule has proven even more detrimental than anticipated. Newly-released statistics from health care organizations around the world reveal it's had profoundly negative consequences for global health above and beyond reproductive health care — particularly in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Historically, Republican presidents have reinstated the global gag rule
Bustle •

Obama Says Climate Change Could Impact World Politics In A Way You Maybe Didn't Consider

While speaking in Calgary on Tuesday, former U.S. President Barack Obama reflected on the far-reaching consequences of climate change. Notably, Obama said climate change could impact world politics in ways you maybe haven't considered — and emphasized that urgent action needs to be taken to address the issue.

As CTV News reported, the 44th president made these remarks during a speech at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Tuesday. As the outlet noted, Calgary houses multipl
Bustle •

Are U.S. Nuclear Bombers On 24-Hour Alert? Here's How It Could Escalate Tensions With North Korea

As reported recently by Defense One, a military and national security analysis website, the United States military is preparing to put nuclear-armed bombers back on 24-hour ready alert. It would mark the first time that this alert has been activated since the waning days of the Cold War in 1991.

A 24-hour would alert ready planes equipped with nuclear weapons for stationing and take off at any time from various U.S. bases. While defense officials stressed to Defense One that a 24-hour alert has
Bustle •

The US Is Diluting UN Women's Rights Documents & Trying To Remove "Gender," Reports Say

This week, the United States is participating in the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at UN Headquarters in New York City. During the negotiations at this meeting, American officials are reportedly taking some pretty controversial stances. Notably, the U.S. is diluting women's rights documents at the UN, seeking to remove references to "gender" from the forum's outcome document, The Guardian reported. Moreover, the paper also noted that the United States reportedly may
Bustle •

This Viral Photo Of A Sudanese Woman Protesting Is Remarkable In More Ways Than One

An iconic moment from the ongoing protests in Sudan is being talked about around the world. A viral photo of a Sudanese woman protesting is remarkable because of what it has come to signify. The image, which features a woman leading protesters as she stands atop a car, has become an emblem of hope, particularly because it evokes memories of historic Sudanese women activists.

As NPR reported, protests have been ongoing in Sudan since December 2018. According to the outlet, these protests began b
Bustle •

Is North Korea A Threat To The U.S.? Trump's "Fire & Fury" Rhetoric Heightened Tensions

As the news media widely reported on Tuesday, North Korea threatened to attack the U.S. territory of Guam as a means of sending a warning signal to the United States. The reclusive country's threats toward Guam are certainly disconcerting and have also likely led many Americans to contemplate whether North Korea actually poses a threat to the continental United States as well.

The question of whether or not North Korea veritably poses a threat to the continental United States is certainly compl
Bustle •

What Is The Rohingya Crisis? Myanmar's Muslim Ethnic Group Has Faced Persecution For Decades

As ethnic tensions continue to unfold in Myanmar, those less familiar with its background may want to know more about it. The plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar has been making news lately — as well as the silence of Myanmar's Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on the issue — but what exactly is the Rohingya Crisis, and how did it happen?

The Rohingya are a majority Muslim ethnic group who reside in Myanmar, a country which is predominately Buddhist. There are around 1.1. million Rohin
Bustle •

Slovakia's First Woman President Zuzana Caputova Is Taking The Country In A New Direction

On Saturday, history was made in the eastern European country of Slovakia. Zuzana Čaputová became Slovakia's first woman president after running a campaign focused on progressivism and optimism. Čaputová will begin her five-year term in June.

As The Guardian reported, Čaputová, a member of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, won Saturday's election after receiving 58.4 percent of the votes. Her campaign largely centered on advocating for progressivism in a way that didn't deride her politic
Bustle •

Trump Won't Sign An Anti-Online Extremism Pact That Countries Around The World Are Joining

Leaders from around the world are coming together to take a stand against online extremism — with one notable exception. The Trump administration won't endorse the Christchurch agreement to mitigate the spread of hateful content online, suggesting that the agreement may inhibit free speech. The international agreement is named after the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where mosque shootings that killed 51 people in March were live-streamed on social media.

As CNN reported, the "Christchurch
Bustle •

Thailand's First Transgender MP Says They Want To "Change The Discriminatory Laws"

History was made during Thailand's general election in March, after the country's first-ever transgender Member of Parliament (MP) was elected to office. The newly-minted politician is already outlining their vision for their tenure in office, as Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, Thailand's first transgender MP hopes to change the way that LGBTQ people are treated in the Southeast Asian country.

Tanwarin, who identifies as non-binary, was elected as an MP on March 24, The Guardian reported. Prior to their
Load More

Follow Me