International - The Signal

On the weekend of Jan. 23, 2023, it was announced that FBI agents discovered classified documents after searching President Biden’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“FBI” by J. July 16, 2012).

Amid classified documents fiasco, House eyes bipartisan reform

By Elias Hunt | Feb. 9

On the weekend of Jan. 23, it was announced that FBI agents discovered classified documents after searching President Joe Biden’s residence in Wilmington, Delaware. The event has been drawing comparisons to the seizure of classified documents from former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022. Former Vice President Mike Pence has also been implicated in a classified documents controversy.

NASA scientists announced a newly discovered planet with properties linked to habitability. It’s roughly Earth’s size, rocky and named TOI 700 e (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“Chandra Sees Evidence for Possible Planet in Another Galaxy” by NASA Universe. July 15, 2010).

New planet discovered in a habitable zone, observatory on College campus

By Amber Nodes | Feb. 9

NASA scientists announced a newly discovered planet with properties linked to habitability. It’s roughly Earth’s size, rocky and named TOI 700 e, reports USA Today. NASA reports that finding planets with similar Earth-sized planets can help inform the history of the solar system and that there will be a follow-up study that may have more insights in the future.

Scientists recently created a robot designed to melt and reform, crediting sea cucumbers as their inspiration (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“Sea Cucumber” by NOAA Ocean Exploration. March 12, 2017).

Study shows potential of a robot able to melt

By Amber Nodes | Feb. 6

Scientists recently created a robot designed to melt and reform, according to a new study published in Matter. The study credits some of the idea to their bioinspiration: sea cucumbers.

The Doomsday Clock has recently been set to 90 seconds from midnight and is the closest the hands have ever been to the end of the world (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“DSC_9022” by michael_swan. February 12, 2018).

Doomsday Clock strikes 90 seconds to midnight — what this means for the world

By Aneri Upadhyay | Feb. 2

The world on fire, the sun exploding, an asteroid hitting Earth — everyone has a different definition of total annihilation. Most people can agree, however, that it is not a desirable event. The Doomsday Clock symbolizes how close the world is to ending, and it just moved 10 seconds closer.

The year 2022 saw the highest number of school shooting incidents in four decades (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“National school walkout against gun violence” by Fibonacci Blue, April 20, 2018).

Security questions remain after six-year old boy shoots teacher

By Gauri Patel | Feb. 2

Last month, a six-year-old boy was taken into police custody after allegedly shooting his teacher with a handgun at a Virginia elementary school, according to The New York Times. This incident is one of the many school shootings that have occurred recently.

The Respect for Marriage Act, which would offer federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, passed the Senate on Nov. 29 when 12 Republicans joined all present Democrats in voting in favor of the bill (Photo courtesy of Flickr/“Obergefell v. Hodges Decision Announced” by Jay Popovich. June 26, 2015).

Respect for Marriage Act passes Senate in bipartisan vote

By Amber Nodes | Dec. 12

The Respect for Marriage Act, which would offer federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, passed the Senate on Nov. 29 when 12 Republicans joined all present Democrats in voting in favor of the bill, according to NBC. On Dec. 8, the bill also passed in the House, gaining bipartisan support in a 258-169-1 vote. Thirty nine Republicans voted to pass the bill, along with all Democrats, according to CNBC.

President Joe Biden passed a bill on Dec. 2 to block rail strikes after businesses and retailers rushed to prepare for an expected freight rail strike of 100,000 union members (Flickr/“Railroad Station” by Nick S. October 23, 2013).

Railroad strike due to workers’ rights dispute with Congress halted by new bill

By Aneri Upadhyay | Dec. 12

President Joe Biden passed a bill on Dec. 2 to block rail strikes after businesses and retailers rushed to prepare for an expected freight rail strike of 100,000 union members. The effects of this strike would have been monumental, from price increases to fuel shortages. Congress was attempting to prevent this strike before it was too late.

Protests have erupted in major cities across China in opposition to the Chinese government’s strict “zero-COVID” policy (Photo by Date20221127 via Wikimedia Commons, Nov. 27, 2022).

Protests erupt against China’s “Zero-COVID” policy

By Gauri Patel | Dec. 5

Protests have erupted in major cities across China in opposition to the Chinese government’s strict “zero-COVID” policy. The unrest comes after 10 people were killed in a house fire in the city of Urumqi as a result of lockdown rules interfering with rescue efforts, as reported by the BBC.

The G20 Summit took place in Bali, Indonesia this year where world leaders discussed issues such as COVID-19, climate change and the war in Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of the White House. Posted to Twitter on Nov. 14, 2022.)

World leaders congregate for 2022 G20 summit

By Aneri Upadhyay | Nov. 30

This year’s annual G20 summit aimed to address the war in Ukraine, American-Chinese trade relationship and economic struggles following the recent pandemic. Although discussions took place revolving around these topics, only a few agreements were made.

Republicans have taken a narrow majority of the House of Representatives following the Midterm elections (Flickr/“US Capitol Building” by ttarsiuk. June 10, 2010).

Republicans Take Slim House Majority, Pelosi to Step Down from Dem Leadership Post

By Matthew Kaufman | Nov. 27

Republicans took a narrow majority of the House of Representatives following what many expected to be a “red wave” in the Midterms, which ended up being much more reserved.

The battle for control of Congress remains up in the air as the Senate comes down to two key races, Nevada and Georgia, and a handful of House of Representatives contests remain uncalled (Flickr/ “United States Capitol” by Dan Gaken. April 11, 2012).

Republicans and Democrats in Tight Race for Control of the Senate

By Gauri Patel | Nov. 27

The battle for control of Congress remains up in the air for the House of Representatives as a handful of contests remain uncalled. The fight for House majority appears to be favorable for the Republicans, as the GOP only needs five more seats to overcome the Democrats’ narrow majority, according to CBS News.

Although not all ballots have been counted, most governor elections have been called with a few exceptions. Democrats flipped Massachusetts, Arizona and Maryland, and Republicans flipped Nevada (Flickr/“Governor Votes Early” by Jay Baker. October 13, 2014).

Governor races indicate shifts in party powers

By Amber Nodes | Nov. 27

Although not all ballots have been counted, most governor elections have been called with a few exceptions. Democrats flipped Massachusetts, Arizona and Maryland, and Republicans flipped Nevada.

David DePape, 42, has been charged with six counts relating to the attack on Paul Pelosi on Oct. 28. (Wikimedia Commons/“Paul Pelosi 2022” by Quirinale.it/June 28, 2022).

Paul Pelosi attacker currently being held without bail

By Signal Correspondent | Nov. 22

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was assaulted at his San Francisco home on Oct. 28. David DePape, 42, has been charged with six counts relating to the attack, including attempted murder, burglary, assault, false imprisonment and threatening the family member of a public official. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Ukrainian forces began advancing through the key city of Kherson on Nov. 11 as Russian forces retreated, signifying a major victory for Kyiv (Flickr/“Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in hoisting the State Flag of Ukraine in liberated Kherson” by President of Ukraine. November 14, 2022).

Ukraine reclaims Kherson after months of Russian occupation

By Gauri Patel | Nov. 22

Ukrainian forces began advancing through the key city of Kherson on Nov. 11 as Russian forces retreated, signifying a major victory for Kyiv. They encountered little to no resistance as they reclaimed the city that had experienced months of Russian occupation, according to CNN. Kherson was the only regional capital that was captured by Moscow since the initial invasion in February.

NASA’s Artemis Ⅰ mission has once again been delayed due to unpleasant weather conditions. Originally meant to launch Nov. 14, the rocket will now be prepared for Nov. 16 (Flickr/“Artemis I” by DLR_next. July 29, 2022).

NASA’s mission to the moon delayed due to Tropical Storm Nicole

By Aneri Upadhyay | Nov. 16

NASA’s Artemis Ⅰ mission has once again been delayed due to hazardous weather conditions. Originally meant to launch Nov. 14, the rocket will now be prepared for Nov. 16. The Artemis mission is the first step of the greater Orion mission, in which NASA will launch a rocket to and from the moon with hopes of eventually sending more people to the moon.

The conservative-majority Supreme Court heard cases on Oct. 31 regarding college admissions using race as an admissions factor and conveyed skepticism on whether affirmative action is necessary and legal (Flickr/”Supreme Court” by Beatrice Murch, March 28, 2005).

Supreme Court Takes Up Affirmative Action Cases, Conservative Majority Skeptical

By Amber Nodes | Nov. 15

The conservative-majority Supreme Court heard cases on Oct. 31 regarding college admissions using race as an admissions factor and conveyed skepticism on whether affirmative action is necessary and legal, according to USA Today. The outcome of these cases will have a broader impact on college admissions but could apply to the workplace as well.

President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness is facing legal challenges, even as over 20 million people have already applied for the program. (Flickr/”Oh, these student loans!” by CafeCredit, November 5, 2016).

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Facing Legal Troubles

By Aneri Upadhyay | Nov. 8

Student loans may be relieved with President Joe Biden’s new plan for forgiving up to $10,000 in student loan debt for people earning less than $125,000 a year, as well as up to $20,000 for people who have received Pell Grants. These reforms are planned to be implemented in July 2023; however, they were blocked by a federal appeals court after six states sued the Biden Administration.

Rishi Sunak has become the next Prime Minister of the U.K., following Liz Truss’s resignation after just 44 days in office. (Flickr/Rishi Sunak MP/Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt. January 9, 2018).

Rishi Sunak becomes next PM as Truss fails to deliver on economic relief

By Gauri Patel | Nov. 7

Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her resignation after a short 44 days in office, the shortest tenure in the last 300 years of British history, according to AP. Her term was marked by economic turmoil after the introduction of her tax cut plan aimed at the highest earners and biggest corporations in the country, rocking financial markets and resulting in rebellion within her own Conservative party. Former finance minister under Boris Johnson’s premiership, Rishi Sunak, is set to take over as the leader of the Conservative Party.

Xi Jinping secured a third term at the meeting of the Communist Party on Oct. 23. He gained another five-year term as the President of China (Flickr/“Xi Jinping” by Global Panorama. July 30, 2014).

Xi Jinping furthers grasp on China causing political and economic concerns

By Amber Nodes | Nov. 4

Xi Jinping secured a third five-year term as President of China at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 23, according to NPR. This caused a major sell-off of stocks in China as a “$6 trillion stock-market blowup,” according to Bloomberg.

Researchers at Florida State University studied the effects that Covid-19 had on individuals’ personalities from the early to the late-stage pandemic which showed significant changes in personality, especially in younger people (Flickr/“Personality” by EpicTop10.com. November 10, 2019).

Neurological effects of Covid-19 start to emerge

By Amber Nodes | Nov. 4

In a September study, researchers at Florida State University studied the effects that Covid-19 had on individuals’ personalities from the early-to-late-stage pandemic. They found significant changes in personality, especially in younger people. Other studies have produced similar results, and millions of people may be out of work due to Long Covid.