January 2025
February 2025
Merkel Selfie: A Symbol of the 2015 Refugee Crisis and its Aftermath
In September 2015, Syrian refugee Anas Modamani took a selfie with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an image that went viral, symbolizing Germany's refugee policy and later becoming a target of far-right disinformation campaigns; Modamani, now a successful video producer, plans to return to Syria in...
Merkel Selfie: A Symbol of the 2015 Refugee Crisis and its Aftermath
In September 2015, Syrian refugee Anas Modamani took a selfie with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an image that went viral, symbolizing Germany's refugee policy and later becoming a target of far-right disinformation campaigns; Modamani, now a successful video producer, plans to return to Syria in...
Progress
48% Bias Score
Germany Launches Digital Visa Portal to Combat Lengthy Wait Times
Germany is launching a new digital visa portal in 2025 to address lengthy application processing times, streamlining the process for approximately 500,000 annual applications and reducing in-person appointment times; the \13.6 million euro project aims to improve efficiency while acknowledging ongoi...
Germany Launches Digital Visa Portal to Combat Lengthy Wait Times
Germany is launching a new digital visa portal in 2025 to address lengthy application processing times, streamlining the process for approximately 500,000 annual applications and reducing in-person appointment times; the \13.6 million euro project aims to improve efficiency while acknowledging ongoi...
Progress
44% Bias Score
González Urrutia's Latin American Tour Challenges Maduro's Inauguration
Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia begins a Latin American tour to challenge Nicolás Maduro's upcoming inauguration, despite a $100,000 bounty on his head, aiming to garner international support for his claim of electoral victory; he has meetings scheduled in Argentina and Uruguay...
González Urrutia's Latin American Tour Challenges Maduro's Inauguration
Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia begins a Latin American tour to challenge Nicolás Maduro's upcoming inauguration, despite a $100,000 bounty on his head, aiming to garner international support for his claim of electoral victory; he has meetings scheduled in Argentina and Uruguay...
Progress
60% Bias Score
House Speaker Johnson Re-Elected by Razor-Thin Margin Amidst Party Divisions
House Speaker Mike Johnson won re-election by a slim 218-215 margin after initial defections within his own party, facing significant internal divisions and policy demands while outlining an agenda focused on border security and reversing Biden administration policies.
House Speaker Johnson Re-Elected by Razor-Thin Margin Amidst Party Divisions
House Speaker Mike Johnson won re-election by a slim 218-215 margin after initial defections within his own party, facing significant internal divisions and policy demands while outlining an agenda focused on border security and reversing Biden administration policies.
Progress
36% Bias Score
South Korea's Failed Self-Coup Highlights Democratic Vulnerabilities
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3 declaration of martial law, an attempt described by experts as a self-coup, was swiftly overturned by a mobilized Parliament and a military hesitant to use force due to the Gwangju Massacre's legacy, highlighting both democratic resilience and weakne...
South Korea's Failed Self-Coup Highlights Democratic Vulnerabilities
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3 declaration of martial law, an attempt described by experts as a self-coup, was swiftly overturned by a mobilized Parliament and a military hesitant to use force due to the Gwangju Massacre's legacy, highlighting both democratic resilience and weakne...
Progress
32% Bias Score
Trump Intervention Secures Johnson as House Speaker
President-elect Trump's phone calls to Representatives Ralph Norman and Keith Self persuaded them to switch their votes to Mike Johnson, securing his victory as House Speaker and preventing a drawn-out leadership battle within the Republican party.
Trump Intervention Secures Johnson as House Speaker
President-elect Trump's phone calls to Representatives Ralph Norman and Keith Self persuaded them to switch their votes to Mike Johnson, securing his victory as House Speaker and preventing a drawn-out leadership battle within the Republican party.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Record UK Electric Car Sales Raise Sustainability Concerns
The UK saw record electric car sales in 2024, reaching 19.6% of the 1.95 million new cars sold, exceeding government targets but prompting concerns about unsustainable industry practices due to steep manufacturer discounts.
Record UK Electric Car Sales Raise Sustainability Concerns
The UK saw record electric car sales in 2024, reaching 19.6% of the 1.95 million new cars sold, exceeding government targets but prompting concerns about unsustainable industry practices due to steep manufacturer discounts.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Russia's Occupation Fractures Ukrainian Families
The Russian occupation of 19% of Ukraine has divided families, with hundreds of thousands fleeing and leaving behind relatives who either chose to stay or couldn't leave, creating immense psychological trauma and hindering reunification efforts, as seen in accounts from Mariupol residents.
Russia's Occupation Fractures Ukrainian Families
The Russian occupation of 19% of Ukraine has divided families, with hundreds of thousands fleeing and leaving behind relatives who either chose to stay or couldn't leave, creating immense psychological trauma and hindering reunification efforts, as seen in accounts from Mariupol residents.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Conflicting Autopsy Reports in Death of Alabama Man Spark Outcry
A state autopsy ruled the death of Dennoriss Richardson, a Black man found hanged in Alabama, a suicide; however, a private autopsy could not definitively determine the cause of death, leading to public outcry and an ongoing FBI investigation.
Conflicting Autopsy Reports in Death of Alabama Man Spark Outcry
A state autopsy ruled the death of Dennoriss Richardson, a Black man found hanged in Alabama, a suicide; however, a private autopsy could not definitively determine the cause of death, leading to public outcry and an ongoing FBI investigation.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Economic Realities and Logistical Challenges of Mass Deportations in the US
President-elect Trump's plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants faces economic and logistical hurdles, as these immigrants contribute approximately \$96.7 billion annually in taxes (2022 data), and mass deportations are complex and costly. Experts suggest that deportations might instead ta...
Economic Realities and Logistical Challenges of Mass Deportations in the US
President-elect Trump's plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants faces economic and logistical hurdles, as these immigrants contribute approximately \$96.7 billion annually in taxes (2022 data), and mass deportations are complex and costly. Experts suggest that deportations might instead ta...
Progress
48% Bias Score
Guatemalan Genocide: Setbacks in Justice for Ixil Mayan Victims
José Silvio Tay, a Guatemalan Mayan survivor of the 1981-1983 genocide, recounts his family's displacement and his current work with AJR to find the disappeared and advocate for justice, highlighting recent setbacks in legal proceedings against former military officials.
Guatemalan Genocide: Setbacks in Justice for Ixil Mayan Victims
José Silvio Tay, a Guatemalan Mayan survivor of the 1981-1983 genocide, recounts his family's displacement and his current work with AJR to find the disappeared and advocate for justice, highlighting recent setbacks in legal proceedings against former military officials.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Historic Firsts: Three LGBTQ+ Women Sworn into 119th Congress
On Friday, November 17, 2023, Representatives Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), and Julie Johnson (D-Texas) were sworn into the 119th Congress, marking historic firsts for transgender, queer Latina, and Southern LGBTQ+ representation, respectively.
Historic Firsts: Three LGBTQ+ Women Sworn into 119th Congress
On Friday, November 17, 2023, Representatives Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), and Julie Johnson (D-Texas) were sworn into the 119th Congress, marking historic firsts for transgender, queer Latina, and Southern LGBTQ+ representation, respectively.
Progress
32% Bias Score