International Desk

This week on International Desk, an unfolding story from the United States.

Conservative political organiser Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during an event at Utah Valley University. 

Kirk was a controversial figure, known for his pro-gun and Christian Nationalist views, as well as his close allyship with United States President Donald Trump.

Kirk’s death comes shortly after other stories of political violence in the United States.

In June, Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were assassinated in a shooting in their home. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also injured the same day. 

Following the news about Kirk’s death, Wire Host Caeden reached out to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News to find out how people were reacting in the United States.

The Trump administration’s crackdown on both tertiary education and immigration is creating an uncertain environment for students in the United States, particularly international students. 

It also comes as the administration has slashed research funding, rolled back protections for disadvantaged student groups, threatened lawsuits against colleges, dismantled the education department and more.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Yale Daily News’ Andre Fa’aoso, about what it’s like to be an international student in the United States right now. 

Earlier this week, Israel killed four Al Jazeera journalists, as well as two freelance journalists, in a targeted strike.

In total, nearly 270 journalists in Gaza have been killed by Israel since the war began in October 2023. This makes Israel’s war on Gaza the deadliest conflict ever for journalists. 

More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in both world wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia, and the United States' war in Afghanistan combined, according to a report published by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. 

For International Desk, I spoke to Assistant Professor in Journalism at Mount Royal University, Gabriela Perdomo Páez, about the danger facing Palestinian journalists on the ground, including from before the current war.

The International Court of Justice has issued an advisory opinion that nations can be held legally accountable for greenhouse-gas emissions. 

The Court found that those who are harmed by human-caused climate change could be entitled to reparations.

The case was spearheaded by Pacific island students and the government of Vanuatu, and then backed by 105 sponsor countries.

For International Desk, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to Justin Sobion, a University of Auckland Senior Tutor in Law who also acted as counsel for Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Here is that interview.