The recent walkouts during speeches at the United Nations raise an uncomfortable question: Is the world’s response to state violence becoming selective? Israel’s military operation in Gaza, launched after the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, has become one of the most controversial conflicts of the modern era. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. Subsequently, Israel launched a massive air and ground campaign in Gaza, saying its objective was to dismantle Hamas and rescue the hostages. According to Gaza health officials, by September 2026, more than 73,000 Palestinians have reportedly been…

Humans are imperfect. We age, gain weight, develop wrinkles, have bad hair days, and sometimes simply look a little tired. This is normal. However, social media has gradually turned normal, human imperfection into something many people feel compelled to hide. Now artificial intelligence is taking that pressure to another level. Across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, users are experimenting with AI-generated and AI-enhanced versions of themselves. The trends change quickly: Studio Ghibli-style portraits, AI action figures, vintage 1960s and 1970s portraits, retro saree transformations, hyper-realistic 3D avatars, and increasingly sophisticated “you in another era” images. In 2025, Ghibli-style portraits…

Democracies depend on the freedom to criticize governments and political systems. Calling the U.S. a symbol of capitalism, criticizing American foreign policy, or describing political struggles through the lens of “American imperialism” is not, by itself, extremism. But when political disagreement turns into hatred of an entire nation or its people, when violence is glorified, and propaganda replaces critical thinking, it creates an environment in which radicalization becomes easier. Twenty-five years after 9/11, that distinction matters more than ever. On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced the deadliest terrorist attack to ever occur on its soil. The World Trade…

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Americans face a different challenge: how do we ensure that a generation born after 9/11 understands the impact of what terrorism can do to a society?For millions of young Americans, September 11 is something learned in history, rather than a personal memory. They did not watch the Twin Towers’ collapse on live television. They did not experience the fear that followed, did not witness in real time the firefighters, police officers, journalists, and ordinary citizens as they risked their lives to save strangers.Forgetting the lessons of 9/11 would be a grave mistake.The attacks, carried…

The recent U.S. court ruling against the Trump administration, specifically its suspension of immigrant-visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, offers an interesting opportunity to look beyond the immediate political debate and examine something much larger: the strength of judicial independence in a democracy. On August 21st, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York struck down the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant-visa processing for countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia. The administration had justified the policy on the grounds that applicants from these countries were considered more likely to become dependent upon public assistance in the United…

There is always a limit to how much knowledge one can acquire. But, in a rapidly changing digital world—where technology evolves almost every day—staying informed about artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer optional for communications professionals. For professionals working in public relations, marketing, sales, advertising, digital communication, and multimedia journalism, the question is not whether they should learn AI. The real question is how much AI knowledge is adequate? To understand this, we first need to recognize that learning AI and becoming dependent upon AI are two separate things. Communications professionals should understand AI tools as well as their applications,…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer simply a futuristic technology discussed by researchers and technology enthusiasts. It is now influencing corporate decisions, workforce planning, and, increasingly, people’s livelihoods. Oracle, the American multinational technology company, reduced its workforce by approximately 21,000 employees, or about 13%, during fiscal 2026 while simultaneously increasing its investment in AI infrastructure and data centers. The company is reportedly preparing for another round of job cuts as it continues its massive spending on AI. Naturally, this raises an uncomfortable question: is AI going to close the doors to future employment? The answer is more complicated than a…

Every communication professional faces pressure. Public relations professionals protect reputations, marketers compete for attention, and social media managers battle algorithms and public opinion. Yet one of these types of professionals continues to face a threat that the others rarely encounter: the risk of violence for simply doing their job. As such, journalism remains the world’s most dangerous communication profession in 2026. Ironically, journalism is also one of the most criticized professions. Journalists are routinely accused of bias, misinformation, sensationalism, or ethical failures. Such criticism is important because it holds the media accountable. However, these debates often overshadow another reality: many…

For more than a century, JCPenney represented something uniquely American. Founded in 1902 on James Cash Penney’s “Golden Rule” philosophy, where customers were treated fairly and offered honest value, the company grew alongside the American middle class. It survived the Great Depression, world wars, economic recessions, and even bankruptcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, however, another round of store closures raises a troubling question: is JCPenney simply another struggling retailer, or is it becoming a symbol of broader economic choices that are weakening American commerce? The answer extends far beyond one department store. For decades, American prosperity was built on…

When Facebook or Instagram suddenly stops working, the first reaction of many users is no longer, “The app must be down.” Instead, people rush to X and ask, “Is Facebook down?” or “Is anyone else unable to log in?” Within minutes, thousands of similar posts appear. Shortly afterward, news organizations confirm whether it is a global outage. The pattern has become common whenever platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or WhatsApp experience technical problems. It shows how deeply social media has become part of daily life. However, the panic is not only about losing access for a few minutes. For…