Hello Delegates!
A fundamental part of being a representative at the United Nations (and, thus, at a MUN Conference) is an awareness of global events. Given that the theme of OG’s 2025 Home Conference is ‘The Spirit of Inquiry’, we think it is important to stay inquisitive about international news. From August, we will discuss three articles, with related questions to allow you to inquire about what is going on worldwide.
Flash floods in Pakistan
On August 15, over 300 people were confirmed to be dead from heavy monsoon floods and landslides in Pakistan. Reports show that the monsoon rains have been the cause of the death of around 800 people across the country since June. This is not an isolated event, as climate change has made natural disasters facing Pakistan (landslides, flooding, and droughts, etc.) more extreme and more frequent each year. Another factor contributing to these high death tolls is the challenge of alerting rural, mountainous communities, where network connectivity is poor.
Some questions to think about: What sort of steps should be taken to reduce the effects of these natural disasters? What other challenges does the region face when trying to combat these issues?
Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c860e6d4dyqo.amp https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn02g0n2kepo.amp
Founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel ‘El Mayo’ enters guilty plea
Last year, Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada pleaded not guilty to various drug smuggling, gun-running, and money laundering charges. Now, he has changed his plea to guilty to two drug smuggling and conspiracy offences. The Sinaloa Cartel was the most powerful criminal organisation in Mexico for several years, and Zambada had evaded arrest for around five decades before being captured last year.
A question to think about: What does the guilty plea reveal about the success or failure of global strategies for combating drug trafficking?
Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2eny8nz94vo
6.0 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan
Over 800 people were killed after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan just before midnight on August 31st. However, the death toll could still rise as rescue operations continue to be carried out in the Kunar province, where entire villages have collapsed. The mountainous region has had the highest death tolls, where, due to recent flooding and landslides, it has been difficult to carry out rescue operations. The situation is complicated by the fact that many aid organisations have suspended their work since the Taliban took control in August 2021.
A question to think about: What are the ongoing challenges that humanitarian organisations face when operating in countries with complex political situations?
Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ezgy1zlvwo