Fresh out of Barnard College with a degree in political science, Riley is a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
Deadly plane crash in India
An Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed into a residential area soon after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India on Thursday. The Boeing Dreamliner aircraft was headed to London, and was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. There was at least one survivor – a British national named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. So far there is no indication of what may have caused the crash. Boeing, the US largest aircraft maker, has recently been under scrutiny for safety lapses.
US-Iran tensions spike with little progress on nuclear deal
The US on Wednesday evacuated nonessential diplomatic and military personnel from Baghdad and several military bases in the region. The move comes as US President Donald Trump’s two-month deadline for a new nuclear deal with Iran is about to expire. Until now, Trump has pushed for diplomacy despite pressure from Israel which wants to bomb Iran's nuclear sites. If attacked, Iran has pledged to strike American assets in retaliation. There is one more round of US-Iran talks scheduled for Sunday. After that... buckle up.
ICE protests spread beyond Los Angeles
Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies have spread beyond Los Angeles to cities including Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and Denver. Although some have turned violent and hundreds have been arrested, Trump has not sent federal forces anywhere beyond LA, where Marines and National Guard troops remain in the streets. Will that hold? Hundreds of anti-Trump “No Kings Day” protests are planned nationwide to coincide with Trump’s birthday celebration and military parade this Saturday. Watch the streets.
