Trigger Warning: This article discusses films that include themes of gender-based violence, self-harm, bodily transformation, blood, horror and gore imagery, ritualistic violence, religious symbolism, and queerphobic behaviour. While graphic details are not described, some content may be disturbing or emotionally triggering for readers.  A Red Glow, A New Kind of Cinema FASHIONCLASH 2025  has proven itself a turning point in European fashion film, defined by outspoken, genre-

Figure 1 : Stop the Shutdown Rally - Washington D.C., January 2019 43 days of uncertainty left millions waiting, federal workers at a standstill, and no pay. American federal workers and citizens felt, and are still facing, the repercussions of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The nation is left asking: How did this happen? What happens next?  What is a government shutdown? The United States is the only country with a government that fails to keep funding goin

A primary forest is a pristine forest that has never been altered by human activity. It is a precious ecosystem, particularly for its biodiversity. Globally, only 1,180,000,000 hectares  remain, primarily in six countries: Brazil, Canada, the United States, Russia, China, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These forests have almost vanished elsewhere due to centuries of agricultural expansion, logging, mining, and urban development that permanently transformed natural land

Photo taken from the intro of the YouTube video “ Miu Miu Women's Tales #21 - Shangri-La”. On 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, it is important to remember that sexual abuse and harassment are still too prevalent in our world. While some acts of violence repeated are extremely brutal, others may seem milder but share the same violent essence in nature.  Several short films by the Miu Miu (a luxury brand created by Miuccia Prada) den

October 29, 2025. 9 pm. The results of a closer-than-ever election appear on Dutch television. The centrist liberals of D66 are ahead of the vote, the culmination of a remarkable comeback in the final days of the campaign. Led by a young front-runner, 38-year-old Rob Jetten, they embody a new era for Dutch and European politics. At the end of August, polls gave D66 around 10 seats in the Tweede Kamer. Today, they are the largest party in the Netherlands, with 26 seats, and ha

The bullet that killed Charlie Kirk did more than end a life. It exposed a nation already bleeding from within. I realized how deep the wound had become last week while standing in the backyard of a house party in Santa Barbara. The music was loud and the conversations drifted from finals to travel plans. Everything felt light until someone mentioned Kirk’s assassination. One guest immediately laughed and celebrated his death as if it were a joke, reenacting the moment Kirk w

Eyes on Chilean Cinema Allende making a speech. Photo taken from the Battle of Chile, The Coup d’Etat by Patricio Guzmán / Atacama Productions / ICAIC - Instituto Cubano de Arte e Industria Cinematográfico. Por la razón o la fuerza. By reason or by force.   This proverb is Chile's national motto, reflecting the Chilean republic's desire to assert its right to exist in the face of the colonising powers of the 19th century. Chile shall defend its rights through diplomacy and re

On October 30, 2025, the Latvian Parliament voted to withdraw  from the Istanbul Convention, with 56 votes in favour, 32 against and 2 abstentions. If confirmed, Latvia would become the first EU member state to leave the Council of Europe’s treaty on preventing and combating gender based violence.  International observers, including the Council of Europe and women’s rights organisations, have criticised the withdrawal vote as a setback for gender equality in Europe. They have

October 29th saw the Dutch return to the polls to decide on the fate of their new government. At the center of the debate were issues like housing and migration, but this is not the whole picture. The last government led by Geert Wilders fell due to his strong anti immigration stances, which often went against EU law. His extreme demands did not sit right with the other parties in the coalition, the VVD, NSC, and BBB, and as such it will be interesting to see how this will in

With the Chilean presidential elections being held tomorrow, November 16 will be an important day for Chile. A Marxist communist president may be elected, the first since Salvador Allende ( 1970-1973 ); his legacy brings back painful memories to the coup d’état before the violent dictatorship . To honor and remember the victims of these frightful years, a museum was created, instilling their legacy in a national one. I will showcase the archives of the Museum of Memory and Hu

Suharto Titled “ National Hero ” On November 10 2025, Indonesia conferred the title of   Gelar Pahlawan Nasional  (“ National Hero ”) on former President Suharto, prompting widespread discussion. Such an act matters far beyond symbolic commemoration: it revives public debate over historical memory, addresses issues of transitional justice, and interprets the legacy of its authoritarian era. Many domestic and international observers have read the award as part of a broader pol

After a long day at the university, do you often find yourself seeking entertainment in parody shows like SNL or South Park? While you may be a fan of these programs, you might not be fully aware of the legal issues they can raise. For instance, the majority of the spectators do not think about whether by the creation of the parody the rights of the original creator were harmed. Such legal implications go by unnoticed by most, whereas due to its popularity of parody it would

Figure 1 : Place to Stay Music Festival at the B, Maastricht, September 12th 2025 Picture: Camiel van der Heijden “Essentially, what it comes down to is community, ” says Yvette Ojo. “ That is the aim of Place to Stay. ”  Music, art, and compassion. These are the building blocks of the recently founded Maastricht collective. Through their festivals, Place to Stay  turns creativity into an act of care, developing spaces where art meets solidarity and where people come together

‘Blocchiamo Tutto’ Despite the first autumn downpours, the largest Italian cities were still scorching of heat in September. Streets, schools, railway stations and ports became epicenters of anger channeled by masses of twenty-something year olds, rallying for Gaza. The popular movement to bloccare tutto - block everything - spilled over the entire country, resulting in nationwide strikes backed by unions, and large-scale demonstrations, most notably the one on September 22.

Nations insisting on investing in a temporary medicine for a deadly disease is how to best describe current climate change policy. However, instead I urge for us to focus on a solution for the structural origins of the climate change issue. It ’s as if we are prescribing medication to an obese person who wants to lose weight and expect this is all that's necessary. Whereas the more effective and preventative solution would be to exercise and eat well. This same logic applies

It’s a wrap! Legislative elections took place on October 29, 2025, and it is time for us to summarize everything you must know about the outcome of the vote. You can easily get lost when looking at the winners, losers, surprise outsiders, and seeing a Parliament in such a fragmented  state…  To help us understand more about these results, we explored press articles and analyses. Also, on election night, a team of Maastricht Diplomat journalists attended the Studio Europa  eve

On October 29, 2025, the French Senate passed a bill introducing the notion of consent into national law, marking a major reform of the country’s approach to sexual violence. The legislation now defines consent as “ free and informed, specific, prior, and revocable, ”  and clarifies that silence or lack of resistance cannot be interpreted as consent. This means that now, under the French Penal Code, any sexual act without such consent will constitute sexual assault. This refo

From the womb, our mothers cry out with joy Happy at the thought of having a daughter  For their silent prayers have been heard  To have someone to hold dear   And the fathers who look forward to having a daughter Shout like a town crier on the street Others watch, a fool they all think he is  But they know what they seek A daughter, a symbol of riches, love and blessings – No lies have been told But daughters, do you know?   Mother and father shout “You are all equal in this

Just as the sun rises each morning and sets each evening, the inevitable is upon us. Society is tipping into a critical state. Inequality is growing, democracies are swerving to the extreme right, the environment is collapsing, and the social and political quandaries of today are bigger than ever. Some would say we are moving backwards, with violence and injustice becoming customary, while equality and empathy slowly disappear.  Tragically, countless communities are facing un

Her lungs stung with each breath she took in, the air like needles against her cheeks as she sped over the cobblestones. The sun had long set, the moon had not shown itself that night, and the sky hung heavy, as if smothered under damp wool. With each strong lash of wind leaving her face raw, she clung onto her scarf tighter, slick with mist. She hurried to reach the faculty library in time. The only thing aiding her vision were the streetlights, bleeding their reflection int