Anti-riot police in central Tehran in front of a state building covered with a billboard depicting the destruction of a U.S. aircraft carrier. (Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images) In the early hours of Feb. 28, explosions were reported across Tehran and the U.S. confirmed they were not just watching; they were involved. In an eight-minute video posted to Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the American military had begun “major combat operations in Iran,”

Nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, members of the Fredericton community gathered in front of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick to honour those lost and call for continued support for Ukraine. (Polina Kozlova/AQ) About 100 people braved the winter cold, wrapped in blue-and-yellow flags and holding handmade signs. For many attendees, the rally was both a public demonstration and a personal act of remembrance. (Polina Kozlova/AQ)

Participants celebrating after the completion of the 1000 Mile Challenge. (Submitted: Rudi Fowler) A New Brunswick-based international snowmobile challenge looks to raise money for local summer camps. From Feb. 16 to Feb. 20, the sixth-annual 1000 Mile Challenge saw teams from across the country and the eastern United States travel across the province. The event also has a satellite route in Michigan. “It's not meant to be competitive at all. It's just a bunch of guys goin

The Fredericton Region Museum has been open since 1934 and has served as a historical site in New Brunswick. (Credit: Fredericton Region Museum) In a document titled “Difficult Decisions,” the provincial government laid out to the public the options considered to balance the budget. This included budget cuts to the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, which are set to potentially impact over 100 historical sites. One of the options the government is considering to cur

St. Thomas University granted Sandra Irving an honorary degree in 2017 to recognize her significant contributions to society, higher education and support to students across Atlantic Canada (Credit: STU Communications) On Feb. 17, St. Thomas University (STU) announced that Sandra Irving, the widow of late oil tycoon Arthur Irving, was appointed chancellor by the university’s board of governors. The news came in as Hon. Graydon Nicholas, the first Indigenous judge to be appoin

On Feb. 25, Nauman Farooqi, president and vice-chancellor at St. Thomas University, sent a mass email confirming that Premier Susan Holt had no intention to close or merge STU. Despite this, students are still speculating about the university's long-term future. (Credit: UNB Communications) As the New Brunswick government considers structural changes to post-secondary education, students at St. Thomas University (STU) are asking what a potential merger with the University o

Tamika Gideon, a first-year student at St. Thomas University, shows a direct message from Premier Susan Holt clarifying that the province is not pursuing a merger or closure of STU. (Suzanne Shah/AQ) Even after New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt assured students that St. Thomas University would not close or merge, some say the uncertainty surrounding proposed post-secondary funding cuts has already left a mark. For third-year student Zachary Girard, the initial reaction was imm

Matt Blanchard in his workshop at Nimble Instrument Repair. (Malachi Lefurgey/AQ) Matt Blanchard, a former employee at Tony’s Music Box, recently opened his own instrument repair shop: Nimble Instrument Repair Shop. “I'll be doing this not until I'm retired but until I'm dead,” he said. Located in the heart of downtown Fredericton, Blanchard has taken up space to preserve the sweet melody of music for hobbyists and musicians. “The support has been amazing ... everything

The Rice Purity Test is a survey that measures the amount of rebellious, sexual experiences an individual has had in their life. (Credit: The Rice Purity Test) Is living in your twenties all about checking off as many boxes as you can? The Rice Purity Test is an online survey in which you check off boxes of all the “taboo” things you have done. Ranging from “sex in public” to “running away from the cops.” The test first appeared for me in middle school. Where the lunchroom

Blue Jays players Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto warm up before a spring training game in Florida. (Credit: Sportsnet) After their Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays are back for their first week of spring training. This off-season, the Blue Jays didn’t slow down. They signed great pitchers to add depth to their bullpen, along with some new position players to fill the gap left by losing shortstop Bo Bichette to

F1 Drivers lined up during the 2025 Abu Dhabi pre-race parade. (Credit: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) With drivers from all around the world travelling year-round, Formula 1 (F1) not only brings fans high-adrenaline racing, but also strategic thinking and team unity. The 2025 F1 season brought nothing but surprises race after race. The start to the year was already uncertain as eight of 10 teams started 2025 with a different lineup than they did in 2024, with Lewis Hamilto

Clavicular framemogged meme (Credits: Google Images) Clavicular walks up to strangers on university campuses with a tape measure and a camera. He talks about framemogging, when someone simply looks better “in frame” than someone else. To mog is to dominate visually or to win genetically. For some viewers, it’s simply meme culture, but the language is sticking. Looksmaxxing, a term born in online male forums, refers to optimizing one’s physical appearance to its highe

Alisa Los presented her short film, Memorabilia, at the Voices for Ukraine community gathering. (Credit: Peter Gross) On Wednesday, Feb. 25, a small community group gathered at St. Thomas University for the first Ukrainian-focused event since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The evening was filled with short documentary screenings by Ukrainian students with reflections and perspectives. It also included an informal discussion. The event was hosted by the Inte

On March 17, the provincial government is set to decide on a proposed $35 million to $50 million reduction in post-secondary education funding in New Brunswick. (Credit: STU Communications) Students at St. Thomas University are organizing petitions and outreach campaigns to elected officials after reports that the New Brunswick government is considering major reductions to post-secondary education funding. These changes could result in higher tuition, fewer services and even

Tommies guard Evan Valanne attempts to block a shot in his own end against an opposing player. (Credit: STU Athletics) On Feb. 15, both St. Thomas University (STU) basketball teams closed out their season home schedule with defensive grit and a grad game crowd that was both loud and sentimental. Hosting the Holland College Hurricanes, both the men’s and women’s squads secured victories to solidify their spots at the top of the standings. The women’s team earned a 60-52 win to

Mariana Veneziani and Sarah Sprague getting married in JDH. (Brianna Lyttle/AQ) As part of the St. Thomas University Students’ Union (STUSU) Sex Week, on Feb. 11 in the student hub of James Dunn Hall, students could “marry” their friends and partners, obtaining a certificate and bestowing upon each other marriage ring pops, later becoming lollipop exchanges once the former ran out. STUSU members Sade London and Olivia Brown took the responsibility of officiating the weddings.

A customer sitting at Ma Cafe in Fredericton, New Brunswick. (Malachi Lefurgey/AQ) “If you could have any superpower in the world, what power would you choose?” I always say time. Being able to stop time at any given moment, go back, relive a memory, never be late to class and always have everything in on time. The Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of nostalgia is “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy per

Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who represented Ukraine in skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (Credit: Ombudsman of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets) The 2026 Winter Olympics and upcoming Milano Cortina Paralympics have revealed how fragile and contested the idea of political neutrality in sport has become. While the games are meant to celebrate athletic excellence, global conflicts, geopolitical debates and media scrutiny are increasingly shaping both competition and per

From left to right, Leen Arafat, Sama Ouf, and Jana Salem stand together wearing hijabs, challenging assumptions through faith, identity, and choice. (Suzanne Shah/AQ) For many Muslim women, the hijab is rarely seen as it is lived. Instead, it is debated, theorized and politicized, often by those who have never worn it. The result is a narrative shaped by outsiders, while the women themselves are left unheard. “Everyone has a theory about us, except us,” said Sama Ouf, a stud

Bad Bunny performed during the Super Bowl half-time show at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California. (Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation) When Bad Bunny took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this month, the performance quickly moved beyond music. The Puerto Rican global superstar delivered a largely Spanish-language set celebrating Latin culture, identity and community. His performance drew widespread praise, sharp political criticism