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Bulldozing the Sinai
Egypt’s government is pushing ahead with a massive tourism project in the Sinai Peninsula’s St. Catherine region — a sacred, UNESCO-protected site. Local Bedouin communities and experts warn that the development is destroying heritage, muzzling dissent and displacing the Jebeleya tribe.
The South Asian Split
New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has won backing from several South Asian groups, but the community remains split. Some applaud his progressive agenda, others worry about rent freezes fostering dependence and many haven’t even heard of his campaign, revealing both his reach and its limits.
The Psychological Barrier Broken by Iran and Israel’s Missile Exchange
The latest exchanges of missiles between Israel and Iran have broken a long-standing psychological barrier in the Middle East, and are being viewed by states in the region with profound ambivalence. With deterrence fading, what follows may be more volatile still.
Saudi Arabia’s High-Stakes Bet on Gaming
Saudi Arabia is quietly becoming a global gaming superpower, investing billions in the owners of franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. The move says a lot about the kingdom’s soft power, cultural values and potential influence on a generation raised on games.
In Syria’s Desert, Palmyra Fights for Its Life
In Palmyra, residents returning after years of war face a scorched oasis, broken infrastructure and dwindling hope. The city’s revival hinges on water, tourism and aid — of which it has seen little.
How the Rise of Bureaucracy Reshaped Religion
The ways that today’s states deal with the sacred are not determined by how “secular” they are or the lingering effects of ancient traditions. Variations in how religion relates to public life around the world were rather set by the evolution of modern bureaucracies.
The Online Movement Ensnaring Young Men
Reporter James Bloodworth joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how developments in technology have left young men exposed to influencers like Andrew Tate, and his own brief experience with the manosphere.