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Betting Everything on Restraint
As Houthi attacks squeeze Saudi Arabia's access to global trade, Riyadh is struggling to avoid being drawn into a wider war. From the Red Sea’s oil terminals to its luxury resorts, a New Lines report offers a firsthand look at how the kingdom’s postoil ambitions have become a strategic vulnerability.
A Juicy Target
Wildberries, the online megaretailer that is Russia’s answer to Amazon, has become a juicy target for Ukrainian drones in recent weeks, as Kyiv looks to push the war front to the doorsteps of everyday Russians. But the heavy toll on small businesses is unlikely to sway the public against Putin.
The Politics Behind Africa’s Support for Gianni Infantino
As FIFA’s president faces growing criticism over his plans for the organization, African soccer leaders remain among his strongest supporters. But with many federations dependent on FIFA funding, questions remain over how much political influence Africa is getting in return.
Counting the Books in America’s Federal Prisons
Federal penitentiaries would not say how many books they hold, so a biographer of Malcolm X spent months assembling the count himself from handbooks, emails and a prison messaging service.
Walking Beirut’s Transformed Neighborhoods, From Hamra to Gemmayzeh
A personal walk through five neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital becomes a way of reading the country's collapse. Returning after years away, the writer traces a single line from Ain al-Mreisseh up to Hamra, over to Verdun and Downtown, and across the old green line to Gemmayzeh.
What Remains of a Musician’s Life After the Bombs Fell on Iran
Parvaneh spent years earning her place in the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, along with the professional double bass she had struggled to afford. After losing her job amid the turmoil that preceded the war, a U.S.-Israeli strike destroyed her home and shattered her instrument.
They Swam to Europe but Are Still Stuck on North African Shores
In the wake of the largest mass crossing in Ceuta's history, thousands of migrants are spending their days searching for food and dodging police, while the Spanish enclave has become the latest battleground in Europe's political debate over migration and identity.