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Resisting Boko Haram
As Boko Haram took hold in the Lake Chad region of Africa and government attempts to quell the insurgency faltered, civil society stepped in to provide relief, reeducation and deterrence, rather than relying solely on military responses.

Tehran’s Gangland Connections
Iran is turning the criminal underworld into a tool of covert statecraft. Gangs in Europe and beyond are being weaponized by the regime in Tehran, which uses their networks to achieve its goals under a cover of plausible deniability.

The Russian Nationalists Pushing for Ukraine’s Destruction
Nationalist factions have been a key part of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine since 2014, but are often at odds with the state. Now they fear the Kremlin could be duped by the West into a negotiated settlement that falls short of their goal: dismantling Ukraine as a sovereign state.

Unfolding Paper’s Past: Evidence From Egypt – With Lydia Wilson
While the world was fixated on the Pyramids of Giza, excavations at the forgotten desert harbor of Wadi el-Jarf quietly unlocked a new historical discovery.

Steve Bannon and Elon Musk Are Battling for the Soul of Trumpism
Key factions in the MAGA coalition feel disenfranchised and angry today. As the afterglow of Trump’s victory fades and economic turmoil sets in, what some have called the “MAGA civil war” indicates a vulnerability within Trump’s personality cult at the top of the Republican Party.

As Tourism Surges in Sri Lanka, Locals Are Asking Who Truly Benefits
While Sri Lanka aims to attract millions of tourists to boost its economy, concerns are rising about tourism’s impact on local communities — from the displacement of local businesses by those catering to outsiders, to the exploitation of local resources and the segregation of spaces to make them exclusive to foreigners.

Partners in Crime
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has earned an invitation to the White House for his spectacular, performative incarceration of U.S. deportees. The highly curated images of the transfer are advertising for the services of the Salvadoran prison system, for sale to the Trump administration and beyond.