Reportage
Peace Without Trust
A deal between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces that will end Kurdish self-rule in northeastern Syria is moving forward. But mistrust runs deep, and many SDF fighters reject integration, while civilians, worn down by war, hope for stability but fear what unification could bring.
The Currency of Fear
Threats of war and the collapsing rial have devastated hopes for normalcy among ordinary Iranians and triggered a flight to gold in all forms, as people seek refuge for their savings and a sense of security amid economic turbulence.
How MAGA-Inspired Politics Are Reshaping Japan and South Korea
In Japan and South Korea, a culture war playbook inspired by MAGA is fueling a new political wave on the right. Its supporters rail against supposedly rigged elections and the communist “menace” from China and North Korea, demand zero immigration and oppose civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Turkey’s Lingering Influence in Syria’s New Army
Months after Turkey’s longtime proxy in northern Syria was declared dissolved and folded into the new Syrian army, its former strongholds remain intact, Kurdish mistrust runs deep and Ankara’s influence is still visible.
South Korea’s ‘Willfully Unmarried’ Movement
South Korea has long had the world’s lowest birth rate — a trend that it is unlikely to reverse. The country’s experience, fueled by increasingly divergent views on marriage and childbirth among women and men, may be a cautionary tale for the United States, where birth rates recently hit an all-time low.
Africa Is Redefining Anglican Power
The appointment of Sarah Mullally as the first woman archbishop of Canterbury has exposed deep divisions within the Anglican Communion and across Africa over women’s leadership and same-sex blessings. But the deeper issue is authority — particularly in Africa, many churches no longer look to England for moral guidance.
How Parents’ Dreams of Safety Fuel Child Trafficking in Nigeria
The violence in Nigeria’s Plateau state has killed thousands and displaced whole communities. It has also quietly fed child trafficking networks. As farms are destroyed and families’ livelihoods threatened, traffickers exploit desperation, moving children into forced labor and sexual exploitation under the guise of help.