Reportage
Looting the Past To Survive
Amid hunger and the aftermath of war, Syrians are turning to looting archaeological sites, and it will require time and resources to increase their protection and assess the damage. Yet despite the destruction, people remain deeply attached to their local heritage.
The Dilemmas of Syria’s Druze
After the fall of Assad, Syria’s Druze community is grappling with new anxieties, from Israel’s encroachment to the rise of anti-government militants.
Russia’s New Weapon: Child ‘Suicide Bombers’
Using the popular communication channel Telegram, Russia is duping Ukrainian children and vulnerable adults into carrying out horrific attacks across the country, many of them also killing the unsuspecting perpetrators. Similar tactics are being wielded by Putin across Europe to undercut support for Ukraine and its backers.
The Lines Blur Between Civilians and Combatants in India’s Manipur
As the ethnic conflict in India’s northeastern state of Manipur drags on and new militias and “village volunteer” camps continue to crop up, the lines between combatants and civilians have blurred.
The Curious Gaps in the Israeli Army’s Updates
The Israeli army spokesperson’s office regularly updates its War Diary web page in English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Hebrew. But while the Hebrew updates include granular details about arrests and house demolitions in the West Bank, updates in the other languages are about Gaza only.
Nepal Debates a Return to Monarchy
Two decades after becoming a democratic republic, Nepal is experiencing renewed calls for the return of the monarchy, along with demands to restore a Hindu state. Dissatisfaction with political corruption, economic shocks and a perceived lack of effective governance have led to multiple protests in the capital of Kathmandu.
The Congo’s Dinosaur of Discord
Mokele-mbembe is the Congo Basin’s bigfoot. Or that’s what it’s become, anyway — a cryptid. The myth was originally a kind of spiritual metaphor, but a confluence of European colonial exploration and early paleontology warped it into what it is today: a living dinosaur, hidden deep in the jungle.