Spotlight
Chipocalypse Now?
Trump’s meme declaring war on Chicago has shocked liberals. But what could be more purgative, more exhilaratingly American to his base than avenging the nation with racial warfare?
The Last Stronghold of Sufism
While Sufi practices in Lebanon’s cities have dwindled under pressure from Salafists, rural Akkar remains a bastion of mysticism. Across its villages, Sufi congregations host centuries-old “zikr” prayer ceremonies that center on music, dance and joy.
Inside Ukraine’s Plan To Build a Self-Sufficient Defense Force
With Western security guarantees uncertain, Kyiv is turning to its elite, battle-hardened units as the core of a remodeled military, and attempting to leave behind Soviet-era doctrines that continue to cast a long shadow.
Gaza’s Wood Supplies Are Dwindling
Cooking gas has been unavailable in Gaza for over five months, while electricity has been gone for two years. Now, wood is the only way to cook. But even that has become a daily struggle, a heavy burden on every family.
Nigeria’s Twitch Streamers Battle the Buffer Wheel
Twitch, Amazon’s multibillion-dollar streaming platform, is on the rise in Nigeria, but young creators hoping to ride the slipstream of Afrobeats to internet stardom face an uphill battle with bandwidth and cultural buy-in.
Inside Beirut’s Fight To Save Its Reading Culture
Lebanon’s bookshops once thrived as hubs of debate and dissent, but economic collapse, censorship and war have gutted Beirut’s literary scene. Still, readers, publishers and book cafes find inventive ways to resist and revive the culture of reading.
The Syrians in European Limbo
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime brought euphoria to millions of Syrians in exile, but also created political and legal uncertainty. As some European states suspend asylum claims or discuss revoking refugee status, activists are campaigning for temporary return permits that would allow Syrians to reconnect without losing protection.