Spotlight
River’s Ascent
A survivor of a 2014 Taliban ambush in Afghanistan who feigned death to live, River Ahmad fled the country in 2019 and is now climbing Everest for the women and girls back home — and for her brother, who died by suicide.
Tending Aden’s Last Hindu Temple
For nearly three decades, Ahmed Abdul Jalil has watched over a cave temple in Aden, Yemen, built more than 160 years ago. After looters, militants and land-grabbers, he is all that stands between it and ruin.
The Crisis Facing American Universities Is Bigger Than the MBA
American universities are under strain amid visa restrictions and declining international enrollment. Even MBA programs are beginning to feel the heat, but liberal arts and science schools have faced deeper cuts.
Friend, Rival, Trap
In his recent summit with Donald Trump, Xi Jinping invoked the “Thucydides trap,” framing China’s rivalry with the United States in terms that serve Beijing — and laying an actual trap for the U.S. president.
Drake, DJ Khaled and Palestine’s Authenticity Test
By invoking Palestine to criticize DJ Khaled, Drake unintentionally exposed more than celebrity hypocrisy. The moment also revealed how Palestine has become a public measure of authenticity, morality and credibility — often at the risk of eclipsing Palestinians themselves.
‘South Africa First’ Hits the Streets
Xenophobia in South Africa has taken a new form, as vigilante groups set up checkpoints at clinics and schools, stopping people and demanding identification. Foreign nationals are often turned away or singled out, while the response from police and government is inconsistent.
Dead Soldiers Can Make Babies, But Should They?
Reproductive technologies, and the ambitions embedded within them, are increasingly playing a role in global conflicts. Fertility tech has become a policy tool and opened a new frontier for ethical questions provoked by war, particularly in Israel and Ukraine.