Trial Separation: Europe Begins Untangling US Codependence
NEED TO KNOW Trial Separation: Europe Begins Untangling US Codependence EUROPE For 80 years, Western Europe looked to the United States for […]
The Guerrillas of Peace: How Nicaragua’s First Couple Cemented ‘Total Control’
NEED TO KNOW The Guerrillas of Peace: How Nicaragua’s First Couple Cemented ‘Total Control’ NICARAGUA Nicaraguan officials recently swore in 30,000 masked […]
When a Faulty Peace Sows War
NEED TO KNOW When a Faulty Peace Sows War ETHIOPIA In November 2022, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a peace deal […]
Icy Reception: Greenlanders Vote Amid US ‘Threat’
NEED TO KNOW Icy Reception: Greenlanders Vote Amid US ‘Threat’ GREENLAND After Greenland was unwillingly thrust into the spotlight in January by […]
War and Peace: Kurdish Ceasefire Could Change the Middle East
NEED TO KNOW War and Peace: Kurdish Ceasefire Could Change the Middle East TURKEY It was a remarkable moment for many in […]
Naming and Shaming: Liberia Gets Serious About Corruption
NEED TO KNOW Naming and Shaming: Liberia Gets Serious About Corruption LIBERIA Eight years ago, Liberia’s long-serving then-president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, admitted […]
El Salvador’s New Business Model Fills Jails
NEED TO KNOW El Salvador’s New Business Model Fills Jails EL SALVADOR Last month, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele made an unusual offer […]
Afghans In Pakistan Snared in US Resettlement ‘Trap’
NEED TO KNOW Afghans In Pakistan Snared in US Resettlement ‘Trap’ AFGHANISTAN Afghan refugee Shakoofa Khalili had worked with an American NGO […]
Middle East Leaders Meet to Counter Trump on Gaza
NEED TO KNOW Middle East Leaders Meet to Counter Trump on Gaza MIDDLE EAST After US President Donald Trump said he wanted […]
Growing Protests Threaten Slovakia’s Pro-Russian Leader
NEED TO KNOW Growing Protests Threaten Slovakia’s Pro-Russian Leader SLOVAKIA Almost 18 months ago, former Prime Minister Robert Fico and his leftist […]
A Country, a Business
NEED TO KNOW A Country, a Business TAJIKISTAN Starting on March 2, Tajik voters will go to the polls to choose their […]
Chinese Roulette
NEED TO KNOW Chinese Roulette COOK ISLANDS Earlier this month, Mark Brown, the leader of the quasi-independent Cook Islands, flew to China […]
Out of One, Many
NEED TO KNOW Out of One, Many SUDAN Late last month, Sudan’s army (SAF) entered the central Sudanese city of Wad Medani […]
Friend in Need … a Friend Indeed
NEED TO KNOW Friend in Need … a Friend Indeed GUATEMALA Two years ago, a little-known former Guatemalan diplomat in a crowded […]
No Way But Down
NEED TO KNOW No Way But Down UKRAINE In what feels like another life, Anton Yaremchuk was a cinematographer making movies. But […]
Angst and Ballots
NEED TO KNOW Angst and Ballots GERMANY For the past two years, German television has been featuring a comedy/drama TV series called […]
Stability Über Alles
NEED TO KNOW Stability Über Alles URUGUAY Last fall, when Uruguayans were asked in a referendum whether they would like to retire […]
BRICS By BRICS
NEED TO KNOW BRICS By BRICS WORLD More than 20 years ago, an investment banker at Goldman Sachs created a catchy slogan […]
Going South
NEED TO KNOW Going South THAILAND On Jan. 14, two police officers were driving on a rural road in southern Thailand when a […]
The Land and the Fury
NEED TO KNOW The Land and the Fury SOUTH AFRICA In 1652, the Dutch arrived on the shores of modern-day South Africa, […]
Dreams of Destiny
NEED TO KNOW Dreams of Destiny TURKEY Late last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey needs breathing room. “Turkey […]
Carrots, Sticks, and Dignity
NEED TO KNOW Carrots, Sticks, and Dignity SOUTH/ CENTRAL AMERICA When US President Donald Trump sent a plane of deported Colombians back […]
The Declaration of Dependence
NEED TO KNOW The Declaration of Dependence ABKHAZIA/ GEORGIA In November, opposition-led protesters in Abkhazia stormed and occupied parliament, the president’s office, […]
The Hermit’s Rumspringa
NEED TO KNOW The Hermit’s Rumspringa NORTH KOREA When Russian President Vladimir Putin received help last year fighting his war in Ukraine […]