The Contagion
NEED TO KNOW The Contagion SOMALIA On Feb. 1, US President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) jihadists in […]
Bridging a Divide
NEED TO KNOW Bridging a Divide KOSOVO A bridge over the Ibar River divides the Kosovan city of Mitrovica between the north […]
The Morning After
NEED TO KNOW The Morning After SYRIA A busy traffic circle in central Damascus lures Syrians celebrating the ouster of their former […]
Here, Again
NEED TO KNOW Here, Again DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO For years, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have set their sights on capturing […]
A Clenched Fist
NEED TO KNOW A Clenched Fist ECUADOR When Daniel Noboa took over the presidency of Ecuador in November 2023, there was hope […]
A Dueling Paralysis
NEED TO KNOW A Dueling Paralysis TAIWAN Just before Christmas, Taiwanese lawmakers duked it out on the legislature’s floor, in what was […]
Pyrrhic Victory
NEED TO KNOW Pyrrhic Victory PAKISTAN Last fall, Pakistan’s parliament passed a constitutional amendment that stripped the top court of some of […]
Terror Inc.
NEED TO KNOW Terror Inc. YEMEN When the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19 between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi rebels in […]
The Disappearing Acts
NEED TO KNOW The Disappearing Acts KENYA Last summer, the so-called Gen-Z protests erupted in Kenya against a controversial finance bill pushed […]
Of Locks and Docks
NEED TO KNOW Of Locks and Docks PANAMA Jorge Quijano sat on a hotel balcony overlooking Panama Bay recently, watching massive ships […]
When the Girders Weaken
NEED TO KNOW When the Girders Weaken SERBIA When a concrete canopy at the main rail station of Novi Sad city collapsed […]
Second Thoughts
NEED TO KNOW Second Thoughts BELARUS Almost five years ago, Belarus held presidential elections that some believe were the most consequential elections […]
Waiting to Exhale
NEED TO KNOW Waiting to Exhale ISRAEL/ GAZA On Sunday at 11:15 a.m., the guns went silent. The bombs stopped. The buzz […]
The Odyssey
NEED TO KNOW The Odyssey VENEZUELA On Jan. 10, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn into office for his third term, promising […]
K-Bubbles
NEED TO KNOW K-Bubbles SOUTH KOREA The Seoul Detention Center usually holds murderers, rapists, drug dealers, and even former high-ranking government officials […]
The War over Peace
NEED TO KNOW The War over Peace SOUTH SUDAN More than 30 top hotels recently filed a lawsuit against the government of […]
When the Smoke Clears
NEED TO KNOW When the Smoke Clears LEBANON Above the hills of Beirut, the marble halls of Baabda Palace, where the Lebanese […]
The Holy Grail
NEED TO KNOW The Holy Grail VANUATU Last spring, Vanuatu’s voters approved new measures in a referendum to take effect this year […]
The Pointy Boots
NEED TO KNOW The Pointy Boots CANADA Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was stepping down after nine years […]
Quadrant Chess
NEED TO KNOW Quadrant Chess GREENLAND Last week, Denmark’s King Frederik X unveiled a new royal coat of arms that gave its […]
Before the Avalanche
NEED TO KNOW Before the Avalanche MOZAMBIQUE Cyclone Chido blew through Mozambique last month. The storm’s 160-mile winds and the 10 inches […]
Ready Player One
NEED TO KNOW Ready Player One MYANMAR In Myanmar, rebels play a video game called SpringBees to raise money for the civilian-led […]
Megawatts of Fury
NEED TO KNOW Megawatts of Fury GEORGIA When defending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and meddling in other countries’ internal affairs, Russian President […]
Sink or Swim
NEED TO KNOW Sink or Swim BOLIVIA A community of ethnic Aymara shamans in Bolivia called amautas, or “wise ones” in the […]