An Oasis in the Middle of the Ukraine War: The Pike - and the Drones - Come at Night
#International #World #Ukraine #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin

Sometimes the noise is distant artillery, at others it's the lawnmower next door: In the far east of Ukraine, on a river meandering its way through the forests, there is a village where people can take a break from war․ But it is never far away․

Gangs, Corruption and Collapse: The Slow and Steady Demise of South Africa
#International #World #SouthAfrica #Africa

The end of Apartheid in South Africa brought a surge of hope for a brighter future․ But the ANC, the party that liberated the Black majority from oppression, has transformed the country into a swamp of corruption, mismanagement and despair․ Some are trying to turn things around․

Assad's Criminal Conglomerate: Syrian Economy Continues to Spiral Toward Collapse
#International #World #Syria #SyrianCivilWar #Drugs

The Arab League had hoped that welcoming Syria back into its ranks might slow down the flow of drugs coming out the country․ But as the case of business executive Mahmoud Aldij shows, Assad's mafia-like structures remain deeply entrenched․

Russia's Scorched Earth Policy in Ukraine: A Trip to the Dried-Up Kakhovka Reservoir
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #CrimeaCrisis #VladimirPutin #Russia

The Kakhovka Reservoir was once a vast body of water in the heart of Ukraine․ In June, after the Russians apparently blew up the dam holding it back, the lake ran dry․ We traveled along the Dnieper River to see how people's lives have changed․

Why Armenia Can't Free Itself from Moscow
#International #World #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Russia #EuropeanUnion

Armenia feels abandoned by the Kremlin and is trying to find new partners to help ensure its security․ But its dependence on the Kremlin is deep – and archrival Azerbaijan is already mulling its next attack․

U․S․ Military Analyst: "Russia Doesn't Have a Good Strategy for Winning the War"
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #Ukraine

In an interview, American military analyst Michael Kofman says he believes Ukrainian troops have a realistic chance of a breakthrough in their counteroffensive, assuming they don't run out of ammunition․

Visiting with Ukrainian Sappers: A Sea of Explosives 1,000 Kilometers Long
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia

Russian troops have transformed the fighting front into what is likely the largest minefield in the world․ Ukrainian sappers are making but slow progress through this sea of death․ But they haven't lost their optimism․

The Iran Protests One Year Later: "Like They Had Buried Me With Her"
#International #World #Iran #HumanRights #MiddleEast

Hundreds of protesters have likely been killed since the most recent wave of demonstrations began one year ago․ The daughter of one victim cut off her hair, and the image went viral․ She immediately had to leave Iran and now lives in exile in Britain․

A Ukrainian Couple Scarred by War: "I Could Sense that Alina Was There"
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

Alina and Andriy got married in Kyiv in September 2019․ When Russia invaded, Andriy volunteered to defend his country, and lost both arms and his sight․ But the couple has found renewed purpose in life․

Exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh: The Day Anna, 36, Lost Her Home
#International #World #Armenia #Azerbaijan

Anna Khachatryan had to flee Nagorno-Karabakh with her children when Azerbaijan attacked․ Her story is part of a bigger one about the tragedy of the Armenians, who must now fear the looming threat of an even bigger invasion․