Global media networks simplify Ethiopia’s conflicts: insights from 5 years of data

By Mulatu Alemayehu Moges, Associate Professor of Journalism and Communication, University of AgderMay 24, 2026

Global media coverage tends to focus on just one of Ethiopia’s conflicts.

Mali’s security crisis holds warnings for Nigeria: here’s why

Located in the same Sahel region and threatened by similar jihadist insurgents, Nigeria has some lessons to learn from Mali.

Saheed Babajide Owonikoko, Researcher, Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology·May 24, 2026

The Conversation

Iran war is exposing South Africa’s dependency on diesel: what went wrong

Diesel has become South Africa’s shadow infrastructure system by compensating for failures in electricity generation and freight rail.

Lisette IJssel de Schepper, Chief Economist Bureau for Economic Research, Stellenbosch University·May 24, 2026

Wired

A Danish Couple’s Maverick African Research Finds Its Moment in RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Policy

The work of Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn has long been controversial. Until Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became US health policy chief, most vaccine scientists tended to ignore it. Now they can’t.

Arthur Allen, KFF Health News·May 18, 2026·12 min read

The New Yorker

He Helped Stop Iran from Getting the Bomb

A former C.I.A. officer says that he recruited scientists as part of the United States’ effort to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.

David D. Kirkpatrick·Mar 30, 2026·43 min read

The New Yorker

What Is Claude? Anthropic Doesn’t Know, Either

Researchers at the company are trying to understand their A.I. system’s mind—examining its neurons, running it through psychology experiments, and putting it on the therapy couch.

Gideon Lewis-Kraus·Feb 9, 2026·46 min read

Wired

The US Built a Site to Ensure Fair Access to Public Lands. Then Everything Went Wrong

Recreation.gov was supposed to make access to public lands more equitable and streamlined. Instead, it’s rife with bots and inequality, while a government contractor benefits.

Heather Hansman·May 19, 2026·20 min read