Once the Soviet Union’s northernmost coal capital, Vorkuta is now Russia’s largest ghost city — a frozen relic of the Gulag where 200,000 prisoners perished and thousands still struggle to survive in −50 °C cold.

Despite sanctions and near-total isolation, North Korea’s economy grew 4% in 2024 — its fastest pace in years. Discover how Kim Jong-un’s regime leverages Russia’s war, cybercrime, and calculated geopolitics to defy global pressure.

When Russian drones entered Polish airspace, NATO fired missiles costing hundreds of thousands each. Now, the EU plans a 4,000-km “drone wall” from Finland to Romania—an invisible shield built to stop cheap threats before they start.

Could Russia invade NATO while China strikes Taiwan and North Korea attacks the South — all at once? The nightmare scenario may be unlikely, but not impossible. Here’s how it could unfold, and why tim...

Once a wanted terrorist, Ahmed al-Shara now leads Syria. His rise reshapes Middle Eastern geopolitics in a post-Assad era.

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Discover Palmyra Atoll, a remote U.S. territory in the Pacific. Pristine reefs, wartime history, and why almost no one can ever visit.

Moldova votes on Sept 28. Russia aims to sway the election with money, troops, and disinformation. The stakes reach far beyond this small state.

AI and EVs are driving a power surge. SMRs promise fast, factory-built nuclear. China sprints, the U.S. and Europe reboot. Here’s the new nuclear race.

As M23 grabs territory, the ISIS-aligned ADF expands in the shadows — massacres, smuggling, and mobility that could push the DRC toward collapse.

London dominates the UK’s economy, but at what cost? Explore why Britain is the most regionally unequal wealthy country and what can be done.

From Georgia’s new port at Anaklia to NATO’s fortress in Romania, the Black Sea is the frontline of a silent war reshaping Eurasian power.

Iran has 3 million empty homes and entire ghost cities like Pardis and Hashtgerd. How did a housing revolution turn into abandoned ruins?

Haiti is unraveling under gangs, hunger, and lawlessness. With drones striking civilians and the state gone, the country faces total collapse.

The Flint Water Crisis wasn’t an accident—it was a preventable failure of governance, geography, and chemistry. Here’s how it unfolded and why it matters.

The U.S. has deployed its largest Caribbean force since Panama, parking destroyers, Marines, and F-35s off Venezuela. Officially drugs. Really leverage.

The U.S. suffers the world’s costliest disasters. From Joplin’s tornado to California’s fires to Katrina’s floods—how FEMA’s system really works.

The Gulf of Mexico looks like a simple bay—but it’s actually one of the most powerful and complex bodies of water on Earth. From fueling hurricanes to shaping Europe’s climate through the Gulf Stream, discover how the Gulf of Mexico defies geography itself.

Russian drones breached NATO airspace over Poland—the worst violation in 75 years. The incursion exposed critical gaps in Europe’s air defenses.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual defense pact, signaling a strategic realignment in the Middle East. With implications for Iran, India, and U.S. influence, the deal may extend Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent over Riyadh and reshape regional security.

In a historic week, France, Britain, Canada, Australia, and others recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. But will this symbolic move change realities in Gaza and the West Bank—or fuel further conflict?

For 12 days in June, Israeli airstrikes devastated Iran under Operation Rising Lion. Beyond the military defeat, the war dismantled Tehran’s decades-long security doctrine, from its regional proxy network to the myth of inviability at home. With the “axis of resistance” in ruins, ballistic deterrence exposed, and nuclear ambiguity under fire, Iran faces its gravest crisis since 1980. Can the Islamic Republic survive without its old playbook—or will desperation push it toward the bomb?

For over two decades, Vladimir Putin has perfected geopolitical gaslighting—denying Russian provocations, rewriting history, and manipulating reality to keep NATO off balance. From Crimea’s “little green men” to drone swarms over Poland and fighter jets over Estonia, Russia repeatedly pushes the limits while insisting nothing happened. Now, with signs of escalation building, is Putin preparing for his most dangerous gamble yet?

For decades, Syria industrialized Captagon, building a state-backed drug empire that funded war and flooded the Middle East. After the regime’s fall, the trade survived in decentralized form. Here’s how it works—and what it will take to dismantle it.

Eugene, Oregon, has one of the highest per capita homelessness rates in the U.S., surpassing even New York and Los Angeles. This deep dive explores how history, housing, addiction, and policy failures created a crisis that continues to define the city.