By Nicole L. Novak, Research Assistant Professor of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa
William D. Lopez, Clinical Associate Professor of Public Health and Latino/Latina Studies, University of Michigan
The Trump administration announced on Feb. 12, 2026, that it is ending Operation Metro Surge, its deployment of more than 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding metro area. Federal officials say some agents will remain in the area and have vowed that similar immigration sweeps are coming soon to other U.S. cities.
(Full Story)
|
By Paula de la Cruz-Fernández, Cultural Digital Collections Manager, University of Florida
Immigration to the U.S. is often framed as a problem to be managed, controlled or punished. Immigrants are often derided for crossing the border without authorization or “taking jobs” from U.S. citizens.
(Full Story)
|
By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University
People have long given up on the search for the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring that could reverse aging. But for some scientists, the hunt has not ended – it’s just moved to a different place. These modern-day Ponce de Leóns are investigating whether gut microbes hold the secret to aging well.
The gut microbiome refers to the vast collection of microscopic organisms – bacteria,…
(Full Story)
|
By Noah Dormady, Associate Professor of Public Policy, The Ohio State University
American families are feeling the pinch of rising electricity prices. In the past five years alone, the generation portion of the standard service residential electric bill in Columbus, Ohio, has increased by 110%. This is one data point in a national trend.
Energy affordability is quickly shaping up to be a key…
(Full Story)
|
By Luisa Sotomayor, Associate professor, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Ewan Kerr, Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
Maryam Lashkari, Research Fellow, Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University
Ross Beveridge, Senior Research Fellow in Urban Studies, University of Glasgow
Crises seem to be everywhere. We live through a moment of generalized crisis — called poly– or perma-crisis by some. In this context, the nation-state often appears as the default institution and ideological framework for addressing challenges. But the nation-state is not always the best placed entity to respond to crises.
…
(Full Story)
|
By Amanda Bisong, Policy Leader Fellow, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
Franzisca Zanker, Senior researcher, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute
Leonie Felicitas Jegen, PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam
Beyond the rights to free movement, the AES withdrawal has real effects on Ecowas in terms of its legitimacy, strength and migrant rights.
(Full Story)
|
By Clement Sefa-Nyarko, Lecturer in Security, Development and Leadership in Africa, King's College London
Clean technologies depend on critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt. Over 65% of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nearly 40% of the world’s manganese is mined in South Africa. Substantial deposits of lithium are found in Zimbabwe. Ghana is emerging as a miner of that mineral of lithium too.
What’s less well understood is how the supply chains of these minerals are assessed and managed.…
(Full Story)
|
By Genevieve Sekumbo, PhD Candidate- Anthropology and Sociology, Graduate Institute – Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)
Tanzania’s October 29 protests were framed as an electoral dispute. Research links them to a deeper crisis of blocked adulthood among young people.
(Full Story)
|
By Amnesty International
A new Amnesty International investigation has established that Predator spyware was used in 2024 to target Teixeira Cândido, a prominent Angolan journalist, press freedom activist, jurist and former Secretary General of the Syndicate of Angolan Journalists (SJA). Predator is a highly invasive mobile phone spyware, developed and sold by Intellexa – a mercenary spyware company – for use by governments in surveillance operations. This is the first forensic confirmation of its use in Angola. “I feel […] The post Angola: Prominent journalist hacked with Predator spyware appeared first on Amnesty…
(Full Story)
|
By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image The Timor-Leste embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, February 16, 2026. © 2026 Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images On February 13, Myanmar’s military junta ordered the head of Timor-Leste’s embassy in Yangon to leave the country within seven days. The expulsion comes after Timorese authorities opened legal proceedings against Myanmar junta officials earlier this month for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.The case, filed by the Chin Human Rights Organisation in January, accuses 10 members of Myanmar’s junta, including commander in chief, Senior Gen. Min…
(Full Story)
|