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Showing posts from November, 2025

Tajik Islamic State-Supportive Media House Shares Video of Toddler Praising Islamic State

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Content Warning: This article contains descriptions of children in war and terrorism, and may be upsetting to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.  Screenshot from Asror Media (Tajik Islamic State-Supportive media house) video of toddler praising Islamic State Bottom Line Up Front On 20 July 2026, a Tajik Islamic State-Supportive Media House, Asror Media, shared a video showing a toddler praising Islamic State, its fighters, and martyrs. The child speaks in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and is dressed in a T-shirt. The toddler appears no older than three and it looks like the video was filmed in a clothing store. A black piece of material with white writing on it is visible in the background of the video. The IS flag also has white writing on a black background. The writing system seen on the piece of material has features that indicate it could be Nastaliq, a form of Arabic calligraphy used for languages on the Persian Language Continuum, of which Tajik is one.  The vi...
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Predictive Geopolitical Outlook for 2026: Multipolarity, Strategic Competition, and Emerging Regional Agency

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  The year 2026 is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the transformation of the global landscape as the international system continues its transition toward a multipolar world. Key nations - notably China, the United States, India, and Russia - are expected to adjust their geopolitical strategies to gain economic benefits, political clout, and security interests. Experts predict that geopolitical rivalry will become more intense without leading to large-scale conflict, primarily because economic interdependence remains a stabilizing factor among competing blocs. Instead, 2026 is likely to be marked by transactional diplomacy, contested areas of influence, and increased fragmentation within global governance frameworks. This shift reveals weaknesses in the declining unipolar order while offering emerging regions new opportunities to exert greater strategic influence.   Africa is set to become one of the most significant of these emerging regions. With an anticipated continen...
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Botswana’s Diamond Dilemma: The Impact of Lab-Grown Diamonds and De Beers’ Sale on the SADC Region

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       Since its inception in 1888, De Beers has maintained a stronghold on the international diamond market through a cartel-like system that controlled supply and kept prices elevated. The longstanding collaboration between De Beers and the Botswana government, through their equally owned venture Debswana, has been a benchmark for resource management and fair distribution of benefits in Africa (Wyk, 2010). However, Anglo American's 2024 announcement to withdraw from De Beers signifies a pivotal change. Experts believe that Anglo's move was influenced by decreasing profit margins and increasing competition from synthetic diamond producers, whose market share expanded from 1% in 2015 to over 15% by 2023 (Shah, 2025; Bain & Company, 2023). This shift prompts concerns about the viability of Botswana's diamond-driven economic model, especially since De Beers has traditionally overseen not just mining but also the marketing, branding, and integration of Botswana'...
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Al-Qaeda's Branch in West Africa, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), Reportedly Expands to Nigeria

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Bottom Line Up Front  On 31 October 2025, a video allegedly from al-Qaeda's branch in West Africa, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), circulated widely online, showing the group claim credit for its first-ever attack in Nigeria. JNIM is already active in Mali, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo. JNIM's name translates as Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims. At the time of writing, JNIM's official propaganda outlet, Az-Zallaqa Media, has not released a statement about the attack and the video in question does not contain any Az-Zallaqa branding.  The video shows weapons, ammunition and military equipment seized from an attack in Nuku, Kwara State, Nigeria. At the time of this report, JNIM's official propaganda outlet, Az-Zallaqa Media, has issued no claim of credit for the attack. The video was taken in a forested area and is narrated by the cameraman. The narrator can be heard saying the words "Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin...
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