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The 75-year history of the CIA makes for controversial reading. From “systematically misinforming” a series of US presidents about the economic and military threat posed by the Soviet Union during the “old” cold war, to engaging in torture, illegal kidnapping and execution-without-trial as part of George W Bush’s “war on terror”, the agency has never been slow to employ dirty tricks - not least to ensure its own survival.
But with a serious Russia expert now in charge and the CIA-loathing Donald Trump out of the picture (for the moment, at least), how much influence is the agency having on events in Ukraine - and can its “black” propaganda help bring about a resolution to the conflict? Our latest Insights long read brings you the inside story of the CIA’s rocky relationship with Russia, by one of the UK’s leading experts, Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones.
Angola is living through a political seismic shift. Election results released in the past few days show that the ruling party, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), has lost its strangle hold for the first time since it took control 50 years ago after independence from Portugal. As Jon Schubert and Gilson Lázaro explain, the result of last week’s poll remains contested. Nevertheless, a thin majority and the loss of the absolute (two-thirds) majority in parliament - and of the capital, Luanda - marks a significant defeat for the MPLA.
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Mike Herd
Investigations Editor, Insights
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Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, University of Edinburgh
With a formidable Kremlinologist in charge and Donald Trump out of the presidential picture, has the CIA regained its influence amid the ‘new cold war’?
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Jon Schubert, University of Basel; Gilson Lázaro, Catholic University of Angola
The loss of a two-thirds majority in parliament would be seen as a significant defeat for the MPLA.
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Emily Zarka, Arizona State University
Enormous, scaly, fire-breathing dragons have fascinated civilizations for centuries. A scholar who studies monsters explains their power and appeal.
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Najmedin Meshkati, University of Southern California
Artillery shelling, stressed-out technicians and power supply disruptions increase the chances of catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest.
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Frank Gerits, Utrecht University
Macron’s recent visits to Africa tell a story in which France is doing penance for its colonial crimes while trying to maintain influence gained through colonialism.
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Clark D. Cunningham, Georgia State University
A search warrant expert breaks down the affidavit the FBI used to search Mar-a-Lago, and the national security concerns it presents.
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Columba González-Duarte, Mount Saint Vincent University
The struggles of monarch butterflies reflect a shared North American ecological and social problem.
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Ella Tennant, Keele University
The Kimono is a distinct cultural symbol of Japan and for that reason, it has a complicated reputation around much of Asia.
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Jack Burns, University of Colorado Boulder
When the Orion Crew Capsule orbits the Moon there will be no one on board. But the mission will mark a key step in bringing humans back to Earth’s dusty sidekick.
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Jean-Renaud Boisserie, Université de Poitiers; Andossa Likius, Université de N'Djamena (Tchad); Clarisse Nekoulnang Djetounako, Université de N'Djamena (Tchad); Franck Guy, Université de Poitiers; Guillaume Daver, Université de Poitiers; Laurent Pallas, Kyoto University; Mackaye Hassane Taisso, Université de N'Djamena (Tchad); Patrick Vignaud, Université de Poitiers
New research shows our oldest ancestors were able to walk as well as evolve in trees.
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Rachel Bryant Davies, Queen Mary University of London
These books and poems give the women of the Odyssey a say and other new perspectives on the classic tale.
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A. Daniel Jones, Michigan State University; Hui Li, Michigan State University
PFAS can be filtered, but getting rid of the chemicals is a monumental challenge. A new breakthrough offers some hope.
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