The successful push to remove Maoist rebels from tribal regions in India creates a new threat for local communities. With the insurgents gone, residents fear the heavy state military presence will now facilitate the entry of mining companies seeking to exploit the areas' rich mineral reserves, leading to displacement and dispossession.
A key component of India's successful counter-insurgency strategy involves an unusual recruitment pipeline. The state's District Reserve Guard actively recruits surrendered Maoist rebels, repurposing them to fight against their former allies. This approach bypasses traditional rehabilitation or prosecution, turning insurgents into state assets.
The most versatile performers, known as "swings" who learn up to 20 roles, are receiving disproportionate pay raises. A recent Broadway agreement provided a 30% pay increase for swing responsibilities versus a 3% base rate hike, reflecting the immense economic value producers place on this high-pressure insurance policy against show cancellations.
Despite sanctions, Iran's decentralized oil-selling operation, involving groups like the IRGC and using front companies and small Chinese banks, is thriving. By exploiting higher global oil prices caused by blocked shipping lanes, the regime is now earning nearly twice its pre-war revenue, showcasing the resilience and sophistication of its sanction-evasion tactics.