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The article focuses on Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) efforts to address congestion issues on Kansas State Highway 96 (K-96) in Wichita, Kansas through a significant expansion project. Topics discussed include K-96's importance, the involvement of a technical advisory group (tiger team), and the innovative use of diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs) to improve traffic flow and safety.

I INITIALLY HEARD about the Zagros from a Kurdish sniper called Azad Cudi. PART THREE KAWA, THE MIDDLE-distance runner, has asked me to hike up to meet him among the peaks, so Hawre and I head for the village of Sargat, where the routes over Tateh to Iran begin. Adnan reminds me of something Azad, the sniper, had said - that at heart, the fight for Rojava was a contest of wills. Features PART ONE HEADING EAST ACROSS Iraqi Kurdistan toward the Zagros Mountains and the border with Iran, we pass from a land of sand and dust into the green prairies of Mesopotamia. [Extracted from the article]

Hayden became Kingi's "pet project", said Rick Pollock, 72, a retired Whakatane charter captain who had employed Hayden and Kingi as deckhands. Barrow and Hopcroft managed to walk the boy to their helicopter, then helped Storey and Law load Law's next five casualties, after which the ex-specialforces pilot took off for Whakatane. Following Law's and Hayden's footsteps, he heaved Hayden out of the water and sat him upright on a bank. So did Paul Kingi, Tom Storey, and the family of Tipene Maangi, whose picture stood next to Hayden's. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on brutalities and cruel behavior of 'Ndrangheta, a mafia clan, against people in Calabria, Italy. Topics discussed include death of Maria Concetta Cacciola for betraying the mafia and bringing shame to her family, a programme launched to protect and rescue women and children and money laundering act of the mafia in London, England.

The article focuses on the 'Ndrangheta Mafia family from Calabria, Italy which remained strong due to loyalty, however its treatment of women has been unfair. Topics include its member Lea Garofalo's elopement with cocaine smuggler Carlo Cosco, Garofalo's mysterious death that is attributed to her desire to be free from the Mafia family, and the finances of the 'Ndranghetas. Also discussed are the controversies surrounding the 'Ndranghetas and the tragic lives of its women.

The cover story is presented, which offers an interview with the contemporary American filmmaker Noah Baumbach is presented. Particular focus is given to his 2015 film "Mistress America," which stars Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke. Additional topics discussed include the father-son-dynamic that he explores in the film "The Squid and the Whale," his film "Margot at the Wedding," his collaborations with the actress and writer Greta Gerwig and how he has shot several of his most recent films on digital video.

The article discusses the struggle of foreign migrants in fleeing to Europe. Topics discussed include majority of the migrants who were rescued by the Italian Navy were Syrians, Eritreans and Somalis, who went through boats off the coast of Libya, reasons for migrants fleeing their home countries in the Middle East and North Africa like escaping conflict and persecution, and Calogera Ferrara revealed that multinational organized crime groups contributed to smuggling of migrants to Europe.

The article discusses conditions in Sudan and South Sudan, focusing on ongoing violence in South Sudan since its 2011 independence from Sudan. Topics include genocide in South Sudan and comparisons to the Rwandan genocide; the involvement of actor George Clooney in the South's independence and raising global awareness; and a discussion of humanitarian intervention, including activities by Western states and the United Nation's (UN) Responsibility to Protect doctrine.

The article discusses French military intervention in Mali in the hopes of suppressing Islamist rebels, and examines parallels between the French mission and the Afghan war. France's hope of avoiding a long conflict is commented on, and the possibility that it will be involved in a long counter-insurgency effort is discussed.

The article focuses on politics and government in South Africa with a focus on violence in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The article discusses the political violence against the African National Congress (ANC), noting 15 ANC members have been assassinated including ANC's regional secretary Sbu Sibiya. It also states the country's President Jacob Zuma has denied allegations of political corruption.

The article discusses economic growth in Africa's developing countries as of December 2012, with a focus on Africa's future. Topics include the social and political activism of a group of street artists led by the photographer Boniface Mwangi; the development of the high-technology industry in African cities including Nairobi, Kenya; and corruption in political leadership in Africa. Foreign investments in technology companies are discussed, along with the changing social demographics due to greater political freedoms and access to education.

The article discusses the political, social, and economic impact of the international drug trade on West Africa, particularly focusing on the role of Guinea-Bissau in the cocaine trade between Latin American producers and European consumers. It addresses the lack of resources in many West African nations to prevent drug trafficking and solve the problem once it starts.

The article discusses Rwanda's President Paul Kagame as of September 24, 2012, focusing on the political, economic, and social conditions in the country under Kagame's leadership, as well as an examination of several allegations of human rights violations against Kagame. An overview of Kagame's life is provided, including information on his childhood in the village of Tambwe, Rwanda and his help in forming the Rwandan Patriotic Front political party.

The article looks at political and security conditions in Somalia as of 2012. It notes that the country has seen continual warfare for over 20 years. It reports that the African Union Mission in Somalia (ANISOM) has succeeded in bringing peace to large areas of the country by subduing armed warlords and the Islamist group al-Shabab. Lessons the Somalia case offers for international peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts are discussed.

The article describes ongoing hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan as of 2012, particularly as it relates to the Nuba tribe that fought with the south for independence but falls under northern jurisdiction. Issues including border disputes, bombings and raids, and religious and racial genocide are discussed.

The article discusses a search by U.S. filmmakers and numerous special operations forces for African war criminal Joseph Kony, the leader of the Ugandan guerilla group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). According to the article, the town of Obo, Central African Republic has witnessed an increase in its population as people descend on the region in search of Kony. The U.S. advocacy group Invisible Children and its film "Kony 2012" are both mentioned. The diplomatic attempts to capture Kony which were initiated by former U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. President Barack Obama are both examined. A timeline of Kony-related events from 1986 through 2011 is also provided.

The article discusses Youssou N'Dour, a Senegalese musician and candidate in the 2012 presidential election of Senegal. The article examines Senegalese politics including the election of Abdoulaye Wade as President in 2000, the Y'en a Marre movement, and N'Dour's civil-society movement Fekke Ma Ci Bole. Protests against changes to Senegal's constitution by Wade, the possibility that the 2012 election will be fixed, and the spread of the political movement through Africa are discussed.

The article focuses on the African National Congress (ANC), a revolutionary movement founded in South Africa by Thomas Maphikela and Nelson Mandela. Information is provided on the annual ANC celebration held in Bloemfontein, South Africa. It is noted that even though apartheid ended in 1994, the country is marked by a racial divide due to enduring prejudice and economic inequality. The author explores how the ANC-led government has been marked by corruption and abuses of power.

The article looks at African terrorist groups inspired by terrorist organization al-Qaeda. The three main groups mentioned are Boko Haram, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and al-Shabab. Topics discussed include a bombing in Abuja, Nigeria by a Boku Haram militant, how Islamic insurgencies could threaten the nascent economic growth of Nigeria and Kenya, and increasing internationalization of the groups.

The article looks at African farmers transitioning to businesspeople. Topics discussed include the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) trading floor that sells food products including coffee, sesame, and wheat, how transitioning to commercial agriculture from subsistence farming could end the country's chronic poverty, and the indoor farms in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and Ethiopia. Potentially dangerous and exploitative working conditions on the commercial farms are investigated.

The article reports on an antimalaria campaign in Africa and the business model of humanitarian aid. Companies such as ExxonMobil and AngloGold Ashanti recognized that controlling malaria is in their financial interest and contributed millions of dollars to protect their workers. The cycle of illness and poverty caused by the mosquito carrying disease is mentioned. The question of whether global aid, which is about $120 billion per year, works to prevent malaria and save lives is discussed. The countries that account for a majority of malaria cases and most deaths from the disease are noted. The effectiveness of nets in preventing malaria is also noted.

The article focuses on the role of the U.S. in dealing with the Islamic extremists in Somalia and the famine in 2011. Topics include the involvement of the U.S. in blocking assistance to Somalia, the drought and starvation risks for the people, and the struggle of aid groups like the United Nations World Food Programme and Oxfam International to provide assistance.

The article discusses modern-day pirates operating out of Somalia. The author speaks to pirate king Fingers, who explains how investors hire pirates and describes the risks of piracy, like starvation. Somalia's unstable government is noted. Also discussed is the pirates' increased range, frequency, and violence of attacks, the cost of piracy for traders, and the use of the hijacked South Korean ship the "Golden Wave" as a mother ship. The mythical pirate heaven Libertalia is discussed.

The article focuses on the ongoing conflict in the Sudan region despite the division of Sudan into two countries on July 9, 2011. It states that on June 26, 2011 a Sudanese air force plane dropped five 45-gallon barrels of oil attached to explosives, killing 12 people. It mentions Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has proclaimed northern Sudan will be a monolithic Islamic state under Shari'a law. Sudan specialist Jehanne Henry at Human Rights Watch said that it appears certain war crimes are being committed. The article comments that witnesses report rebel supporters in the Sudan People's Liberation Army are being rounded up and shot. It talks about South Sudan's constitution that appears to concentrate power in the central government.

The article discusses increases in rates of rhinoceros horn poaching in South Africa despite a ban on international horn trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). The African white rhinoceros had overcome extinction but is at risk due to high levels of poaching in South Africa, which contains the majority of the world's rhinoceros population, despite police attempts to arrest poachers. The article attributes the increase in poaching to increased interest in traditional medicine in Vietnam, where rhinoceros horn is reputed to cure cancer, and China. The author discusses rhinoceros breeding programs in China that provide horns to pharmaceutical companies and new tools to harvest horns from live rhinoceroses.

The article focuses on Eko Atlantic, an artificial island in Lagos, Nigeria, that will house residential and commercial properties. The need for the island due to overcrowding, pollution and traffic problems is explored. Information is offered on Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola and his success in improving infrastructure and his creation of the Lagos Economic Summit.

The article discusses social and political conditions in Nigeria and the role of youth in supplanting the country's past political corruption. Nigeria's history since it gained independence in 1960 is described, noting poverty, poor health, and other adverse circumstances that have existed since due to government corruption. Change that may ensue with April 2011 presidential, parliamentary and regional elections is discussed.

The article discusses the business venture of mobile banking technology in Kenya. It is suggested that the innovation can boost GDP (gross domestic product), increase revenue, and improve the lifestyles and banking opportunities for African people. Also included are examples of the banks, like Safaricom and Equity Bank, and their profits as well as a comparison of traditional banking with mobile banking.

The article discusses the future of the Republic of Sudan and a January 9, 2011 political referendum that will dictate whether it splits into 2 countries, north and south. The article questions whether a new nation will be born in peace or if war will result. Sudan's geographic location between Africa and Arabia is pointed to in explaining the differences in culture, race, and religion that exist in the north and south of Sudan. Worldwide effects of a prospective war in Sudan are discussed, noting refugees who will leave Sudan and economic interests in Sudan's natural resources.

The article discusses China's foreign investment in Africa. Africa's relatively high rate of economic development from 2007-2009 is noted, as if the almost tenfold increase in China's trade with Africa in the 2000s. Examples are presented of China's investments in Africa, which often involve infrastructure creation projects in return for access to minerals and other primary commodities.

The article describes efforts to combat malaria in Africa. The Lake Kwania region of Uganda has been ravaged by malaria, which causes thousands of deaths a year. According to the organization Malaria No More, founded by Ray Chambers, malaria costs Africa approximately 12 billion dollars a year and thus making gains in the prevention and treatment of the disease would boost the economy and help promote the health and development of Africa.

The article discusses the role soccer has played in South African politics and society. In the 1960's South Africa's Robben Island served as a prison during the nation's long period of apartheid and the prison soccer field became a symbol of the struggle for racial equality and human rights. The 2010 World Cup soccer tournament is an opportunity for South Africa to combat negative global perceptions about the country resulting from record levels of poverty, unemployment and violent crime. According to South African President Jacob Zuma, the 2010 World Cup will demonstrate to the world that South Africa is a capable country which is equal to all others.

This article discusses how the discovery of oil in Ghana and Uganda will affect each country. The article speculates about whether each country will suffer the same consequences as such other African nations as Nigeria. Nigeria so mismanages its oil industry that its own gas stations run out of gasoline on a regular basis. Nigeria doesn't use the riches from its oil to improve itself because the country is ruled by corruption and avarice.

The article reports that South Sudan, Africa is planning to become an independent nation at a referendum on independence on January 9, 2011. Aid workers and politicians such as United Nations regional coordinator David Gressly and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter do not believe Sudan will be ready for secession by 2011.

The article discusses extremism in Somalia, the al-Shabab Islamist group led by Sheik Fuad Mohamed Shangole, and its allegiance to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Refugees from Somalian war have settled throughout the globe and are said to be evidence of the reach of al-Shabab. U.S. military action taken against al-Shabab leaders is noted. The threats represented by al-Shabab and the Taliban are compared.

The article discusses the African nation of Zimbabwe, its history, government, economy, social conditions, and uncertain future. It reports on the ruthless reign of Zimbabwe's first and only President Robert Mugabe and his role in the country's economic disintegration. It discusses the emergence of Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister after Mugabe and his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) refused to accept Tsvangirai's victory in the March 2008 general election.

The article looks at the political state of South Africa as of 2009. Political scandals and accusations of corruption have diminished the power of African National Congress (ANC) . The author notes that the nation's fourth democratic general election will be held on April 22, 2009. The decline of the ANC since the departure of former member Nelson Mandela is discussed.

The article discusses the United Nations' 2005 World Summit "responsibility to protect" resolution, R2P, and its implementation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It describes the history of the ethnic conflict and examines the role MONUC, French acronym for United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is taking to help secure civilians. The author raises questions about MONUC's effectiveness, the ability to implement R2P and its ability to resolve problems.

The article discusses the participation of China in the peacekeeping mission supported by the intergovernmental organization United Nations. Topics covered include the support of Chinese President Xi Jinping with 1 billion U.S. dollars in funding and 8,000 additional peacekeepers, the failures of U.N. in its humanitarian military operations in Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic, and the initiatives of the African Union Misison in Somalia (AMISOM).

The article discusses the political and social turmoil in Somalia and examines why this turmoil is spreading beyond Somalia's borders. Details about the piracy and war which are prevalent in Somalia are provided. The challenges facing aid workers in Somalia are described and the rise in Somalian refugees appearing in countries such as Yemen and Kenya is also explored.