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Evolving Nature of Terrorism since the September 11 Attacks: al-Qaeda and ISIS Affiliates
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Folly, Persuasion, and Deceit: Artificial Intelligence and the Coming Crisis of Overconfidence in Strategic Nuclear Affairs
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The Contested LEO Battlespace: The Fight for Connectivity, Control, and Decision Advantage
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APT Profile: APT44
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Beyond the Strait of Hormuz: Alternatives and Diversification as a Strategy for Trade Corridor Resilience
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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

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Defense & Security, Terrorism & Extremism, Africa, Middle East

Sep 8 , 2026

Policy Brief

Evolving Nature of Terrorism since the September 11 Attacks: al-Qaeda and ISIS Affiliates

The terrorism threat landscape has changed substantially since September 11, 2001. Over the last quarter of a century, counterterrorism efforts disrupted terrorist networks and decapitate several senior leaders, including the founder of al Qaeda, Usama bin Laden, and his successors, as well as ISIS leadership. Despite al Qaeda being pushed

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Defense & Security, Technology

Sep 5 , 2026

Policy Brief

Folly, Persuasion, and Deceit: Artificial Intelligence and the Coming Crisis of Overconfidence in Strategic Nuclear Affairs

Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) is seeping steadily into strategic nuclear affairs. In 2018, a RAND Corporation study reasoned that by 2040, an AI could advise humans on matters of escalation without connecting directly to nuclear launchers, based on the progress AI is making in “increasingly complex and poorly specified tasks.”[1]

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Data Privacy & Governance Hub

Sep 3 , 2026

Projects

Utah Law Strengthens Student Privacy Protections for Educational Technology

Key Takeaways Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) reported that some educational technology (EdTech) applications used in Utah K-12 schools collected and shared student data in ways that violated privacy agreements. Utah House Bill 55, which took effect on July 1, 2026, increased privacy requirements for EdTech vendors by allowing

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Defense & Security, Technology, Europe & Central Asia

Sep 1 , 2026

Policy Brief

The Contested LEO Battlespace: The Fight for Connectivity, Control, and Decision Advantage

The war in Ukraine is exposing a fundamental change in modern conflict. Low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations are no longer simply a supporting layer that provides communications, imagery, navigation, and data to forces fighting below. It is becoming part of the battlespace itself, not necessarily because satellites are being destroyed

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OPI-ROCCA

Aug 25 , 2026

Projects

APT Profile: APT44

Country of Origin Russia Threat Actor Type State-sponsored Other Names Sandworm, GRU Unit 74455, Seashell Blizzard, FROZENBARENTS, Iron Viking, Telebots, Voodoo Bear Year Identified 2014 Major Target Countries & Entities Ukraine, Poland, United States, South Korea, multinational corporations Profile Summary APT44 is a Russian state-sponsored cyber threat actor that operates

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Defense & Security, Middle East

Aug 20 , 2026

Op-Ed

Beyond the Strait of Hormuz: Alternatives and Diversification as a Strategy for Trade Corridor Resilience

As both the U.S. and Iran have climbed the escalation ladder, the Strait of Hormuz — and with it, international maritime trade and energy markets — has been subjected to a consequential chokehold. As the U.S. conducts strikes on major infrastructural sites, weapons depots, and Iranian political leadership, one of

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Technology, Americas

Aug 17 , 2026

Policy Brief

Before Medical AI Learns on the Job, FDA Should Test Its Teacher

In test environments, medical AI systems have begun to show early signs of the ability to learn during use from feedback they or other models generate. The FDA, through its Predetermined Change Control Plan (PCCP), already has a governance mechanism in place that preauthorizes future updates to medical AI systems

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Cybersecurity, Americas

Aug 11 , 2026

Op-Ed

Why the United States Must Raise the Cost of Attack to Increase Its Cyber Deterrence

Long before the invention of cyberspace, deterrence guarded the U.S. against attack by promising to retaliate in kind against any nation that struck American territory. The Cold War concept of mutually assured destruction may not have been sophisticated, but it was effective at discouraging nuclear conflict with the United States.

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Latest Research

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Nov 18 , 2025

Policy Brief

Rising Tensions: The U.S.–Russia Standoff and Its Consequences for NATO and Ukraine

Introduction President Donald Trump recently accused Russia of conducting underground nuclear tests, while President Vladimir Putin, responding to U.S. discussions about providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, warned that such a move would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.”[1] These developments signal a renewed rise in U.S.-Russia tensions and highlight

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Democracy & Human Rights, Terrorism & Extremism, Africa

Nov 11 , 2025

Policy Brief

Sudan: Theatre Where Many, Competing Interests Meet and Clash

After 18 months of siege marked by starvation, targeted killings, and sexual violence, El Fasher – the capital of North Darfur – fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As of the time of this writing, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) control most of the north, east, and central regions,

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Defense & Security, Africa

Nov 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Bridging Land and Sea: Rethinking Security in the Red Sea Arena

The Red Sea has shifted from a central shipping lane to a strategically important area linking Africa, Arabia, the Indo-Pacific, and global powers. The distinction between land and sea is fading — as are old assumptions about regional order. From Peripheral Sea to Global Chokepoint Long seen as a peripheral

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Defense & Security, South Asia

Oct 31 , 2025

Policy Brief

ASEAN Summit 2025: Navigating Great-Power Rivalry in Kuala Lumpur

From October 25 to 28, the ASEAN 47th Summit in Kuala Lumpur became the world’s most important diplomatic scenario. The summit gathered thirty heads of state and government, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The gathering, thus, has been crucial not only for the future of

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Americas

Oct 24 , 2025

Research

Funding Gaps and Service Cuts: Reimagining Public Transit for an Equitable Future

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Executive Summary Many major American metropolitan public transportation organizations are confronting critical funding shortfalls in the coming years, which they warn will force them to implement drastic service reductions and fare increases without further investment. Among other benefits, public transportation is a vital resource for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, who

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pakistan afghanistan

Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Oct 22 , 2025

Policy Brief

Opportunity for Lasting Peace? Renewed Violence Tests Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations

Introduction In October 2025, cross-border conflict surged between Afghanistan and Pakistan over allegations of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan and drone strikes carried out by Pakistan, reaching the deadliest levels since the Taliban seized power of Afghanistan in August 2021. After several days of fighting, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to

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