In 2014, the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria. It gave rise to a viral Twitter movement #BringBackOurGirls and would eventually inspire hundreds of similar kidnappings in the years that followed. The WSJ's Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson explain how criminal groups are building a kidnapping for ransom industry in Nigeria.
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How Kidnapping Became Big Business in Nigeria

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Less than six years after a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for legal sports gambling, U.S. sports leagues are facing an onslaught of betting scandals. The latest example is Jontay Porter, a little-known NBA player, who has been given a lifetime ban for betting on games. WSJ’s Jared Diamond unpacks how major leagues are confronting the darker sides of sports betting with alarming frequency.



Further Reading: 

-NBA Player Banned for Life for Betting on Games 

-America Made a Huge Bet on Sports Gambling. The Backlash Is Here. 



Further Listening: 

-How a Psychiatrist Lost $400,000 on Gambling Apps 

-Disney Gets Into Gambling 

​​-FanDuel CEO on Sports Gambling's Big Boom 

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How Gambling Scandals Are Rocking Sports Leagues

Over the course of 19 days, U.S. officials raced to contain escalating tensions between Israel and Iran amid a series of attacks. WSJ’s Michael R. Gordon on what was going on behind the scenes as the White House worked to prevent a bigger conflict.



Further Reading:

-Inside the White House’s Frenetic Scramble to Avert a Full-Blown Middle East War 

-How the U.S. Forged a Fragile Middle Eastern Alliance to Repel Iran’s Israel Attack 



Further Listening:

-A Deadly Strike on Aid Workers in Gaza 

-A Deadly Drone Attack and Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance'

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Inside the White House's Scramble to Avert a Bigger Middle East War

Former President Donald Trump is expected to spend the next six weeks in a Manhattan courtroom, defending himself against accusations he covered up a hush-money payment to  porn star Stormy Daniels. WSJ’s Corinne Ramey was in the courtroom for opening statements and WSJ’s Molly Ball unpacks what this trial could mean for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. 



Further Reading: 

-Trump’s Hush-Money Trial: What to Know as the Case Begins 

-Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal 



Further Listening: 

-Donald Trump Is Charged on 34 Felony Counts 

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Donald Trump’s First Criminal Trial Is Underway

Reports of freight fraud are on the rise, vexing trucking companies and regulators. And victims say that they aren’t getting any real help from law enforcement. WSJ’s Inti Pacheco unpacks one form of this fraud, called double brokering, and a trucking executive explains his personal efforts to stop the scammers.



Further Reading:

- A Brazen Yogurt Heist Shows How Cyber Gangs Are Hijacking U.S. Goods 

- Growing Freight Fraud is Peeling Millions From the U.S. Shipping Market 



Further Listening:

- Nike’s Sneaky Sneaker Thieves 



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How Cyber Thieves Are Disrupting U.S. Goods

It’s not just the cost of buying a home that’s going up. It’s also the hidden costs — like taxes, maintenance and insurance — that are going through the roof. WSJ’s Nicole Friedman explains why these prices are rising so fast, and what it means for the housing market.



Further Listening:

-'It's on Fire': Why the Housing Market Is Booming 



Further Reading:

-The Hidden Costs of Homeownership Are Skyrocketing 

-Home Buyers Are Ready to Buy. But Sellers Aren’t Selling. 

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How Kidnapping Became Big Business in Nigeria

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