Indra Ekmanis

Indra Ekmanis is a former editor on The World's digital team.

Indra Ekmanis is a former editor on The World's digital team.

Indra has a doctorate in international studies from the University of Washington, with an area focus in the Baltic Sea Region and post-Soviet space. Her work has concentrated on the everyday experiences of minority integration, immigrant identity and civil society, particularly through the lens of culture.

Indra was a 2016-2017 Fulbright researcher in Latvia, and has been a research scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She is also a Baltic Sea Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Putin holds his passport in front of an election official

Putin scores victory in 'gameshow'-like vote; Myanmar mine collapse; Ethiopian singer's death sparks protests; Botswana's mysterious elephant die-off

Vladimir Putin scored an apparent victory in a week-long constitutional referendum that had the trappings of a gameshow. A large landslide struck the Hpakant jade mining site in Myanmar. The killing of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, an Ethiopian singer and activist, has sparked days of protest. A mysterious die-off of elephants in Botswana has stumped scientists. And, Amsterdam's red-light district is reopening after the coronavirus shutdown.

Putin scores victory in 'gameshow'-like vote; Myanmar mine collapse; Ethiopian singer's death sparks protests; Botswana's mysterious elephant die-off
A person on an orange bicycle rides past a billboard of people with masks

Baltic 'bubble' looks to reopen regional travel

Baltic 'bubble' looks to reopen regional travel
Putin stands at a podium in front of a crowd and signage for May 9

Coronavirus postponed Russia’s Victory Day. That could be a problem for Putin.

Coronavirus postponed Russia’s Victory Day. That could be a problem for Putin.
A man in a suit video conferences

Is coronavirus reshuffling the global power deck?

Is coronavirus reshuffling the global power deck?
Police officers in protective suits arrive in a residential area to check on people

Without support for India's poorest people, lockdown risks failure

Without support for India's poorest people, lockdown risks failure
A police officer talks to a woman and child, all in face masks, outside a hotel

How ‘war’ with coronavirus could lead to lasting government overreach

Under war-like circumstances, history shows there is a very fine line between protecting citizens and eroding rights — and that line can be exploited or extended in times of great uncertainty. 

How ‘war’ with coronavirus could lead to lasting government overreach
A headshot of Trump in shadow

Trump's hypocrisy on corruption is just what Putin wants

US President Donald Trump said he was concerned about corruption in Ukraine when he withheld aid last year. But his interference in Justice Department matters post-impeachment are eroding US institutional norms — and playing into Russian President Vladimir Putin's hand.

Trump's hypocrisy on corruption is just what Putin wants
The building of the US Supreme Court is pictured in Washington, DC, Jan. 19, 2020.

Supreme Court's 'public charge' decision sows confusion among immigrants using public benefits

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision has sown widespread confusion among would-be green card applicants. Immigration advocates are concerned that it will prevent immigrant families — and their US citizen children — from accessing government programs for which they are eligible.

Supreme Court's 'public charge' decision sows confusion among immigrants using public benefits
A woman with braids in a pink track sweatshirt

Alyona Alyona breathes new life into Ukrainian rap scene

When Alyona Savranenko turned 12, hip-hop found her in a small rural village. Now Savranenko, a former kindergarten teacher, is one of the top artists in Ukraine.

Alyona Alyona breathes new life into Ukrainian rap scene
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney (R) listens as President Donald Trump (L) meets with members of the Republican Study Committee

GAO report says Trump administration violated the law in withholding aid to Ukraine

Just a day after the House sent articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial, the Government Accountability Office released a report that says the Trump administration violated the law when it withheld aid intended for Ukraine in the summer of 2019.

GAO report says Trump administration violated the law in withholding aid to Ukraine
A video grab of the US Senate

Impeachment trial in the Senate: How Trump was acquitted

Nearly a month after the House of Representatives took two historic votes to impeach the 45th president of the United States, the case moved to the Senate for trial. Look back at The World's coverage of the trial here.

Impeachment trial in the Senate: How Trump was acquitted
People march as they take part in an anti-war protest

Escalating conflict with Iran: What's happening?

A US-Iranian "shadow war" has escalated following the assassination of Iran's top general, Qasem Soleimani. The World is following what's happening between the US and Iran as the situation unfolds. 

Escalating conflict with Iran: What's happening?
Demonstrators with Iranian and American flags.

The history of US-Iran relations: A timeline

Despite some periods of cooperation, the US and Iran have long been in conflict. Here's a brief timeline of major events in US-Iranian relations.

The history of US-Iran relations: A timeline
A woman traveling from Guatemala, who is six months pregnant with a boy, is examined by a volunteer medic in a motel.

US immigration system is full of hurdles for pregnant women and new mothers

According to a Government Accountability Office report released this month, ICE data show that detentions of pregnant women increased by more than 50% — from 1,380 in 2016 to 2,098 in 2018.

US immigration system is full of hurdles for pregnant women and new mothers
Flags of many countries carried by protesters fill the frame.

Power outage: How did global leadership change in 2019?

US President Donald Trump faces a Senate trial over whether to remove him from office in January. But impeachment is not the only way to remove a leader. Here's a look at political shake-ups around the world, where both legal and extralegal means to bring about regime change have made headlines.

Power outage: How did global leadership change in 2019?