Syria Civil War Map: January 2015 (Premium)

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Research by T.H., with additional reporting by Evan Centanni

PolGeoNow presents the newest edition of our in-demand map of territorial control in the Syrian Civil War. The map has been updated to January 30, 2015, showing the recapture of Kobani by Kurdish forces and several other important changes since our previous Syria map report in December.

For the first time, the Syria Civil War Map now uses a different symbol to indicate local control by al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, separate from control by other or mixed rebel groups or the Islamic State organization.

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Premium report includes:

• Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Syria, color-coded for the Assad government, rebel groups, Islamic State (ISIS) extremists, and Kurdish self-protection forces
• Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra marked with a separate symbol where the group has seized control of towns from other rebel groups
• Detailed indication of city-by-city control, highlighting key towns relevant to current events
• Recent areas of fighting, including Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), Wadi Deif, Sheikh Miskin, and others
• Timeline of changes to territorial control since early December

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Nigeria War Update: Map of Boko Haram Control (January 2015) (Premium)

The best online map of Boko Haram's territorial control - guaranteed!

There are newer versions of this map available. To see them, view all Nigeria updates.

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Research by T.H., with additional reporting by Evan Centanni

Since our last Boko Haram control map update in November, the rebel group has expanded its territorial control in Nigeria, connecting two of its territorial enclaves and occupying a long stretch of the country's international border with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

This premium report and map detail the various changes of the past two months, including new Boko Haram conquests as well as key attacks that didn't result in territorial gains. The map also, of course, provides an updated illustration of the full extent of Boko Haram's territorial control.

This map and article are exclusive premium content, available only to paid members or for individual purchase. Buy now (US$9.99)

Premium report includes:

• Map of Boko Haram's overall area of control in Nigeria, updated to Jan. 28, 2015.
• Detailed map showing almost every individual town or village known to be held by the group, as well as recent locations of major attacks, such as Baga, Monguno, Maiduguri, and Damataru. 
• Also shows attacks across the border in Cameroon.
• Summary and detailed timeline of territorial changes and major events since late November, with sources cited.

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2014: The Year in Political Geography Changes

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Scotland said "NO" to independence in a close vote last September.

Inside this Review of 2014:

• New countries & breakaway states
• Membership in international organizations
• Recognition of disputed countries
• Territorial disputes
• Rebel control
• Sea borders and seabed claims
• New states and provinces
• Changes to world time zones
• And more!

PolGeoNow's mission is tracking changes to the world's countries, borders, and territories, whether it's happening formally on the books or unofficially on the ground. When new countries appear, borders change, and territorial disputes arise or are settled, you'll hear about it here. With 2014 now concluded, here's our look back at the major events of the year!

(Note: For extra coverage of political geography events in 2015, follow us on Twitter!)

Lithuania Joins the Eurozone (map)

Even as doubts persist about the future of the euro, and talk is in the air about a possible exit for Greece, other countries have still moved forward with adopting the currency. One such country joined the Eurozone just last week.

The Eurozone, European Union, and other countries using the euro.
Map by Evan Centanni, from blank map by Ssolbergj. License: CC BY-SA

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Kosovo Becomes an Olympic Nation

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Kosovo controversially claims independence from Serbia (Northern Kosovo is under partial pro-Serbian control). Map by Evan Centanni, based on these two blank maps by Nord-NordWest. License: CC BY-SA

By Evan Centanni

Next Stop: Rio 2016
Disputed country Kosovo has become the 205th member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), making it an official Olympic Nation and allowing it to field a team at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Its full acceptance came at an IOC meeting in Monaco on December 9, after being granted "provisional recognition" in October.

Kosovo's admission process has been ongoing for five years, and the self-proclaimed country was denied the chance to participate in the London Olympics of 2012. However, one Kosovan athlete attended the games with the team from Albania, a neighboring country with close cultural ties to Kosovo.

Disputed Status
Located in southeastern Europe, Kosovo controversially declared independence from Serbia in 2008, while under the control of UN peacekeepers. Since then, it has been recognized as independent by over half of the world's countries, including the US and most of the European Union. However, Russia, China and many other countries still consider it to be rightfully part of Serbia.