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World Politics
The US is ready to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Does it matter?The US is ready to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Does it matter?
World Politics

The US vetoed another Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Tuesday and proposed a different one.

By Nicole Narea
Russia-Ukraine war
Where does the fight for a free Russia go now?Where does the fight for a free Russia go now?
Russia-Ukraine war

Yulia Navalnaya picks up her husband’s battle against Putin.

By Ellen Ioanes
How Israel’s war went wrong
Politics

The conflict in Gaza has become “an era-defining catastrophe.” It’s increasingly clear what — and who — is to blame.

By Zack Beauchamp
Russia
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death, explainedRussian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death, explained
Russia

Navalny’s death is the end of an era for Russia — and cements Putin’s grip on power.

By Ellen Ioanes
Today, Explained newsletter
The looming ground assault on the last “safe” zone in GazaThe looming ground assault on the last “safe” zone in Gaza
Podcast
Today, Explained newsletter

Voices from a besieged Rafah.

By Avishay Artsy
World Politics
US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?US officials are always talking about “deterring” Iran. What does that really mean?
World Politics

Adversaries keep chipping away at America’s military credibility. Trump isn’t helping.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Hospitals are supposed to be safe. Not in Gaza.Hospitals are supposed to be safe. Not in Gaza.
World Politics

Israel’s raid on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis might break international humanitarian law.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
A war has never been fought in orbit. That may be about to change.
Future Perfect

How the US is preparing to fight — and win — a war in space

By Tim Fernholz
World Politics
Indonesia may have just elected a strongmanIndonesia may have just elected a strongman
World Politics

A relic from Indonesia’s dictatorship is the new president.

By Ellen Ioanes
How a ragtag band of internet friends became the best at forecasting world events
Future Perfect

What the Samotsvety group can teach us about predicting the future.

By Dylan Matthews
Today, Explained newsletter
The moral and strategic case for arming UkraineThe moral and strategic case for arming Ukraine
Today, Explained newsletter

Congress should have approved Ukraine aid yesterday.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
Pakistan’s surprising election results, explainedPakistan’s surprising election results, explained
World Politics

Imran Khan’s candidates won the most votes. He can’t be prime minister. What next?

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Israel’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explainedIsrael’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explained
World Politics

Everything is riding on what Israel does next in Rafah, Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Today, Explained podcast
Did El Salvador just vote to end democracy?Did El Salvador just vote to end democracy?
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

The world’s “coolest dictator,” Nayib Bukele, wins reelection.

By Sean Rameswaram and Jesse Alejandro Cottrell
Russia-Ukraine war
Why Ukraine’s new top general is known as the “butcher”Why Ukraine’s new top general is known as the “butcher”
Russia-Ukraine war

A major military shake-up comes amid a fight in Congress over US funding for Ukraine.

By Ellen Ioanes and Li Zhou
World Politics
Everything is chaotic about Pakistan’s election — except the outcomeEverything is chaotic about Pakistan’s election — except the outcome
World Politics

Pakistan’s military drives its politics. And Pakistanis lose.

By Ellen Ioanes
Welcome to the “neomedieval era”
World Politics

Nations like the US have more firepower than ever before — but they also appear weaker than ever. The upshot is a world that feels out of control.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
All the tangled conflicts in the Middle East, explainedAll the tangled conflicts in the Middle East, explained
World Politics

The Israel-Hamas war has shaken up the Middle East. Who’s on whose side?

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.
World Politics

Record arms exports are a sign of America’s commitment to Europe — and its foreign policy failures during the war in Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
European Union
The French farmers’ protests are more complex than they seemThe French farmers’ protests are more complex than they seem
European Union

Farmers’ frustration over French and EU regulations are a new dimension in a longstanding problem.

By Ellen Ioanes
Future Perfect
From Gaza to Sudan, conflict is driving a rise in hunger worldwideFrom Gaza to Sudan, conflict is driving a rise in hunger worldwide
Future Perfect

In the 21st century, famine isn’t inevitable. It’s a policy choice.

By Dylan Scott
World Politics
The allegations against the UN’s Palestinian refugee relief agency, explainedThe allegations against the UN’s Palestinian refugee relief agency, explained
World Politics

Why the US and other major donors are pausing funding for Gaza.

By Ellen Ioanes
Would the US intervene to defend Taiwan? Ask Japan.
World Politics

If China were to invade Taiwan, the American response could depend on its key ally.

By Jen Kirby
World Politics
Narendra Modi is celebrating his scary vision for India’s futureNarendra Modi is celebrating his scary vision for India’s future
World Politics

National festivities this week danced on Indian secularism’s grave — and pointed to an existential threat to Indian democracy.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
The ICJ orders in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, explainedThe ICJ orders in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, explained
World Politics

Even without a ceasefire, the top UN court’s orders are a warning to Israel.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
It’s not your imagination. There has been more war lately.It’s not your imagination. There has been more war lately.
World Politics

Why the “long peace” may be ending.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
A deadly new outbreak is testing Africa’s ambitious public health effortsA deadly new outbreak is testing Africa’s ambitious public health efforts
Future Perfect

With foreign aid increasingly uncertain, Africa wants to tackle disease emergencies on its own.

By Dylan Scott
World Politics
The war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for NetanyahuThe war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for Netanyahu
World Politics

Israelis don’t trust Netanyahu. They’re still not ready to retreat from Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
World Politics
The Iran-Pakistan strikes aren’t about Gaza. They’re still alarming.The Iran-Pakistan strikes aren’t about Gaza. They’re still alarming.
World Politics

Iran’s complicated calculus in attacking Pakistan.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
The US and UK hit Houthi targets in Yemen. It probably won’t stop Red Sea attacks.The US and UK hit Houthi targets in Yemen. It probably won’t stop Red Sea attacks.
World Politics

It’s an escalation in the region, but we’re not actually headed to outright war with Iran.

By Ellen Ioanes
How cyberscams are drawing China into Myanmar’s civil war
World Politics

The surprising connection among cybercrime, human trafficking, and a raging guerrilla war.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
What China wants out of Myanmar’s civil warWhat China wants out of Myanmar’s civil war
World Politics

Despite China’s attempts to negotiate a regional ceasefire, Myanmar’s civil war won’t end soon.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
In Taiwan’s high-stakes elections, China is the loserIn Taiwan’s high-stakes elections, China is the loser
World Politics

Beijing has branded incoming president Lai Ching-te a “troublemaker” for his pro-sovereignty stance.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Taiwan elects Lai Ching-te, denying China’s hopes for reunificationTaiwan elects Lai Ching-te, denying China’s hopes for reunification
World Politics

The results of the tight, three-way presidential election will resonate far beyond the region.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, explainedSouth Africa’s genocide case against Israel, explained
World Politics

Friday’s action reflects South Africa’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause — and its domestic and foreign interests.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
World Politics
How a Yemeni rebel group is creating chaos in the global economyHow a Yemeni rebel group is creating chaos in the global economy
World Politics

The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, explained.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Cocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explainedCocaine, cartels, and corruption: The crisis in Ecuador, explained
World Politics

Ecuador was known for peace, but it has become one of the most violent countries in South America.

By CD Goette-Luciak
World Politics
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s mysterious absence, explainedDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s mysterious absence, explained
World Politics

Why it’s a big deal that the president didn’t know his defense secretary was in the hospital for three days.

By Joshua Keating
Want to understand American views on Israel? Take a look at this 1958 novel.
Books

Leon Uris’s bestselling epic Exodus — and its hit movie adaptation starring Paul Newman — influenced generations of Americans, from the suburbs to the State Department.

By Marjorie Ingall
World Politics
Behind Iraq’s call to remove US-led forcesBehind Iraq’s call to remove US-led forces
World Politics

Iraq’s prime minister called for an end to US presence after a drone strike killed a senior militia leader.

By Ellen Ioanes