Briefing

Celebrations in Tel Aviv after Gaza peace deal announcement.

Briefing

Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan

But neither side is fully reconciled to what is supposed to come next

17 min read

An illustration showing a bear symbolizing Russia, flanked by tanks, fighter jets, and drones, tearing through a border fence to represent Moscow’s growing threat to the West.

Briefing

Why Russia’s micro-aggressions against Europe are proliferating

It is hoping to sap support for Ukraine and highlight America’s ambivalence

12 min read

Briefing

Can Donald Trump muzzle America’s press?

He has bullied some outlets, but intimidating them all is a daunting task

13 min read

A photo collage on North Korea’s international relations and domestic life, featuring images of Kim Jong Un, his meetings with Xi, Putin, and Trump, the North Korean army’s involvement in the Russia–Ukraine war, the pandemic, propaganda posters, and

Briefing

North Korea is becoming even more repressive and threatening

Kim Jong Un is in a much stronger position than when Donald Trump last wooed him

14 min read

Benjamin Netanyahu talks to Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC

Briefing

Israelis do not like to think about estrangement from America

But they are beginning to have to

4 min read

Briefing

America is falling out of love with Israel

The war in Gaza has undermined one of the world’s closest alliances

12 min read

A night-time cityscape where most building windows are dark. The few illuminated windows form the shape of a downward-pointing arrow, symbolizing the rapid decline in population. The mood feels stark and unsettling.

Briefing

Humanity will shrink, far sooner than you think

Demography sneaks up on you

9 min read

A close-up of one of the lit windows reveals a couple enjoying dinner together. This scene conveys warmth and intimacy, representing the idea that even with a sharp demographic decline, life may not be as bleak as expected.

Briefing

A contracting population need not be a catastrophe

The economics of a shrinking world

8 min read

A photo illustration featuring portraits of Trump alongside Democratic politicians such as Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani, Roy Cooper, Abigail Spanberger, and Mikie Sherrill

Briefing

How America’s Democrats might win back power

The party is trying to talk less about pronouns, more about prices

13 min read

A photo collage featuring portraits of Bolsonaro, Trump, and Moraes, highlighting Brazil’s political divisions ahead of Bolsonaro’s trial.

Briefing

Jair Bolsonaro’s trial shows Brazil a way out from polarisation and stagnation

Moderates on both sides see a chance to draw a line, and start fixing deep-seated problems

14 min read

An illustration shows computer chips forming the shape of Taiwan, with multiple hands reaching to take pieces, symbolizing TSMC’s global demand and its ambition to become a worldwide company.

Briefing

The world’s biggest chipmaker needs to move beyond Taiwan

Easier said than done

13 min read

An illustrated guide to where Rare Earth Elements are found in everyday products and technology.

Briefing

China’s power over rare earths is not as great as it seems

There are lots of ways for the West to get around its near-monopoly

13 min read