Leaving Afghanistan
What happens to the country and its people after the forever war ends?
Analysis: Biden Can Bounce Back From Afghanistan—by Vaccinating the World Biden Can Bounce Back From Afghanistan—by ...
In Afghanistan, It’s Back to the Future—of Taliban Tyranny
A government of mullahs and terrorists snuffs out freedoms despite talk of inclusion and human rights.
Biden Toughens Approach With New Vaccine Mandate
The U.S. president chastised those who have yet to get a shot, asking: “What more is there to wait for?”
The Forgotten Biological Terror of 9/11
A new type of fear gripped the United States 20 years ago—and never stopped spreading.
Is Lithuania the West’s First Line of Defense?
The small Baltic nation is facing down threats from authoritarian regimes in Russia, Belarus, and China.
Osama bin Laden’s Aesthetic Never Died
Why young jihadists are still big fans of the long-deceased al Qaeda leader.
Shadow Government
A front-row seat to the Republicans’ debate over foreign policy, including their critique of the Biden administration.
Did 9/11 Change the United States?
We asked seven of our contributors what’s different after 20 years.
Biden Must Move Fast to Replace WHO’s Tedros
It will take an all-out diplomatic blitz to block the director-general’s impending reelection.
North Korea Held a Midnight Military Parade and No One Is Sure What to Make of It
The event didn’t show off any ballistic missiles, but that doesn’t mean Kim Jong Un is ready for talks with Biden.
Avalanche of Misinformation Follows Taliban Takeover
Fake news about the U.S. withdrawal and life under the new regime is surging.
Are Indo-Russian Ties the Next Casualty of Great-Power Shifts?
The fall of Kabul may have widened the rift between New Delhi and Moscow.
China Is OK With Interfering in Guinea’s Internal Affairs
Beijing has dropped its own usual excuse to oppose a coup for practical reasons.
Islamic State-Khorasan’s Reach Extends Far Beyond Afghanistan
With a growing digital presence, the extremist group seeks to destabilize South and Central Asia.
How the U.S. Got 9/11 Wrong
The lone superpower inadvertently taught the rest of the world how to fight it—and win.
In the Magazine
In the Magazine
The Other Side of Angela Merkel
What the world has misunderstood about the German chancellor.
The Bidenomics Revolution
If he succeeds, the president will cast 40 years of economic doctrine on history’s ash heap. But that’s a big if.
George W. Bush’s Newest Portraits Are Political
The amateur painter still shows an eye for spin.
Age and the Agbayas
One word perfectly captures the clash between Nigeria’s leaders and its booming young population.
There’s No Wake-Up Moment on Climate in America
Even as disasters strike daily, politics will keep obstructing solutions.
Poor People Weren’t Part of the Plan for Abuja
In Nigeria’s carefully designed capital, urban enforcers harass ordinary citizens.
Talk of a Nuclear Deterrent in South Korea
North Korea’s resumed activity at Yongbyon has reawakened calls for Seoul to go nuclear.
Afghanistan Was a Ponzi Scheme Sold to the American Public
When a scam falls apart, it collapses fast.
The Falling Man of Kabul
Zaki Anwari represented what a free Afghanistan could achieve. His gruesome death is a vivid reminder of the human toll of U.S. abandonment.
Belarus’s Unlikely New Leader
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya didn’t set out to challenge a brutal dictatorship.
The Middle East Is Becoming Literally Uninhabitable
One of the regions hardest hit by climate change is also one least equipped to deal with it.
In Central Africa, Russia Won the War—but It’s Losing the Peace
Putin’s pursuit of influence, arms sales, and mercenary meddling in the Central African Republic has left Moscow mired in a quagmire.
visual stories
The Month in World Photos
The Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, earthquake devastation in Haiti, and extreme weather around the world.
As Taliban Expand Control, Concerns About Forced Marriage and Sex Slavery Rise
In some Afghan towns, women are fleeing ahead of insurgent takeovers.
