Explainer
List of Explainer articles
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A dog walks in the water during an evacuation from a flooded area in Kherson, Ukraine. Ukrainians Are Accusing Russia of Ecocide. What Does That Mean?
The dam blast rekindled a concept with Vietnam War roots but no place in international law—yet.
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An illustration shows a shredded U.S. dollar bill atop a bright fuzzy background for a story about de-dollarization The Bid to Dethrone the Dollar
The greenback’s dominance is here to stay. Here’s why.
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An image shows China, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Canada driving artificial intelligence technology. Who’s Winning the AI Race? It’s Not That Simple.
Figuring out who’s ahead is a lot tougher than counting rockets or warheads.
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Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani (right), China's top diplomat, Wang Yi (center), and Saudi National Security Advisor Musaid al Aiban pose for a photo after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing on March 10. 4 Key Takeaways From the China-Brokered Saudi-Iran Deal
Anyone who believes we’re on the cusp of a golden era between Tehran and Riyadh should lie down until the feeling passes.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state-of-the-nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference center in central Moscow. Putin’s New START Announcement and the Future of Arms Control
Russia and the United States hold about 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons. What happens when they’re no longer talking?
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A fighter jet flies past the remnants of a large balloon after it was shot down just off the coast of South Carolina. In a World Awash in Satellites, Why Use Spy Balloons?
And what we know about China’s infamous eye in the sky.
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A high-altitude balloon floats in a blue sky. How a Chinese Spy Balloon Blew Up a Key U.S. Diplomatic Trip
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a visit to Beijing in response to a suspected spy balloon over U.S. territory.
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Protesters hold up white paper as a symbol against censorship during a protest in Beijing. Will China’s Protests Survive?
A nationwide movement of this scale has no post-1989 precedent.
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A sale sign hangs above a sign for a currency exchange shop in London on Sept. 26, as the pound briefly fell to a historic low against the U.S. dollar. Why the U.K. Economy Is Taking a Pounding
The markets have already given their no-confidence vote on Liz Truss.
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Actor Erik Estrada is seen at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Chips at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 20, 2017. Can the CHIPS Act Put the U.S. Back in the Game?
The push to bolster domestic semiconductor production comes as the United States lags behind Asia and China squeezes Taiwan.
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People take part in a protest against the government's motion to increase taxes in order to reach a credit agreement with the International Monetary Fund in San José, Costa Rica, on Sept. 30, 2020. The International Monetary Fund: Holy Grail or Poisoned Chalice?
As the global south struggles to grapple with its debt pandemic, experts question the efficacy of the IMF’s conditional lending.
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A man wearing a nuclear biological protection suit Why You Shouldn’t Use Conditioner After a Nuclear Attack
Individuals can only do so much if the worst happens—but the government’s response is a mystery by design.
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U.S. President Bill Clinton shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin The NATO-Russia Founding Act Is Hanging by a Thread
Moscow has torn up the rulebook, but Western officials are paying lip service to the 1990s-era deal.
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Residents of Johannesburg’s Soweto township protest. Why South Africa Is in the Dark, Again
Winter is here. And the country is facing its worst-ever energy crisis.
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A Russian soldier testifies against Vadim Shishimarin. Can There Be Real Justice in Ukraine?
Past tribunals offer valuable lessons for how war crimes and genocide could be prosecuted in Ukraine.
