A curated selection of FP’s must-read stories.
Editors' Picks
List of Editors' Picks articles
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Civilians take part in a military training activity day conducted by the Ukrainian Volunteer Army in Kyiv on Feb. 17. Ukraine Needs More Fighters
But further mobilization is unpopular—and politically sensitive.
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U.S. President Joe Biden (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. How the U.S. Can Rein In Israel
While calls for conditional aid are widespread, Biden may be overlooking a highly effective diplomatic tool.
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Supporters of the Grand Democratic Alliance gather for a protest against alleged election rigging in Jamshoro, Pakistan, on Feb. 16. Pakistan Can’t Stop the Cycle of Discontent
The country needs reconciliation. The next government will bring more political conflict.
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Alexei Navalny, a man in his 40s wearing a winter coat and a serious expression, stands while surrounded by a large crowd of people waving Russian flags during a march Alexei Navalny Wanted to Make Russia a ‘Normal Country’
The jailed opposition leader who challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin has died in a prison colony.
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People rest on the stairs of a Hindu temple adjacent to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, India, on Feb. 16. Modi’s India Is One Step Closer to a Contentious Goal
An Indian state approved a bill that religious minorities say amounts to interference. National implementation could be next.
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A Palestinian man facing Israeli forces waves a national flag during a protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, near the town of Tulkarm on June 5, 2020. Why a Demilitarized Palestine Won’t Work
There are precedents for successful unarmed states—but none apply to the Middle East.
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Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (left), alongside vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, speaks to supporters at an event in Jakarta on Feb. 14. Indonesia’s Election Winner Has a Dark Past and a Cute Image
Prabowo Subianto’s record doesn’t bode well for democracy.
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Biden’s New Plan for the Middle East Is More of the Same
A revised doctrine offers little hope for change.
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Wang Yi, a middle-aged man in a suit, puts his arms behind two other men standing on either side of him, one wearing a turban and robe, and the other in a suit, in front of flags of the countries of Saudi Arabia, China, and Iran. What the Red Sea Crisis Reveals About China’s Middle East Strategy
While China has indeed become a regional player, it is still playing a remarkably self-interested game.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speak during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv. Israeli and U.S. flags hang in the foreground. Biden’s Grand Bargain to Remake the Middle East
The election-year gamble is a long shot.
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UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti gestures with a flat hand and leans in toward IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath, who is seated beside him as they speak to each other during a session at the World Economic Forum. IMF’s Gopinath: U.S. Economy ‘Doing Very Well’
The fund’s No. 2 official on the United States, China, and Russia’s “squarely positive growth.”
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Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump listen while he speaks during a rally in Conway, South Carolina. Trump’s NATO Bashing Confirms Europe’s Worst Fears
The former president’s comments come as European military leaders warn of a potential war with Russia.
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Supporters of imprisoned Pakistani politician Imran Khan surge onto a street as they block a highway to protest alleged election interference. Some demonstrators wave flags or hold up their hands. In the background, colorful trucks are backed up as far as the eye can see. Angry Young Pakistanis Give Imran Khan a Future Shot at Power
The jailed politician still stirs national pride.
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A border wall constructed of shipping containers and topped with concertina wire stands along the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexico Is America’s Answer to China’s Belt and Road
Growing economic integration with Latin America could help the United States avoid the fate of an aging China.
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U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden pauses as he speaks during a candidate forum. The ‘Biden Doctrine’ Will Make Things Worse
The White House is developing plans for the Middle East that are too ambitious for its own good.