Not-deciding factor: Iran’s supreme leader
We examine the path of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, once a bookish cleric underrated by everyone—including himself. He has hung on to power perhaps in part by not making decisions at crucial points. Our fi...
26 Jun 202523min
Stayed in China: a domestic-brand boom
Western brands used to define cool and luxurious in China. No longer. Now consumers are turning to homegrown brands, some of which are becoming global tastemakers. Across Africa the Christian conserva...
25 Jun 202522min
Truce and consequences: a fragile ceasefire in Iran
Iran’s strikes both before and apparently after a ceasefire began seem to threaten peace. If it holds, what will that mean for Iran’s ambitions, and for the wider region? A meeting of NATO-country lea...
24 Jun 202524min
No good options: how Iran will respond
After America’s strikes intended to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, one question is whether they succeeded. Another is how Iran will respond; all of its options are bad ones. In the West people have...
23 Jun 202522min
Hurry up and wait: Trump’s choice on Iran
The most consequential decision of Donald Trump’s presidency is now on pause for two weeks. We examine how the choice pits two sides of Mr Trump against one another. India is an advanced-manufacturing...
20 Jun 202524min
I’d like not to thank the academy: graduates’ fortunes slip
The workplace wisdom that a university degree is a sure-fire key to success is very much in question—and the trend started long before AI began eating jobs. Russia has launched yet another summer offe...
19 Jun 202523min
A house divided against itself: America simmers
Political assassinations. Troops on city streets. National protests. We examine the edgy mood inside America through the lens of past periods of intense, violent partisanship. Our correspondent sees t...
18 Jun 202524min
Confused unity: the mood in Iran
A sudden war made Iran’s leaders look unprepared. And many Iranians loathe the regime. But there are no signs yet that internal dissent will shape the conflict. Shortly after Nayib Bukele became El Sa...
17 Jun 202523min
