Square dealing: Jiang Zemin dies
The Chinese leader who took over a squabbling party following the Tiananmen Square massacre surprised the world by stifling dissent, overseeing a staggering economic awakening—and occasionally breakin...
1 Dec 202225min
On the Horn’s dilemma: meeting Somalia’s president
The Horn of Africa’s resurgent jihadists of al-Shabab pose the biggest problem to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He tells us his plans—political, economic and principally ideological—to calm tensions. Western...
30 Nov 202228min
The French connection: Macron’s state visit to America
Behind the pageantry, Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron will have much to chew over, from a unified response in Ukraine to tricky trade negotiations. Our modelling suggests that Russia’s weapon...
29 Nov 202223min
Patience zero: China’s remarkable unrest
Protests have become as bold as they are widespread—mostly against the country’s unsustainable zero-covid policies, but increasingly against the ruling regime itself. California’s wildfires have been ...
28 Nov 202225min
Forgoing a song: protest inside and beyond Iran
Players’ refusal to sing their national anthem at the World Cup has brought their country’s protests onto the global stage. We ask whether the discontent back home threatens the regime. A sober look a...
25 Nov 202228min
Scar from the madding crowd: Korea probes a tragedy
Grief about the deaths of more than 150 people in a crush has turned to anger, and the investigation into what actions were taken—or not taken—has turned political. Our correspondent looks into the va...
24 Nov 202226min
A whole other kettle of fission: Ukraine’s imperilled nuclear plant
The power station in Zaporizhia has served as an impromptu military base for Russian forces—but danger is mounting and there are signs that troops may soon give it up. The sportswear-industry boom tha...
23 Nov 202223min
Ploy story: a defenestration at Disney
Executives have squeezed out Bob Chapek and re-anointed Bob Iger as boss. But the firm’s woes are less about leadership and more about the new economics of Hollywood. We ask why Zimbabwe’s teen mother...
22 Nov 202222min
