No return address
Briefing: Mystery drones are killing civilians in Sudan’s civil war. A 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire isn’t addressing nuclear weapons. + What do drones do to a war?
Players
Extra: Gulf royals have moved billions into global football. Now what?
Breaking from the room
Briefing: A summer of discontent down in the White House. A ceasefire everyone keeps shooting through. + How secure is Mexico for the World Cup? Benjamin Smith on the cartels, the state, and the warring between them.
Don’t mention the bomb
Briefing: Chairman Xi makes a special visit. The Pentagon puts China’s biggest brands on a military blacklist. + Why do so many people hate the idea of capitalism?
A call from Doha
Briefing: A man who can’t seem to get his passport back. The war with Iran welcomes a new country. + Why would football supporters cheer on dictators buying their clubs?
By any other name
Feature: Why do so many people hate the idea of capitalism? Justin Callais on a shifting mood—and the enduring popular support for the reality of the free market.
The long way home
Briefing: A winner Washington would rather not deal with. Tehran leaves the table. + What do Middle Eastern states want with European football clubs?
Front lines
Feature: Why would football supporters cheer on dictators buying their clubs? David Goldblatt on identity, loyalty, and what all this money really pays for.
Saturday, in Budapest
Briefing: The Champions League final, brought to you from 3,000 kilometers away. Talks and strikes over the strait. + Why did the Gulf states pour billions into global sports?
Total ownership
Feature: What do Middle Eastern states want with European football clubs? Sarath K. Ganji on autocratic governments’ ambitious move into the global game.
