‘It’s a scramble’
Feature: Why are so many foreign powers involving themselves in Africa’s deadliest civil war? Alex de Waal on the plunder of Sudan.
Phase one
The weekend despatch: Is there a pattern in Trump’s framework deals? What do AI models see forming in the South China Sea? + Is disco … undead?
The end of a princedom
Briefing: King Charles removes his brother’s royal titles. Americans blame Trump for the U.S.-government shutdown. + What’s driving the collapse of southern Africa’s postcolonial ruling parties?
The atomic playbook
Briefing: The White House’s design reviewers are fired. The American president fixes on ending Korea’s 75-year war. + Why is Moscow testing a new nuclear weapon?
Burying the evidence
Briefing: A Hamas deception jeopardizes the Gaza ceasefire. AI sees out 14,000 corporate jobs at Amazon. + Why is China building so much, so fast?
Kicking it down the road again
Briefing: The U.S. and China agree to agree on trade. French authorities make arrests in the Louvre heist. + What are all these American troops actually doing in the Caribbean?
Venezuelan roulette
The weekend despatch: What are all these American troops actually doing in the Caribbean? Tropical Storm Melissa isn’t far behind. + What is raptor house?
The big deal
Briefing: Clemency for the founder of Binance—a new Trump-family business partner. Sanctions for Russia’s oil giants—for the first time. + How are administration officials thinking about their risk exposure?
Execution in the Pacific
Briefing: Deadly counternarcotics strikes are expanding, while the evidence behind them is not. The Trump-Putin summit that’s not to be. + Why are Moscow and Damascus getting so friendly?
No kitchen lady
Briefing: The U.S. refugee program for people who don’t seem to want to leave their country. The Paris jewel thieves appear to be getting away with it. + How do you take in millions of refugees?
