The Economist explains

International Humanitarian Law creates obligations—but contains numerous caveats

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/24/what-are-the-obligations-of-israel-and-hamas-to-protect-civilians

Malware smuggled into XZ Utils software highlights a bigger problem

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/23/why-is-so-much-of-the-internets-infrastructure-run-by-volunteers

Drones already fill the skies. Now uncrewed vehicles are heading to the front lines

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/19/the-growing-role-of-fighting-robots-on-the-ground-in-ukraine

Two broods will soon emerge simultaneously for the first time in 221 years

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/19/why-do-cicadas-have-such-a-strange-life-cycle

Government largesse is costing taxpayers

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/17/how-a-home-improvement-subsidy-is-wrecking-italys-public-finances

Deliberately cooling the climate is an unsettling idea

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/16/what-is-geoengineering

Ecuador’s raid on a Mexican embassy challenges a central principle of diplomacy

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/09/why-are-embassies-supposed-to-be-inviolable

And why they are so controversial

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/09/what-are-golden-visas

The seconds really do pass more quickly up there

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/03/why-the-moon-needs-its-own-time

The Great North American eclipse should be cherished, because total eclipses will not happen for ever

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/04/02/why-are-total-solar-eclipses-so-rare

Academics and tech entrepreneurs disagree. A court may soon decide

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/28/how-to-define-artificial-general-intelligence

Some parts of the strip are already experiencing “catastrophic hunger”

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/26/gaza-could-face-a-famine-by-may-what-does-that-mean

The group that claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attack is a growing threat to Russia—and the West

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/25/what-is-the-islamic-state-khorasan-province

The state’s latest challenge to the federal government’s powers, SB4, is in limbo

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/21/will-texas-succeed-in-enforcing-its-own-immigration-law

Its armed forces may be out-shelling the Ukrainians—but they are wearing out their artillery

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/20/might-russia-run-out-of-big-guns

A host of Western countries reject the results of Russia’s sham election

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/18/how-can-democracies-respond-to-rigged-elections

The edited photo of Kate Middleton shows what a minefield it can be

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/13/what-is-photo-retouching-and-when-is-it-permissible

The warlord is one of the country’s most powerful men—for now

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/12/who-is-jimmy-barbecue-cherizier-haitis-most-prominent-gang-leader

Olaf Scholz seems determined to defy pressure from Germany’s allies and domestic opposition

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/12/why-germany-is-reluctant-to-send-taurus-missiles-to-ukraine

A regulatory loophole that incentivised sales of big vehicles is about to be tightened

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/11/why-american-cars-are-so-big

It seeks to equate Indianness with Hinduism

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/07/what-is-hindutva-the-ideology-of-indias-ruling-party

Several lawsuits, one brought by the New York Times, could soon answer the question

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/03/02/does-generative-artificial-intelligence-infringe-copyright

The firm has three big advantages

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/27/why-do-nvidias-chips-dominate-the-ai-market

Biological males may have a latent capacity to produce small amounts of milk

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/23/can-transgender-women-breastfeed

The former governor of South Carolina is set to lose a primary showdown in her state on Saturday

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/22/why-is-nikki-haley-losing-to-donald-trump-on-home-ground

Theories include a space-nuke or a nuclear-powered jammer

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/15/what-is-russias-mysterious-new-space-weapon

It is the fourth landing ship Ukraine has taken out in the Black Sea in seven months

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/14/how-ukraine-sank-the-caesar-kunikov-and-is-beating-russia-at-sea

The former general appears to have won the election, after rebranding himself as a cuddly character

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/14/who-is-prabowo-subianto-indonesias-probable-next-president

And thus play into Russia’s hands

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/13/how-donald-trumps-re-election-would-threaten-natos-article-5

We explain in four charts

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/09/how-to-know-when-the-world-has-passed-15degc-of-global-warming

The number of attacks by Israelis on Palestinians has risen since October 7th

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/08/a-history-of-settler-violence-in-the-west-bank

Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that our website, app and print edition look different

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/07/why-has-the-economist-changed-its-typeface

The storm systems battering California have a global reach

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/06/what-is-an-atmospheric-river

Militant groups in the region are a common problem for Iran and Pakistan

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/02/why-is-there-so-much-violence-in-balochistan

Hungary’s prime minister is blocking EU aid for Ukraine. Other governments are at their wits’ end

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/31/can-anyone-do-anything-about-viktor-orban

Disguising a soldier as a doctor can be an act of “perfidy”

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/31/did-an-israeli-hospital-raid-breach-the-laws-of-war

The new government is aggressively undoing years of illiberal rule. The upshot is a constitutional mess

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/30/what-on-earth-is-happening-in-poland

The new method of killing may amount to torture

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/27/why-execution-by-nitrogen-gas-is-so-controversial

Promises to disband them may turn out to be hollow

https://www.economist.com/the-factions-inside-japans-dominant-political-party

Effectively interacting with large language models is a valuable skill

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/25/what-is-prompt-engineering-for-artificial-intelligence

New Hampshire is in open revolt

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/23/why-have-the-democrats-changed-their-primary-calendar

Lawmakers in the House and Senate are divided

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/19/will-republicans-strike-a-border-deal

For Hindus it fulfils a centuries-old desire. Its opening will burnish Narendra Modi’s image

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/19/why-a-new-temple-to-ram-in-ayodhya-matters-so-much-to-indians

Russia is investing in the region

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/18/how-viable-is-arctic-shipping

Whatever happens in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley has boosted her political career

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/16/what-is-the-point-of-coming-second-to-donald-trump

Lawmakers want to know more about the government’s classified files

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/11/why-is-americas-congress-being-briefed-on-ufos

Five decades of tradition have been overturned by the Democrats

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/10/how-the-iowa-caucuses-are-changing-in-2024

He may be softly spoken, but his words often anger China

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/08/who-is-lai-ching-te-the-leader-in-taiwans-presidential-race

The country is stepping up its strikes on enemy bases, and on Crimea

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/05/can-ukrainian-drone-attacks-hurt-russia

New rules add up to the biggest shakeup of the industry in decades

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/04/how-sanctions-on-russia-will-change-the-diamond-trade

The lyrics of rap music are regularly used as evidence in criminal trials

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/01/02/how-art-is-used-against-artists-like-young-thug-in-court

Worries about his chances of re-election are growing

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/15/could-the-democrats-replace-joe-biden-as-their-presidential-candidate

Climate change, export controls and soaring fertiliser costs leave a bitter taste

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/13/why-the-price-of-olive-oil-is-soaring

The Yemeni rebel group is operating on the fringes of the Israel-Hamas war

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/12/who-are-the-houthis-the-group-attacking-ships-in-the-red-sea

More people are learning the Israeli self-defence technique

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/06/what-is-krav-maga

He subverts the system, but remains popular

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/06/how-nayib-bukele-is-breaking-presidential-term-limits-in-el-salvador

They help keep troops out of the line of fire—but can pose a risk to civilians

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/04/how-israel-is-using-drones-in-gaza

Across the world, reports of the age-old prejudice have surged

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/12/01/what-is-antisemitism-and-why-do-differences-in-interpretation-matter

George Santos has joined a select group

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/29/what-does-it-take-to-expel-an-american-congressman

As caseloads rise in rich countries, governments are tempted to ship claimants abroad

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/28/why-offshoring-asylum-seekers-rarely-works

Hamas hopes to swap more for Israeli hostages

https://www.economist.com/interactive/the-economist-explains/2023/11/27/who-are-the-palestinians-in-israels-prisons

The anti-Muslim populist has had a long career, but this is his best result yet

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/24/who-is-geert-wilders-the-surprise-winner-of-the-dutch-election

From “Abraham accords” to “Zionism”

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/20/the-a-to-z-of-the-arab-israeli-conflict

Israel has so far offered little evidence that it was. More may yet turn up

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/18/was-israels-attack-on-al-shifa-hospital-justified

The country’s Middle Eastern network of allied militias has grown more powerful

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/15/what-is-irans-axis-of-resistance

And why it matters

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/14/the-difference-between-a-ceasefire-and-a-humanitarian-pause

Deployment of a new laser system for air defence is being accelerated

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/13/what-is-israels-iron-beam

South Africa accuses Israel of committing the heinous crime

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/10/how-the-term-genocide-is-misused-in-the-israel-hamas-war

A 50-year-old system allows diplomats to criticise their bosses

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/09/what-is-the-american-state-departments-dissent-channel

Britain and Italy have revised data for GDP during the pandemic

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/08/why-covid-19-did-not-harm-rich-economies-as-badly-as-first-thought

The lieutenant general is leading Israel’s war in Gaza—but may resign after it

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/11/07/who-is-herzi-halevi-the-chief-of-staff-of-the-israel-defence-forces

More than half of the enclave’s population are registered refugees

https://www.economist.com/interactive/the-economist-explains/2023/11/02/why-gazas-refugee-camps-vulnerable-jabalia

Unlike most countries, the measure provides only limited insight into the size of the economy

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/31/whats-weird-about-irelands-gdp

America doubts the numbers issued by Gazan officials. But there are good reasons to believe them

https://www.economist.com/interactive/the-economist-explains/2023/10/30/how-many-people-have-died-in-gaza

The rules stretch back centuries, but not all are crystalline

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/26/what-limits-do-the-laws-of-war-impose-on-combatants

Many airlines cancelled flights in the wake of the attack launched by Hamas

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/24/how-has-israels-commercial-airspace-remained-open

The damage points to a malfunctioning rocket, not an air strike

https://www.economist.com/interactive/the-economist-explains/2023/10/20/what-evidence-reveals-about-the-gaza-hospital-blasts-source

Israel blames the group for a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/18/what-is-palestinian-islamic-jihad

The Iran-backed militia has long resented Israel

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/18/what-is-hizbullah

The many motivations behind Xi Jinping’s key foreign policy

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/17/how-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-is-changing

To understand this war, consider the territory’s past

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/12/a-short-history-of-gaza

A knife’s-edge vote has turned into a sword fight

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/11/why-the-polish-election-campaign-has-been-so-vicious

Long politically dominant in Gaza, it has become better equipped militarily

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/10/how-powerful-is-hamas

Jim Jordan is hoping to land the job—and end the chaos—on October 17th

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/09/how-americas-house-of-representatives-will-choose-a-speaker

The thought of the unpleasant critters is worse than the threat they pose

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/06/why-france-has-worked-itself-into-a-frenzy-about-bedbugs

Estimates of its capacity to make missiles vary

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/10/04/can-russia-repeat-its-winter-bombing-of-ukraines-electricity-grid

For starters, millions of people will not get paid

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/27/what-happens-if-americas-government-shuts-down-this-weekend

It has transformed the agriculture industry and given millions of Americans food security

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/26/what-is-americas-farm-bill-and-why-does-it-matter

A row over duty-free grain has escalated rapidly—but Poland’s government is also posturing

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/21/why-poland-is-halting-its-supply-of-weapons-to-ukraine

Some conservative legal scholars think so—but the idea is a long shot

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/20/could-the-14th-amendment-bar-donald-trump-from-becoming-president-again

The separatist movement is now largely propagated from abroad

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/19/what-is-khalistan-the-independent-homeland-some-sikhs-yearn-for

Rebranding might excite some Hindu nationalists, but would be painful

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/15/will-india-change-its-name-to-bharat

Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric has entered the mainstream of his party

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/14/why-americas-republicans-want-to-bomb-mexico

Astronomers may have found a new type of life-friendly planet

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/13/what-are-hycean-worlds-a-proposed-new-habitat-for-life

Some hotspots are seriously overcrowded. But the allure of the tourist dollar is hard to resist

https://www.economist.com/why-venice-is-starting-to-charge-tourists-to-enter

It is getting harder but remains possible, as Daniel Khalife proved

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/11/how-to-escape-from-prison

Some politicians believe that the country’s secular tradition is at stake

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/07/why-france-is-banning-muslim-clothing-in-schools-again

They will shape the drama of this year’s presidential election

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/06/a-primer-on-trumps-criminal-trials

The country will vote on whether to give Aboriginal people a constitutional right to consultation

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/05/what-is-australias-voice-to-parliament

And why reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete crumbles

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/09/04/why-some-british-school-buildings-might-be-unsafe