North Korea has embarked on an accelerated buildup of weapons of mass destruction and modernization of its already large conventional force.
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As the campaigns to wrest the Islamic State from the territory it held in Iraq and Syria near completion, new conflicts may arise if old political arrangements prevail.
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As China’s senior Communist Party members anoint its future leaders, President Xi Jinping is poised to solidify his position and power at next week’s party congress.
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As President Trump readies his first budget, debate has intensified over how to improve the nation’s infrastructure, as analysts say U.S. transportation, water, and other systems face major shortfalls.
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U.S. strategic and tactical nuclear weapons on land, in the air, and at sea, will undergo costly and extensive modernization in the coming years.
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Declining U.S. trade with sub-Saharan Africa calls into question the effectiveness of a preferential trade program for the region.
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World powers continue to punish North Korea with economic sanctions, but problems persist with enforcement, and it's unclear if they'll be enough to pressure Pyongyang back into denuclearization talks.
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Germany’s elections will determine whether Chancellor Angela Merkel remains in power, with ramifications for the migration crisis, the future of the European Union, and U.S.-German relations.
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Public Health Threats and Pandemics
Opioid addiction in the United States has reached epidemic proportions, threatening not only public health but economic output and national security. -
President Trump has made reducing the U.S. trade deficit a priority, blaming trade deals like NAFTA, but economists disagree over how policymakers should respond.
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Attempts by the United States and Japan to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles headed toward Guam could fail and undermine the credibility of missile defense.
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The U.S. water system, among the safest and most reliable in the world, is central to the nation’s economy, but chronic underinvestment, increasing demand, and worsening droughts have revealed weaknesses.
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Federal investigators in Brazil have uncovered corruption at the highest levels of the government and in the country’s largest corporations.
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One of the world’s most-watched news networks is at the center of a geopolitical rift between a Saudi-led bloc and the broadcaster’s funder, Qatar.
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The G20 summit comes amid tensions over trade, climate, and refugee policy and increased uncertainty over the U.S. commitment to multilateral institutions.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been reoriented toward counterterrorism in recent years, but continues to face charges of overreach.
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North Korea has embarked on an accelerated buildup of weapons of mass destruction and modernization of its already large conventional force.
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As the United Kingdom recovers from a string of terror attacks, the country’s parliamentary elections could determine the course of its Brexit negotiations, trade and economic policy, internal borders, and foreign relations.
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By withdrawing from the Paris accord, the United States—the second-largest global emitter—could undercut collective efforts to reduce emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and lock in future climate measures.
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Hundreds of thousands of migrants come to the United States each year for work, but Washington has struggled to balance the shifting needs of industry with the concerns of the domestic labor force.
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China is believed to spend billions of dollars to boost its international image, but it has yet to see a marked return on its investment in soft power.
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China is believed to spend billions of dollars to boost its international image, but it has yet to see a marked return on its investment in soft power.
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With President Donald J. Trump advocating for deep cuts to U.S. foreign aid, debate has renewed over the role of foreign assistance funds in boosting growth, promoting democracy, and saving lives.
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Iran has restricted its nuclear program and given international inspectors unprecedented access, but it has not seen the economy recovery expected in the aftermath of the agreement with international powers.
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Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state, but civil society and regional blocs may be slowing the trend of extending presidential terms in some areas.