The Roman army once conquered the world, but the Roman empire was ultimately brought down by primitive tribes. Are we seeing the decline of the U.S. empire? Statue of Caesar superimposed on U.S. Capitol. Illustration by News Decoder. Editor’s note: Since the...
Candidates make a lot of political promises. Why can’t they keep the vow to leave office when their term is up? Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara speaks during his final campaign rally in Abidjan, 23 October 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu) This...
With the joint bombing of Iran with Israel, the United States may have begun a war without an endgame. Let’s help you make sense of the chaos. The USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk missile against Iran during Operation Epic Fury, 2 March 2026. (Photo...
Tourists flock to India’s World Heritage Sites. But without a conservation plan that addresses pollution, will these historic places survive another century? Hazy, foggy, polluted view of the Red Fort (Lal Qila), a World Heritage Site made of red sandstone, in...
Under NATO, 32 countries have pledged to defend each other. Is the United States the glue that holds it all together? Service members from nine NATO countries display flags. (Photo by Spc. Seth LaCount) Editor’s note: On 11 January 2025, the British newspaper...
Can national sovereignty be dismissed when a superpower claims a sphere of influence? Can U.S. economic interests in Venezuela be considered national security? A map shows the U.S. flag planted on Venezuela. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article was produced...
Representatives for U.S. President Donald Trump shuttle between Ukraine and Russia to try to end the war. But how much influence can diplomats wield? U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law (second and third on the...
The people of El Salvador, and Donald Trump, love Nayib Bukele’s iron fist approach to fighting crime. But how long can a state of emergency last? El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. President Donald Trump embrace at a meeting at the White House 14 April...
The U.S. military has a long history of racial discrimination. The Trump administration’s disdain for diversity in the military is nothing new. Montford Point Marine John Thompson in front of a portrait of him in uniform at his home in Greensboro, N.C. on 3...
Each year a committee of Norwegians awards the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who has fought for peace. Is Donald Trump worthy? Terumi Tanaka delivers a speech during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at the City Hall in Oslo, Norway, 10 December 2024 on behalf of...