by Daniel Warner | 11 Aug 2025 | Decoders, History, Politics
When nations sign a treaty they volunteer to abide by certain terms. But what, if anything, happens if they break those agreements? The seats of the U.S. delegation are vacant during the ceremony marking the entry into force of the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition...
by Deborah Charles | 18 Jun 2025 | Decoder Replay, Economy, History, Human Rights, Politics
Countries are increasingly using sanctions, including travel bans, to bring rogue players into line. But history tells us that they don’t really work. The Statue of Liberty holds a Do Not Enter sign.Illustration by News Decoder Editor’s note: On 16 June...
by Richard Hubbard | 7 May 2025 | Decoder Replay, Economy, Politics
Australia is its own continent but it has key strategic relationships with two big nations that don’t like each other. Political isolation is not an option. A koala bear lurks behind U.S. President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jinping. (Illustration by...
by Daniel Warner | 10 Mar 2025 | Decoders, Europe, History, Politics, Russia, Ukraine, United States
How to get the significance of Donald Trump’s bitterness towards Europe? You have to look at the complicated dance between Russia and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the beginning of a...
by John West | 23 Sep 2024 | Asia, China, Decoders, Economy, Politics
Vietnam has long had to dance between powerful allies and enemies. That’s left it poised to maneuver in the political chaos that now swirls around it. The Vietnam flag waves behind a screen of bamboo. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article was produced...