The Economist explains
Subjects topical and timeless, profound and peculiar, explained with The Economist's trademark clarity and brevity
Tragedy in Gaza city
What evidence reveals about the Gaza hospital blast’s source
The damage points to a malfunctioning rocket, not an air strike

The Economist explains
What is Palestinian Islamic Jihad?
Israel blames the group for a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza

The Economist explains
How China’s Belt and Road Initiative is changing
The many motivations behind Xi Jinping’s key foreign policy

The Economist explains
Why the Polish election campaign has been so vicious
A knife’s-edge vote has turned into a sword fight

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How powerful is Hamas?
Long politically dominant in Gaza, it has become better equipped militarily

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How America’s House of Representatives will choose a speaker
Jim Jordan is hoping to land the job—and end the chaos—on October 17th

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Why France has worked itself into a frenzy about bedbugs
The thought of the unpleasant critters is worse than the threat they pose

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Can Russia repeat its winter bombing of Ukraine’s electricity grid?
Estimates of its capacity to make missiles vary

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What happens if America’s government shuts down this weekend?
For starters, millions of people will not get paid

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What is America’s farm bill, and why does it matter?
It has transformed the agriculture industry and given millions of Americans food security