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Japan’s Princess Aiko is a national star. Her fans want even more.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Fresh off her first solo state visit to Laos, Princess Aiko has become the face of a Japanese royal family facing 21st-century obsolescence
IN THE SPOTLIGHT -
Normalising relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan
The Explainer The regime is coming in from the diplomatic cold, as countries lose hope of armed opposition and seek cooperation on counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and deportation of immigrants
The Explainer -
Age of consent around the world
In Depth Indian Supreme Court to rule on lowering age of consent for teen sex
In Depth -
Europe sets 2027 deadline to wean itself from Russian natural gas
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As negotiators attempt to end Russia’s yearslong Ukraine invasion, lawmakers across the EU agree to uncouple gas consumption from Moscow’s petrochemical infrastructure
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Benin thwarts coup attempt
Speed Read President Patrice Talon condemned an attempted coup that was foiled by the West African country’s army
Speed Read -
In Suriname, the spectre of Dutch slave trade lingers
Under the Radar Dutch royal family visit, the first to the South American former colony in nearly 50 years, spotlights role of the Netherlands in transatlantic trade
Under the Radar -
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes charge
In the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
In the Spotlight -
Weird conspiracy theories: from JFK to 5G
In Depth It’s easy to dismiss ‘alternative truths’ but the most famous – and strangest – conspiracy theories can retain their fascination for generations
In Depth -
Is a Putin-Modi love-in a worry for the rest of the world?
Today’s Big Question The Indian leader is walking a ‘tightrope’ between Russia and the United States
Today’s Big Question -
Who is winning the war in Ukraine?
The Explainer Sensing the ‘imminent collapse’ of Ukrainian forces, Moscow is happy to reject US peace plan in hope of greater victory
The Explainer -
Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?
Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
Today's Big Question -
China’s single mothers are teaming up
Under the Radar To cope with money pressures and work commitments, single mums are sharing homes, bills and childcare
Under the Radar -
West Africa’s ‘coup cascade’
The Explainer Guinea-Bissau takeover is the latest in the Sahel region, which has quietly become global epicentre of terrorism
The Explainer -
Homo Floresiensis: Earth’s real life ‘hobbits’
Under the Radar New research suggests that ‘early human pioneers’ in Australia interbred with archaic species of hobbits at least 60,000 years ago
Under the Radar
