Politics Jul 01 How the U.S. compares with the rest of the world on abortion rights The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion for almost 50 years. How does regulation of abortion in the United States compare to that in the rest of the world?…
World Nov 16 Background Briefing: What is the Islamic State? The self-proclaimed Islamic State is a militant movement that has conquered territory in western Iraq and eastern Syria. Find out more in this backgrounder.
World Mar 07 Background Briefing: What you should know about the Ukraine crisis Ukraine's most prolonged and deadly crisis since its post-Soviet independence began as a protest against the government dropping plans to forge closer trade ties with the European Union and has since spurred a global standoff between Russia and Western powers.
World Feb 25 Background Briefing: What Is Boko Haram? Suspected members of the hardline Islamist group Boko Haram attacked a school in Damaturu, Nigeria, early Tuesday morning, burning or shooting 29 boys, but sparing the female students, news outlets reported. The Council on Foreign Relations offers this backgrounder on…
World Feb 07 Background Briefing: Why is Russia’s North Caucasus region unstable? A series of suicide bombings ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi has brought new attention to Russia's unstable North Caucasus region. Read more in this Council on Foreign Relations backgrounder.
World Sep 23 Background Briefing: What is al-Shabab? Al-Shabab, or “the Youth,” is an al-Qaida-linked militant group and U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization fighting for the creation of a fundamentalist Islamic state in Somalia.
World Jun 13 The Lengthening List of Iran Sanctions With concern mounting over Iran's nuclear ambitions, some lawmakers and policy advocates see sanctions as the best option to halt Tehran's uranium enrichment program.