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Explained

China Offers AI as a Global Public Good — But Access Also Builds Influence
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers the keynote address at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference on July 17, 2026. (Photo: Mao Ning/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Explained

China Offers AI as a Global Public Good — But Access Also Builds Influence

Beijing’s lower-cost models, weather technology and training programs could narrow a real technological divide. They are also components of a broader effort to shape the infrastructure, standards and institutions governing artificial intelligence.
By Olga Nesterova • 6 min read
Washington Pulls Back — Then Calls Allied Adaptation a ‘Distraction’
National flags of participating countries displayed during the opening ceremony of Sea Breeze 2026 in Portland, United Kingdom, on July 13, 2026. The US co-sponsored exercise focuses on interoperability among NATO maritime and ground forces operating in the Black Sea region. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leon Vonguyen.
Explained

Washington Pulls Back — Then Calls Allied Adaptation a ‘Distraction’

The United States is reducing its physical commitments while asking allies to assume more responsibility. As Europe, Canada and Ukraine build mechanisms to fill the gaps, Washington is warning them not to become "too independent".
By Olga Nesterova • 8 min read
Macron and WHO Chief Warn Childhood Is Being Rewritten by Screens — But Bans Alone May Not Be Enough
Explained

Macron and WHO Chief Warn Childhood Is Being Rewritten by Screens — But Bans Alone May Not Be Enough

French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Wednesday that digital platforms are no longer just communication tools, but public health environments shaping how children learn, sleep, socialize and understand the world. In a joint commentary published by Project Syndicate and the World Health Organization on
By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read