Recap Rabbit Hole

Sunni and Shia Islam are the two main branches of Islam, with the majority of Muslims being Sunni. The divide between the two dates back to early Islam and is based on a disagreement over who should have succeeded the Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe that the Prophet's companions were the rightful leaders, while Shia Muslims believe that leadership should have passed through the Prophet's descendants.

After the Chinese Communist Party won the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan and established a government there. Until 1971, the United States recognized the Nationalist government in Taiwan as the legitimate government of China. However, in 1971, the United States switched its recognition to the communist People's Republic of China. Taiwan is considered a separate country by many due to its self-governance and distinct identity, but China views it as a rebel province.

The Citicorp Center engineering crisis was the discovery, in 1978, of a significant structural flaw in Citicorp Center, then a recently completed skyscraper in New York City, and the subsequent effort to quietly make repairs over the next few months. Its structure, had several unusual design features, including a raised base supported by four offset stilts, and diagonal bracing which absorbed wind loads from upper stories.

Recap Rabit Hole. The goal here is to cut out the noise and distill the facts of the most pressing world events, so that we can deliver them to you in about 2 minutes or less.

While China aggressively dominates the South China Sea, six other countries have claims to parts of the region, creating major global tensions and a significant flashpoint for US-Sino relations due to the strategic importance of the region. The South China Sea is an issue that will define the US-Sino relationship for many years to come.