The New Statesman
informed Summary
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has been using a narrative that Ukraine is controlled by "extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis" to justify his invasion of the country. He has also claimed that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, a Russian-speaking Jew, is part of a Western plot to disguise the true character of his regime.
World Affairs4 min readinformed Summary
- Germany's centrist parties have isolated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, refusing to cooperate with it at any level. However, this strategy may be unsustainable as it often results in four-party coalitions and could potentially strengthen the AfD, Wolfgang Münchau suggests.
Politics3 min readinformed Summary
- The Russo-Ukraine War has reached its 18-month mark with no clear end in sight. Neither side currently has a convincing route to a military victory.
World Affairs16 min readinformed Summary
- The rise of the Sweden Democrats in the 2010s marked a significant shift in Swedish politics, breaking the previous consensus and leading to a polarised society. The party's focus on migration as a central issue sparked a moral panic and intense debate, with those questioning the country's capacity to handle the influx of refugees often labelled as "racists" or "fascists".
World Affairs8 min readinformed Summary
- Marine Le Pen, the far-right French politician, has run her 2017 and 2022 election campaigns as the candidate of the people, focusing on low-income earners and avoiding association with the rich and powerful.
Politics2 min readinformed Summary
- The author, Robert D Kaplan, argued in 1994 that environmental issues, including drought and desertification, would become a significant national security issue of the 21st century.
World Affairs12 min readinformed Summary
- In the ongoing Russo-Ukraine War, Russia has denied Ukraine support from the Global South through a combination of information and diplomatic campaigns. Many countries in the southern hemisphere have abstained in key United Nations votes and refused to engage with Western sanctions, often due to past connections with Russia and irritation with the West, rather than a lack of sympathy for Ukraine.
World Affairs14 min readinformed Summary
- Ukrainian journalist Ihor Bondarenko was captured by Russian authorities in 2022. He was tortured and threatened with death unless he agreed to produce pro-Russian propaganda.
News4 min readinformed Summary
- China may be in danger of a "balance-sheet recession" similar to the one that led to Japan's long-term economic stagnation after its asset bubble burst in 1990.
Economy4 min readinformed Summary
- As Vladimir Putin's original objectives in the war in Ukraine become increasingly unattainable, his focus has shifted to avoiding defeat, argues Lawrence Freedman in The New Statesman. This has led to heavy consequences for both Ukraine and Russia, with the war only likely to end when Putin or a successor acknowledges failure.
World Affairs13 min readinformed Summary
- Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's possessions are to be auctioned by Sotheby's in the largest single-collector sale the auction house has seen in years. The items are expected to fetch more than £6m ($7.8m).
Culture5 min readinformed Summary
- Longtermism ask us to imagine a future spanning millions, billions, even trillions of years, where humanity colonizes space and life continues long after the earth becomes inhabitable.
Culture8 min readinformed Summary
- Internet culture is increasingly characterized by extreme overreactions and hyperbole, where anything popular (including movies, music, books, and TV shows) is automatically labeled as the best, regardless of its actual quality.
Culture3 min readinformed Summary
- The UK government has pledged up to £20bn in support of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, with eight projects selected for state support.
Science5 min readinformed Summary
- The Spanish elections on 23 July did not result in a clear majority for any party. The centre-right People's Party (PP) led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo won the most seats but fell short of the 176 required for a majority.
Politics4 min readinformed Summary
- Tourists are increasingly visiting popular southern European destinations, often influenced by social media, and then expressing shock at high prices and logistical challenges. This trend is particularly noticeable among American tourists, who are travelling abroad more due to pandemic savings and a strong dollar.
Culture4 min readinformed Summary
- Mohammed bin Salman is leading Saudi Arabia towards a future that mirrors the fictional African nation of Wakanda from the film "Black Panther", with a focus on technological advancement and economic diversification.
World Affairs19 min readinformed Summary
- An ecosystem of lobbyists, pressure groups and think tanks is helping shape how politicians think about artificial intelligence. The New Statesman spoke to one AI mover-and-shaker in the U.K.
Tech6 min readinformed Summary
- A U.K. news channel has described the negroni as the signature drink of the “woke… establishment media”. But the cocktail’s popularity extends beyond the socially aware, argues Felicity Cloake in The New Statesman.
Culture3 min readinformed Summary
- The New York recently criticised the character of Bridget Jones, arguing that society deserves a better heroine. The criticism focused on Bridget's obsession with her weight, her pursuit of men and her lack of concern for job benefits.
Culture4 min read
