Today’s Edition – 9th July 2024​
Who would dare read the runes in Macron’s France?
The increasingly bloated corpse of French governance has moved to its next stage of decomposition
Who would dare read the runes in Macron’s France?
The increasingly bloated corpse of French governance has moved to its next stage of decomposition
ID cards: Starmer  won’t be able to avoid another big debate despite ministers ruling them outÂ
Adam Boulton
July 9, 2024
The PM will have to tread carefully around Blair’s call for UK to introduce ID cards which he claims will curb migration
Russia strikes hospitals ahead of critical NATO summit
Sang-Hwa Lee
July 8, 2024
Ukraine’s allies will be under pressure in Washington to do more to support Kyiv.
Labour is at work – and everyone needs to know
The Hound
July 8, 2024
Welcome to Starmer’s world of Stakhanovism.
Macron in rainbow coalition talks after hard-left victory
The Hound
July 8, 2024
French president’s gamble to beat Le Pen leaves him trying to form new government with radical Melanchon
French voters have done what Macron asked by swerving leftÂ
Anthony Peters
July 8, 2024
France is out of the frying pan and straight into the fire
We should feel queasy about Royal Mail being sold to private equity
Neil Collins
July 8, 2024
Kretinsky’s takeover of our postal service is high-risk leveraged buy-out
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Columnists
What on earth happens now? Seven thoughts
Iain Martin
July 7, 2024
It was an extraordinary election. There are going to be consequences.
Scotland sees the light as SNP roundly rejected
Jenny Hjul
July 5, 2024
The SNP’s incompetence and narrow preoccupations have turned a country that was largely behind it into a hostile electorate.
Joe Biden’s presidency faces total collapse
David Waywell
July 4, 2024
Last Thursday changed everything. Now, it’s time for the Democrats to be merciless
Nigel Farage and Reform have changed UK politics forever
Gerald Warner
July 3, 2024
If Reform garners several million votes but very few – if any – seats, calls for electoral change will intensify.
Luvvies for Labour stage a revival
Jenny Hjul
June 28, 2024
While parallels will be drawn with the Cool Britannia days of Tony Blair, Starmer will struggle to truly match Blair’s knack of seizing the zeitgeist.
Columnists
Handel’s Orlando plucks every emotion
Marking its 50th anniversary, the Academy of Ancient Music scintillates with a riveting semi-staged performance of Handel’s Orlando.
France’s hard-left leader is escaping proper scrutiny
Jean-Luc MĂ©lenchon has an authoritarian streak, some highly questionable foreign policies and a surprising amount in common with Le Pen.
Why Europe’s youth are embracing the hard-rightÂ
Jordan Bardella is a TikTok sensation while Germany’s hard-right AfD reaches as many young Germans on the app as all other parties combined.
The first Presidential debate: Trump trumps as sick Biden implodes
This was not just a weak performance from Joe Biden. It was excruciating.
A full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war will be much more deadly than the last one
Until recently both sides calibrated their firepower: enough to have an effect, not enough to spark an all-out war. This month, that has changed.
Will Trump attend the first presidential debate? Don’t count on it
Donald Trump rarely turns down an opportunity to be in the spotlight. But he doesn’t have a great attendance record when it comes to debates, for good reason.
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World
South Africa’s coalition government: making the case for hope
Brian Levy
July 3, 2024
In the aftermath of South Africa’s recent election, renewed hope has made an unexpected appearance.
Can Macron still stop a Le Pen victory?
Caitlin Allen
July 1, 2024
France could be on the brink of electing a hard-right government for the first time since the Second World War.
Only Iran can benefit from an Israel-Hezbollah war
Michael Ben-Gad
June 27, 2024
The calculus in Tehran appears to have changed.
Evan Gershkovich’s espionage trial signals a dangerous new era for journalism in Russia
James Rodgers & Dina Fainberg
June 26, 2024
The US journalist, who had been reporting on the Wagner Group for the Wall Street Journal, could face a long prison sentence.
Assange flies to freedom
Oliver Rhodes
June 26, 2024
This is an extraordinary climbdown from the US government.
Labour is at work – and everyone needs to know
Welcome to Starmer’s world of Stakhanovism.
Culture
Mont Sainte-Victoire seen from Bellevue by Paul Cezanne
Andrew Wilton
July 5, 2024
Cezanne was no great shakes as a draughtsman. But this shortcoming later became a virtue.
History in the House: a book that reminds us of the vital importance of open debate
Mark Fox
July 3, 2024
Davenport-Hines charts the history of a succession of highly intelligent and independently-minded historians, all based at one Oxford college.
Giulio Cesare: Glyndebourne’s recut gem is as good as opera getsÂ
Gerald Malone
June 28, 2024
“Revival” does not do this production justice.
Word Watch: Nebbish
Andrew Wilton
June 28, 2024
A word derived directly from Yiddish is emerging into view as a fully accredited noun.
The Aldeburgh Festival turns 75 and remains a glory of the British musical year
John Freeman
June 26, 2024
From the start, Benjamin Britten’s festival was refreshingly innovative. It still is today.
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