There is a long way to go before children under 16 in the UK are blocked from the main social media platforms – as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that they will be. He proposed a date of next spring, although whether, and when, a ban comes in may be up to an eventual…
For decades, Hezbollah was considered the most powerful non-state armed force in the Middle East. Possessing a substantial arsenal, a deep-rooted presence in Lebanese society, and constant Iranian strategic support, the movement had succeeded in establishing itself as an essential player in the regional equation. Today, this position seems more fragile than ever. The military…
For several years, the Islamic Republic of Iran had never been confronted with such strong pressure. Between economic sanctions, military tensions with Israel, complex negotiations with the United States, and internal difficulties weakening the country, Tehran now finds itself facing decisive choices for its regional future. Iranian leaders assert that they maintain their willingness for…
Sonny Rollins died at 95 on Memorial Day. He was New York City born and bred, raised in Harlem, where W.E.B. Du Bois was his neighbor, and later lived on the Lower East Side. Along with fellow jazz giants like Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln and Charles Mingus, Mr. Rollins was a leader in the fight…
Sixty years ago, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution – a decade of fanaticism that consumed China. Perhaps 2 million people, from top leaders to impoverished farmers, were killed or driven to suicide for political “crimes” or their family background. Tens of millions more, including the father of China’s leader, Xi Jinping, were hounded. The…
Chris Murphy, the Democratic senator from Connecticut, offered the graduates of Wesleyan University wise counsel in his commencement speech a few weeks back. “You are about to step out into a world that prizes efficiency and the annihilation of drift and friction above all else,” he said. “Our entire economy is built on rewarding companies…
Introduction: The trap of power In January 2019, Félix Tshisekedi took the oath of office on the 2006 Constitution, promising to respect it “in its letter and in its spirit.” Seven years later, the same man opens the door to a third term, conditions the 2028 elections on the security situation, and wields constitutional revision…
Tomorrow, on Flag Day, President Trump and the White House will host U.F.C. — the Ultimate Fighting Championship — for a set of fights in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, as well as to mark the president’s 80th birthday. To hold this event, the president has transformed the White House grounds into a pay-per-view…
I live in the Norfolk countryside, and what irritates me most about living here is the deluge of litter that gets thrown out of car windows in the lane outside my house. It is always from junk food outlets, so the question arises as to which way round things are: does junk food turn you…
The resignations from the heart of government this week will only deepen the anti-Westminster mood ahead of the Makerfield byelection. The departure of the defence secretary, John Healey, and his deputy illustrates that Sir Keir Starmer’s problem is not just his unpopularity. It is that his claim to competence is being challenged from the inside….
