Headlines

Venice, Here We Come

A guide to the 2026 Venice Biennale, Joan Semmel still killing it at 93, Hungary's post-Orbán art world, and much more.

Why Iran’s grip on the Hormuz Strait will be hard to break

A giant banner hangs on the side of a building in Tehran’s central Enqelab Square declaring, “The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed; the entire Persian Gulf is our hunting ground.” It’s a blaring reminder of Iran’s key point of leverage in its war against the United States

Breathwork

[Off topic, but I hope it might be useful] Mindfulness can improve your life. So can stillness and spiritual grounding. This is not a post about that. Breathing is an architectural challenge and a chemical necessity. We breathe about 20 pounds of air a day (and if you’ve ever

Iran war is accelerating SE Asia’s drift from America

Southeast Asia is watching the US-Israel conflict with Iran — and quietly drawing conclusions. Most countries have adopted a policy of non-interference, but behind the cautious and neutral stances, they are accelerating efforts to reduce their defense dependence on Washington.

Asia

War in the Middle East: latest developments

The latest developments in the Middle East war: - US 'quagmire' - The United States "is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in", a spokesman for Iran's defence ministry said. The comment, reported by Iran's ISNA media outlet, came as

The Russian resistance no one is talking about

You could be forgiven for thinking everyone in Russia either supports the war in Ukraine or is too scared to do anything about it. A dominant narrative is that Russian civil society is passive, complicit or has been quashed to the point of being neutralised. Some elements of

Asia

Can Europe keep its industrial champions in the AI era?

Siemens warned that EU regulations are driving industrial giants toward the US and China. As the "Trump Effect" lures factories away with tax cuts and deregulation, Europe faces a high-stakes choice regarding data rules and the chip dilemma of speed vs. sovereignty.