Headlines

Zelenskyy says he is ready to meet Putin in Azerbaijan

In a significant first visit to the South Caucasus since the start of Russia’s all-out war, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement next to President Ilham Aliyev he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Azerbaijan after the US-led diplomatic talks have stalled

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