Israel

Netanyahu throws around the ‘N’ word when Germans talk Gaza

— Israeli PM Netanyahu’s recent strike on an Iranian site in Syria escalated Iran-Israel tensions, overshadowing Gaza’s plight until the German Foreign Minister refocused attention, despite Netanyahu’s dismissive response.

COMMENT

India will soon start to vote… but blink and you’ll miss it

— Despite extensive media coverage of India’s upcoming general election, reports lack depth, focusing mainly on Prime Minister Modi and mirroring global populist trends.

COMMENT

Erasing Easter? Cancelling Christmas? Britain’s culture wars go on

— A controversy over Easter egg labelling in Lincolnshire highlights tensions over cultural identity, with critics fearing the erosion of Christian traditions amidst broader societal shifts.

US Politics

Hannah Arendt’s stock rises with Trumpism’s ‘banal’ hideousness

— Hannah Arendt’s relevance surges amid comparisons to Donald Trump’s actions, echoing her analysis of Eichmann’s banality of evil. Trump’s chaotic manoeuvres suggest a disturbingly normalised atmosphere of crisis.

COMMENT

In Portugal and California, two men move from sports to right-wing politics

— In Portugal and the US, sports figures have transitioned to right-wing politics, with right-wing and far-right parties aiming to capitalise on their fame to attract new voters.

COMMENT

Rochdale: How a special election in the UK became really special

— The by-election in Rochdale became noteworthy due to candidates’ controversies and its proxy for the Israel-Gaza debate, revealing societal divisions and neglect in the deprived area.

COMMENT

New week, new British row over some form of exclusivism

— The Conservative Party faces accusations of Islamophobia, with former deputy chairman Lee Anderson implicating London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, triggering debates over terminology and the party’s stance on religious discrimination.

COMMENT

… nevertheless, she persisted. Is that the Nikki Haley agenda?

— Nikki Haley, trailing behind Trump in polls, pledges to persist in the presidential race. Speculation suggests her candidacy aims to challenge Republicans and offer an alternative.

COMMENT

A Northern Ireland photo powerfully represents a hazy concept: Peace

— Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, political rivals in Northern Ireland, exemplify unity for a shared political goal despite ideological differences. Their collaboration marks a positive step towards peace and cooperation.

COMMENT

The Palestinians won’t cease to exist just cause they don’t have a refugee agency

— Several Western donor countries have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees based on Israeli accusations of staff involvement in Hamas attacks, impacting millions of Palestinians in Gaza, despite ongoing investigations.

COMMENT

NATO’s biggest exercise since Cold War could poke Russian bear

— The start of 2024 witnesses escalating global threats: the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran-Pakistan exchanges, China’s tensions with Taiwan, North Korea’s strategic shift, and a concerning prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons to deter NATO.

COMMENT

‘Deploy diplomats to deal with Houthis, war is no recipe for peace’

— The Houthis hold freedom of navigation hostage to press for a ceasefire in Gaza. The West responds with bombs on Houthi facilities in Yemen. How is this conducive to peace in our time?

OPINION

Bangladesh polls no longer make ‘battle of the begums’ headlines and that’s sad

— Bangladesh’s 2024 election resulted in PM Sheikh Hasina’s anticipated win, as the main opposition boycotted, alleging a sham to maintain ruling party dominance and raising concerns about democratic decline, underscoring global challenges to democracy in the year ahead.

COMMENT

Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni’s Rome tryst on migration

— The UK media sensationalised a political meeting between Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni, labelling it a “love-burst”. Instead, the event in Rome focused on migration controls and blurred lines between the Conservative and far-right politicians.

COMMENT

Is Javier Milei Argentina’s Liz Truss?

— Javier Milei, Argentina’s president-elect, resembles Britain’s short-serving PM Liz Truss in their shared goals of low taxes and a reduced state. Both faced economic challenges, raising concerns about the potential consequences of their radical policies.

COMMENT

The upshot of ‘He said, Xi said’: More pandas to the US

— Joe Biden and Xi Jinping participated in a crucial summit during the APEC forum in San Francisco. Acknowledging competition, the leaders underscored the importance of averting conflict and committed to resuming military contact.