Monocle on Saturday, November 11, 2023: Charles Hecker on Suella Braverman’s uncertain future, whether the tide is changing on the US stance in the Middle East and Iceland’s state of emergency.
Plus: which factors change our perception of beauty? Monocle’s Steph Chungu speaks to Janis Li, the curator of the new Wellcome Collection exhibition, ‘The Cult of Beauty’. Join Georgina Godwin every week to discover the latest global news and culture.
Overestimating China’s armed forces would be dangerous, argues Jeremy Page
In 1957 america was gripped by fears of a “missile gap” with the Soviet Union. The Kremlin had stunned the world with a test flight of an intercontinental ballistic missile (icbm) and the launch of Sputnik. An American intelligence report predicted that by 1962, the Soviets could have 500 icbms, outstripping America’s arsenal. When word of that leaked, a political furore erupted. Eyeing the presidency from his Senate seat, John F. Kennedy demanded action to prevent a Soviet “shortcut to world domination”.
The PLA needs them to operate all its new weapons
But China’s military tech still lags behind the West’s
The omnistar is born – Those complaining the loudest about the new technology stand to benefit the most
Superpower politics – America must understand China’s weaknesses as well as its strengths
Constitutional chicanery – Italians should reject their prime minister’s demagogic proposal
The Globalist Podcast (November 9, 2023) – European trade unions are refusing to handle Israeli arms, while in the US, the House of Representatives has voted to censure its only Palestinian-American member for her comments on the conflict.
We speak to Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid as protests ramp up over acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez’s attempts to negotiate with Catalan separatists. Plus: the latest culture news and how Paris’s business district is hoping that students will take over empty office blocks.
The Globalist Podcast (November 8, 2023) – The history of Israel and Palestine’s changing borders with former Gaza correspondent James Rodgers.
Also, France’s self-styling as international peace negotiators and Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, resigns. We also examine how poetry is being weaponised by Russia in Ukraine with the president of Pen Ukraine, Volodymyr Yermolenko.
The Globalist Podcast (November 7, 2023) – Fiona O’Brien, UK bureau director for Reporters Without Borders, explains how the conflict in Israel and Gaza has been the deadliest for journalists.
Also, the US keeps its laser-sharp focus in Southeast Asia, an update on Poland’s future government and the luxury market leaves China for India.
Monocle on Saturday, November 4, 2023: Georgina Godwin hosts with Latika Bourke on Anthony Blinken’s visit to Jordan today, the Australian PM Anthony Albanese’s historic visit to China, and the mushroom murder case in Australia that is cripp;ing the world.
Also, Monocle’s Robert Bound speaks to the founder of C2C festival taking place in Turin this weekend, and Honestly Tasty’s co-founder, Michael Moore, proves that vegan can, in fact, be very tasty.
The world economy is defying gravity. That cannot last. Threats abound, including higher-for-longer interest rates
Even as wars rage and the geopolitical climate darkens, the world economy has been an irrepressible source of cheer. Only a year ago everyone agreed that high interest rates would soon bring about a recession. Now even the optimists have been confounded. America’s economy roared in the third quarter, growing at a stunning annualised pace of 4.9%. Around the world, inflation is falling, unemployment has mostly stayed low and the big central banks may have stopped their monetary tightening. China, stricken by a property crisis, looks likely to benefit from a modest stimulus. Unfortunately, however, this good cheer cannot last. The foundations for today’s growth look unstable. Peer ahead, and threats abound.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is taking a terrible toll. But unless Hamas’s power is broken, peace will remain out of reach
Trade wars: episode II
You may think his worst ideas won’t get far. Sadly, on trade he has been singularly influential
The Globalist Podcast (October 31, 2023) – As Israel intensifies its attacks on Gaza, we assess the humanitarian situation on the ground.
Also, The Nordic Council meets in Oslo, the US and South Korea begin joint air drills and we speak with the mayor of Tromsø, Gunnar Wilhelmsen. Plus: Portuguese newspaper ‘A Mensagem’ unveils a mural in Lisbon’s port.
Boomers Daily 