“Perhaps the most damning result of what is happening is the mass radicalisation of young Palestinians and of future Palestinian generations. As Israeli and US security experts have acknowledged, talk of Hamas being defeated is delusional – Hamas is as much an idea as a movement, and that idea will not only persist but will grow.”
Trump
Middle East transformed in two years of war
“All the while, Palestinians continue to die on a daily basis and there are still Israeli hostages (and in some cases bodies) waiting to be brought home. Gaza is devastated and rebuilding the enclave will take decades. And the so-called international rules-based order may never recover.”
Demarco’s gauntlet of truth to authoritarianism
“Trump, Rubio, Putin and their fellow travellers in the UK, Europe and across the globe are not the friends of European civilisation. They are the destroyers of freedom. One way to see them defeated is to support writers, artists and performers, whether folk band, local landscape painter, avant garde author, jazz virtuoso or classical orchestra. Free expression in the Arts is freedom for us all.”
Forget Trump: ‘Everybody loves the sunshine’
A wee tribute to American musician Roy Ayers who blows the dark Trumpian clouds away with one song…
Why Israel won’t stick to any ceasefire in Gaza/Iran brokered by Trump
“..a core issue for Netanyahu is that his three war aims simply have not been achieved; the theocratic Iranian regime has not collapsed, its nuclear programme can readily be resurrected, and Hamas has survived. All of this means that Israel is likely willing to strike Iran again, already intends to maintain its control of Iranian airspace for months and probably years, and is intensifying its operations in Gaza at a terrible cost to Palestinians.”
Make Europe Great Again
Ultra-conservative central European thinkers among others are joining forces with MAGA protagonists to work for the break-up of the EU as we know it
Fox News wins it for Trump
“When the Trump era is over, incumbent Democrats are going to have to repair US institutions that this administration has damaged. If they want to do something about the polarisation of US politics, they may also need to restore the fairness doctrine.”
Trump’s negotiation tactics: a business mindset in a diplomatic world
The confrontation between U.S. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy illustrates the risks of prioritizing immediate national interests over foundational principles in international diplomacy. This transactional approach threatens sovereignty and democratic values, undermining trust and long-term relationships. Sustainable negotiations must balance interests with core principles to foster cooperative global interactions.
Yesterday’s robber barons can teach today’s oligarchs about responsibilities of wealth
Mark Zuckerberg’s recent display of wealth, exemplified by a lavish wristwatch, prompts parallels between today’s tech billionaires and the “robber barons” of America’s Gilded Age, as warned by Joe Biden. Critics argue that unlike Carnegie, who embraced moral obligations with wealth, today’s billionaires often neglect communal benefits, exacerbating social inequality.
Trump 2.0 and a new age of authoritarian capitalism
Donald Trump’s return to the White House is linked to the rise of right-wing populism and challenges faced by progressive politics. Trump capitalised on feelings of economic insecurity exacerbated by China’s emergence as a superpower. The Biden administration’s industrial policies, while ambitious, did not sufficiently address public concerns, allowing Trump to benefit politically.