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In defence of distraction
The smartphone inherits anxieties about distraction that have haunted every new technology.
Alastair Benn
May 18, 2026
Notebooks
Notebooks are snapshots from our writers, reflecting on current affairs and underappreciated aspects of culture and history.
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The Chinese threat to Singapore
Singapore's success story was built on the promise that globalisation, economic integration and the rules-based order would endure indefinitely.
Alexander Still
May 15, 2026
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How Clinton brought Russia to the table
In the early 1990s, President Clinton drew on US diplomatic and financial power, deft diplomacy, and deep regional expertise to bring about a Russian withdrawal from the Baltic Sta..
Andris Banka and Alexander Noyes
May 14, 2026
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Syria’s political destiny
Throughout its history, the Syrian state has been viewed by Arab nationalists, Baathists and Islamists alike as a stepping stone towards a grander political destiny.
Asser Khattab
May 13, 2026
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The athleisure revolution eats its children
The cult of athleisure is outlasting the brands that created it.
Zoe Strimpel
May 13, 2026
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Trump’s cards to play in China
President Trump will want Xi Jinping to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran, but not at any price.
George Magnus
May 12, 2026
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The case for an Asian NATO
Co-operation between Seoul and Tokyo must be formalised beyond leader-to-leader statements if East Asia is to counter collective threats from coercive authoritarian actors.
Edward Howell
May 11, 2026
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The fifth Veda and the ancient essence of art
In classical India, Bharata’s 'Natyashastra' conceived of art as sacred knowledge, in stark contrast to the diminished role aesthetic experience occupies today.
Garima Garg
May 11, 2026
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Putin’s Potemkin empire
Moscow is marking Victory Day with little cause for celebration. Modern Russia has no coherent ideology to export and Putin's attempt to revive Soviet-era global influence is visib..
Owen Matthews
May 8, 2026