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Notebooks

Notebooks are snapshots from our writers, reflecting on current affairs and underappreciated aspects of culture and history.

A ruined UN van in Sudan.
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The last chance for Sudan

If no progress towards peace in Sudan is made at the UN General Assembly, in all likelihood the nation will cease to exist in any meaningful sense of the word.

Richard Cockett September 23, 2024
The restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral.
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The revelation of Joachim du Bellay

The remains of Joachim du Bellay have been discovered beneath Notre-Dame cathedral, placing the Renaissance poet back at the centre of the French language and culture that he did s..

Agnès Poirier September 23, 2024
Hizbollah propaganda in Beirut, Lebanon.
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Everything short of war: Hizbollah’s strategy lies in ruins

As Israel embarks on a dramatic new phase in the conflict on its northern border, Hizbollah’s leadership faces a dilemma.

John Raine September 20, 2024
A funeral organised by Hizbollah for four people killed in the explosions of pagers in an unprecedented attack in Lebanon and Syria.
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Old tech makes new problems for Hizbollah

The explosions of pagers and radios in Lebanon reveals an ongoing battle of technological adaptation between Hizbollah and Israeli intelligence agencies.

Tony Ingesson September 19, 2024
Still from Notting Hill, 1999.
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The argument for meeting famous people

As many more people have their 'fifteen minutes of fame', celebrity encounters have never been more common. Make the most of them.

Suzanne Raine September 11, 2024
SIS headquarters.
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The spies make their case

In a modern-day democracy, it is important for intelligence agencies to have their voices heard.

Dan Lomas September 11, 2024
Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon.
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What is a tyrant?

Tyranny is an ancient concept with a long history going all the way back to the ancient Greeks. Understanding how the best minds have grappled with this elusive term can enrich con..

Edmund Stewart September 9, 2024
Lord Byron on his deathbed.
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Missing the point about Byron

Tributes to Lord Byron emphasised the romantic, brooding persona of the rakish young poet and ignored his later work as a witty satirist and fighter for Greek freedom. It is an ove..

Robert Thicknesse September 9, 2024
The Renaissance polymath Athansius Kircher's map of Atlantis.
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The illusory search for a lost civilisation

The search for lost civilisations has mesmerised humanity for centuries – Graham Hancock is this craze's latest and most eloquent manifestation.

Christopher Hale September 4, 2024

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