How is China marking the 25th anniversary of Beijing ruling Hong Kong? Plus: the dissolution of parliament and calls for more elections in Israel, and a record heatwave in Japan.
Category Archives: Stories
Previews: The Florentine Magazine – July/Aug 2022
The Florentine July/August 2022
Love, Spritz + Gelato
My forearms are sticking to the desk as I type this month’s letter. It’s an irksome feeling that’s offset by last night’s joy of dancing wildly at a wedding and an afternoon dip in a kind friend’s swimming pool. Summer in Florence is an intoxicating mix of sweat, fun and gelato. While many of us escape to our countries of origin for as long as we can, there’s something undeniably alluring about these sun-streaked months in Tuscany. Just think back to movies such as Stealing Beauty and Under the Tuscan Sun before fast forwarding to recent Netflix films Toscana and Love & Gelato. Stereotypes aside—and there are far too many to mention in these productions (Netflix, we’re here if you fancy delving deeper into our city and region!)—summer in Florence never stops working its inexplicable magic. Yes, the wall of heat and buzz of mosquitoes may be draining during the day, but the night brings boundless pleasures, from movie nights by the Uffizi to exhibitions at just-reopened Forte di Belvedere, refreshing beers beside the Arno and brilliantly oddball cultural moments such as a wheat threshing festival in the hills (find out more about that gem on page 16).
Historic Views: Chouara Tannery In Fez, Morocco
Tanners at the Chouara Tannery have been transforming animal hides into leather since the 11th century. The tanning process has gone unchanged since then, but it relies on heavy chemicals that threaten the health of workers. Some say they are not willing to take that risk. We traveled to the world’s oldest leather tannery in Fez, Morocco, to find out how this ancient craft is still standing.
Preview: The Economist Magazine – July 2, 2022
Ukraine won the short war. Now comes the long war, and so far, Russia is winning. But it does not have to be fought on Vladimir Putin’s terms
Ukraine won the short war. Mobile and resourceful, its troops inflicted terrible losses and confounded Russian plans to take Kyiv. Now comes the long war. It will drain weapons, lives and money until one side loses the will to fight on. So far, this is a war that Russia is winning.
In recent days its forces have taken the eastern city of Severodonetsk. They are advancing on Lysychansk and may soon control all of Luhansk province. They also threaten Slovyansk, in the north of next-door Donetsk. Ukrainian leaders say they are outgunned and lack ammunition. Their government reckons as many as 200 of its troops are dying each day.
Read more: https://econ.trib.al/tGgFvii
Morning News: Philippines ‘Bongbong’ Marcos And Scotland Independence
It is a remarkable turnaround for a notorious family: the late dictator’s son just took the reins. But how will he govern? Scotland’s separatist party is again pushing for an independence referendum.
That will probably fail—and empower the very prime minister that many Scots love to hate. And, why pilots in Ukraine are using an outdated, inaccurate missile-delivery technique.
Preview: New York Times Magazine – July 3, 2022
The Vanishing Moderate Democrat
Their positions are popular. So why are they going extinct?
Preview: Times Literary Supplement – July 1, 2022
@TheTLS – July 1, 2022. Featuring Kenneth Rogoff on inflation; @KuperSimon on the Tour de France; @natsegnit on the ultrawealthy; Terry Eagleton on Geoff Dyer; @amyhawk_ on Hong Kong; @scheffer_pablo on climate change in medieval literature – and more.
Morning News: Turkey To Back Finland & Sweden Bid, Iran To Join BRICS Bloc
Turkey agrees to back Finland and Sweden’s bid to join Nato. Plus: Iran applies to join trading bloc Brics, plans for a second Scottish independence referendum and the latest art news.
Opinion: Fixing The Energy Crisis, Biden-Harris Issues, Mental Health In China
A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, how to fix the world’s energy emergency without wrecking the environment, the Biden-Harris problem (10:15), and China’s worsening mental-health crisis (16:45).
International Art: Apollo Magazine – July/Aug 2022
• The Russian artists making a stand against the war
• An interview with Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery
• The miniature marvels of Charles Paget Wade
• A Yoruba masterpiece in focus
Plus: London’s art market after Brexit, the Huntington Library comes up to speed, the beauty of banality, and reviews of Maillol’s sculptures, gilded manuscripts and Van Leo’s photographs of Cairo
Intellicurious 