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Emma Albright

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Geopolitics

Serbia And Kosovo: A Local Conflict Turns Dangerously International

Tension are rising between Serbia and Kosovo, taking on an international dimension with Russia lending its support to Serbia, while NATO has long had a presence in Kosovo. There is only one real solution to such a historic feud over territory and ethnicity, and it's called: Europe.

-Analysis-

PARIS An unresolved conflict is always a potential time bomb. That's what happened last week in the Caucasus, with Azerbaijan's recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh, driving thousands of Armenians into exile. And it is also what is threatening Europe's southern flank, with violence breaking out between Serbia and Kosovo.

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Photo of a phone showing the new controversial map of China, with a Chinese flag as a backdrop
Geopolitics

Make No Mistake, The Hawks Are Running China

China released a new map where it borrows strips of lands from its neighbors. Although this is far from being the first time the country is involved in territorial disputes, Beijing's growing military shows it has the power (and will?) to try to make it a reality.

-Analysis-

PARIS — Imagine if tomorrow, one of France's neighbors published a map that showed entire swathes of French territory as its own. And did the same with many other neighbors. That is, in simple terms, what China did last week — and as you can image, its neighbors are not pleased at all.

The map, published by China's Ministry of Natural Resources and circulated on social media, has drawn condemnation from all of China's neighbors: Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and of course the special case of Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be a stray part of its own territory.

But the strongest reaction came from India, after two disputed Himalayan regions were presented as being part of China. Narendra Modi's government responded yesterday with a show of military force on the borders with Pakistan and China.

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​Portrait of Yevgeny Prigozhin surrounded by roses.
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Wagner Is Dead, Long Live Wagner! How Putin Plans To Push Deeper Into Africa, Post-Prigozhin

Wagner PMC has built up a powerful network on the African continent. It's one of the mercenary group's greatest assets — and now, a Kremlin takeover of Wagner could even strengthen its influence in Africa, including through the recent coups d'état in Niger and Gabon.

-Analysis-

"Prigozhin’s last thought was ‘Putin!’'’ That's how Boris Johnson imagines what was going through the mind of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin during the 30-second plunge to the earth in his private jet.

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“I cannot think of another example of such ostentatious and uninhibited savagery by a world leader — not in our lifetimes," added the former British Prime Minister in an article in the Daily Mail.

After Prigozhin's death, the future of the Wagner group remains unclear. Renamed, or reshaped and brought back into line, it's a safe bet that, in one form or another, it will survive the elimination of its founders. Worse still, it may even emerge with its influence in Africa strengthened.

This is the thesis of the ambitious investigation, based on the work of the collective All Eyes On Wagner,that investigative journalists Lou Osborn and Dimitri Zufferey are about to publish with French group Editions du Faubourg.

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Wreckage at a crash site.
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Prigozhin’s Death, A Perfect Consolidation Of Power For Vladimir Putin

Two months after his failed coup, the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has reportedly died on Wednesday in a plane crash. Many questions remain unanswered, but one thing is for sure: we know who is bound to benefit the most.

-Analysis-

MOSCOWYevgeny Prigozhin's days were numbered. Exactly two months after his iconic "rebellion," a spectacular but futile insurrection that humiliated and weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, the 62-year-old paramilitary leader Wagner died on Aug. 23 in a plane crash that looks quite clearly like an assassination.

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Neither the Kremlin nor any other Russian political authority has officially confirmed it, but the state media made it pretty clear, right after the downing of the Embraer Legacy private jet that was scheduled to fly from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

According to the national air transport agency, on board the private jet that crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region, leaving no survivors, was the former friend and personal chef who Putin had called a “traitor” on June 24, and who had since been living on borrowed time, flying back and forth to Russia despite his pariah status.

" Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner group, hero of Russia and true patriot of his homeland, was killed as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia. But even in hell, he'll be the best!” reacted his supporters on Grey Zone, a Telegram channel reputedly close to Wagner on social media.

Putin so far has not commented on the apparent death of his former ally. And yet...

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A photo of a white cup and fan on a table
Work In Progress

Hot Summer Jobs: How Global Warming Weighs On The Workplace

As workers around the globe are faced with the mercury rising, jobs both inside and outside are becoming less and less bearable in the summer months.

PARIS — It’s August again, temperatures are topping 30 ℃ (86 ℉), and I work in an office in the center of France’s capital that dates back to the 19th century. Needless to say, it has not been equipped with air-conditioning nor built to shield against heat waves. We work with fans, and hide the sunlight with make-shift curtains.

Of course, I am among the lucky ones. On my way to and from the office, I can’t help but notice those who are obliged to work outside, under the scorching sun, often with heavy gear and extra clothing to protect themselves. How could they ever stay cool? Who’s looking out for their health and safety?

Over the past few years, our planet has been faced with steadily more severe heat waves. We have had to learn how to live with rising temperatures and adapt our daily lives to the on-the-ground reality of global warming. And for 40 or so hours a week, it is a decidedly work-related question.

The unbearable heat that has taken over some countries since the start of July has been fatal for some. According to French daily Les Echos, France registered 80 more workplace-related deaths than usual during the heatwave in July. Now, nations are taking new measures and re-evaluating working conditions to face this environmental phenomenon.

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Photo of Takashi Murakami in front of his art works
Economy

The Eternal Whims Of Economics, As Seen By Japanese Artist Murakami

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has unveiled a large fresco capturing the history of economics, from the Sumerians to Elon Musk, at a gallery in the suburbs of Paris. French journalist Yann Rousseau met him in his studio near Tokyo.

PARISElon Musk is done. Keynes hangs on the wall. They’re killing Marx on the floor.

In the vast, windowless studio of Takashi Murakami, in Miyoshi, on the outskirts of Tokyo, about 10 assistants are working, kneeling on laminated cushions, above new giant portraits designed by the Japanese artist.

Barefoot, with a ponytail and washed-out jeans, the artist gives a few brief instructions, before heading to the back of the studio, where a separate team works on other projects.

Clothes for a new collaboration, paintings of blue and white carps inspired by Chinese porcelain, a new deck of cards or several tormented versions of his favorite character, Mr. Dob, a kind of avatar created in the 1990s — the artist never stops, too filled with ideas.

He sleeps a bit at night or during short naps in a corner of the studio, always in a cardboard box. “He also has a small space to cook his meals," whispers an assistant. There are no restaurants in the small industrial park where the studio is based, except for a McDonald’s.

On the wall, just like in a factory, organization charts and detailed schedules with the missions of each “artist." His company Kaikai Kiki has a total of 200 employees. On this Friday afternoon at the end of May, the last few squares of paint on the wig of Scottish economist Adam Smith have to be finished, as well as a blow-dry on the aqua t-shirt of Vitalik Buterin, creator of Ethereum and a final touch-up on the image of Chinese historian Sima Qian, before it all departs on a cargo plane for France.

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Woman carrying braided tray and white bucket while walking on a street market in Hanoi, Vietnam.
food / travel

Gùsto! How · What · Where Locals Eat (And Drink) In Hanoi

Vietnam's capital offers any visitor a rich culinary experience, featuring in TripAdvisor's top 20 food destinations in the world for 2023. So here's what and where to eat when visiting Hanoi.

HANOI — Influenced by a rich and unique mix of Southeast Asia, China and France, Vietnam's capital Hanoi is a treat for any visitor.

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But Hanoi also offers a rich culinary experience. The city was even chosen as one of the 20 top food destinations in the world in 2023 by TripAdvisor. That's no surprise since Vietnamese cuisine is renowned worldwide for its fresh ingredients, mix of flavors, and the emphasis on herbs and vegetables. The country's rich food history is reflected in the many traditional dishes that have become popular around the world, such as phở, bánh mì, gỏi cuốn (spring rolls), and bún chả (grilled pork with noodles).

So, if you're lucky enough to be visiting Hanoi, here’s a local's guide to the best places that are guaranteed to blow your taste buds rather than your budget.

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Navalny Now: What The Wagner Coup Attempt Means For Putin's Jailed Enemy No. 1
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Navalny Now: What The Wagner Coup Attempt Means For Putin's Jailed Enemy No. 1

From the depths of his prison cell, President Putin’s best-known opponent, Alexei Navalny, appears to have a plan for how to turn Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed uprising into new momentum for his cause for democracy and regime change in Moscow.

-Analysis-

MOSCOW — "We no longer want our country to live with corruption, lies and bureaucracy," said Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man who dared to challenge the president who has been in power for almost a quarter of a century.

Prigozhin's crude words and offensive tone were in stark contrast to the propaganda of public television. A master in direct communication, the founder of the Wagner Group mercenaries broadcast his shocking words over social media.

Taken by surprise, Vladimir Putin called for national unity and condemned this “political adventurer.” But he never mentioned his name. For a few hours on June 24, the man who had suddenly become the main anti-Kremlin opponent succeeded in shaking the regime. It was an unexpected role for Prigozhin, Putin's "cook" turned "traitorous putschist.”

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Image of Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivering a national video address in connection with the current security situation in the Rostov-on-Don Region
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Why A Weaker Putin Is Actually More Dangerous

Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s aborted coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin reveals the great confusion that reigns in Russia, and the weakness of the Kremlin's leader — but it's a weakness that makes him all the more unpredictable.

-Analysis-

It's too early to tell what really happened between the Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh and the capital Moscow — not to mention Minsk the capital of Belarus, where the solution to the recent coup attempt was apparently reached, and where its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will seek refuge.

The argument both sides used to justify the compromise — "to spare Russian blood” — is almost shocking, given how little the two parties in the coup, Wagner mercenary Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, care about human lives, whether Russian or Ukrainian.

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Still, there are a few lessons we can take away from this deeply confusing episode. Since the Wagner revolt, Putin has become both weaker and more dangerous — and his thinking, and maybe even intentions, have become clearer over the last few hours.

The short speech he gave on Saturday morning, in which he denounced the “traitors” behind the coup attempt, will remain in the eyes of historians as an essential document for understanding Putin, and to illustrate his about-face. Like former U.S. President Barack Obama in Syria, he too set a red line and didn't stick to it.

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Screenshot of a video showing the Nova Kakhovka dam
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Nova Kakhovka Attack — Dams Are A Favorite Target Of War

Stunning images of the attack of Nova Kakhovka dam, which had been described as a strategically important target, serve as a reminder that military forces in past wars have set off similar disasters to take out dams' power.

A major dam and hydro-electric power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday, prompting fear and mass evacuations as Ukraine accused Russian forces of committing an act of “ecocide.”

Videos posted to social media showed the destroyed dam and torrents of water flowing out into the river and flooding populated areas downstream, where people were forced to evacuate.

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As stunning as the images are, the attack of Nova Kakhovka is not a complete surprise. The dam had been described as a strategically important target since the beginning of the war, and the Ukrainian government warned in 2022 that destroying it would cause a "large-scale disaster."

Indeed, the attack is just the most recent example of military forces seeing the massive potential energy stored behind hydroelectric dams as an offensive weapon. Destroying these critical pieces of infrastructure can destroy cities and spread terror, as well as disrupt agriculture and industry, and cripple power generation.

Here are some of the most notable wartime dam attacks in history:

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Photo of gazpacho
food / travel

Bowl Of Cool: The Best Summer Soups From Around The World

If you love soups in the winter, you can feel like you're missing out in the summer. But don't fear! Here's a roundup of the best soups from around the world for warm weather.

A bowl of warm soup on cold winter days always seems like food for the soul. So for soup lovers out there, the arrival of summer may feel a little depressing.

But fear not! Cold soups are still a great option when the weather is warm. From light, refreshing soups to rich and creamy ones, here’s a list of cold soups around the world that will fulfill your winter cravings and help you cool off on a summer afternoon.

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photo of a giant panda walking
Geopolitics

Ya Ya, Between A Broken Heart And Big Chill In Giant Panda Diplomacy

This is the story of Ya Ya, a female panda whose fate captures for the degrading relationship and eroding trust between China and the U.S.

-Analysis-

Ya Ya, a Chinese Giant Panda, had been living at the Memphis Zoo in the United States for 20 years, beginning back in the days when the relationship between Beijing and Washington was far more cordial. Her arrival was part of what's known as "panda diplomacy", when Beijing lent out its beloved signature animals as a sign of friendship.

Ya Ya was in a relationship, if we can use this term, with Le Le, a male panda. But Le Le died in 2021, from heart complications, and Ya Ya never seemed to recover from his death. She started to lose weight, her coat faded. This is when politics flared up.

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