Macron is France’s ‘worst’ president. Just ask his old mentor.
The French leader is a narcissist who is in denial of reality, argues Alain Minc.
Psychology
Italian blasphemy and German ingenuity: how swear words differ around the world
Once dismissed as a sign of low intelligence, researchers now argue the ‘power’ of taboo words has been overlookedWhen researchers asked people around the world to list every taboo word they could think of, the differences that emerged were revealing. …
‘A collective anxiety attack’: the psychology of unexplained drone sightings across Europe
Incursions have so far caused few physical effects but experts say such incidents can leave people feeling more vulnerableThe troubling question on the mind of many who have spotted them above is: why? Vegard Rabban had little doubt about what he was s…
Does a bit of booze really make us better at languages? – podcast
The Ig Nobel prizes were awarded recently – for science that makes you laugh and then think – and the peace prize was given to a cheeky study testing the link between alcohol and language proficiency. Does a drink really help us to converse more convin…
Above the Knee review – man struggles with body integrity dysmorphia in gory amputation horror
A man grapples with an overwhelming desire to remove his leg in a lingering psychological interrogation from Norwegian film-maker Viljar BøeNorwegian director Viljar Bøe has been hacking out an interesting niche for himself in the horror genre, special…
Loneliness is rife among young men. It’s time to get offline and talk to each other | Alexander Hurst
It’s tempting to scoff, but don’t dismiss the data. Modern man’s failure to forge real, meaningful friendships is bad for everyoneAt first I was startled when the psychologist Angelica Ferrara told me that most of the time it’s women, not men, who want…
Europe lurches between hope and fear as Trump meets Putin
Will the Russian ruler outmaneuver America’s president with devastating consequences for Ukraine?
Why Grok Fell in Love With Hitler
AI expert Gary Marcus explains what went wrong with Elon Musk’s pet project, and what it means for the future of AI.
After Austria’s deadliest shooting, gun reform is no longer avoidable
The Graz shooting has pierced the illusion that legal gun ownership guarantees safety, and the country’s political parties can’t sit on the fence any longer.
The enigma of Andriy Yermak
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff is accused of being a ruthless political operator. What are his ambitions?
Putin is playing Trump (again)
The Russian leader rolls out his classic strategy to handle tempestuous U.S. president.
Yes, Trump is a hypocrite. But is pointing that out an effective attack? | Jan-Werner Mueller
Charges of hypocrisy do not land if the supposed hypocrite is not committed to any kind of consistency in the first placeHistorians and psychologists will study when exactly the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy started to descend in…
Intercepted review – phone taps are a chilling glimpse into Russian soldiers’ minds in Ukraine
Recordings of fighters’ wiretapped phone calls are juxtaposed with images of wartime destruction in Oksana Karpovych’s compelling war documentaryVietnam saw the advent of the visible war, documented by TV cameras; but the Russia-Ukraine war perhaps rep…
BoE prepares to cut rates as economic risks take precedence
The outlook has darkened since Rachel Reeves’ budget, and a relative degree of indulgence for the U.K. from Donald Trump isn’t enough to make it better.
‘If You Compromise With Totalitarian Systems, You Will Pay a High Price’
In a new book, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner urges the U.S. and Europe to join together in a “Freedom Trade Alliance” against China, Russia and other autocracies.
Sibling rivalry: parents favour older children and daughters, study finds
International research also reveals conscientious or agreeable children are likely to receive preferential treatmentAs Philip Larkin once noted, your mum and dad have a lasting effect on you. Now, researchers have revealed which siblings in a family ar…
‘I Think Things Are Going to Be Bad, Really Bad’: The US Military Debates Possible Deployment on US Soil Under Trump
Trump has said he wants to use active duty U.S. troops to quell protests and round up immigrants. Will the military comply?
‘We leave viewers smarter’: fears over plans to close ‘world’s most highbrow’ TV station
Unique experiment in German-language public broadcasting 3sat faces pressure from populist rightIn many countries around the world, breakfast TV means celebrity interviews, soap operas and last night’s football highlights. On the German-language chann…
‘We’re the only plane in the sky:’ 9/11 on board Air Force One
Where was the president in the eight hours after the Sept. 11 attacks? The strange, harrowing journey of Air Force One, as told by the people who were on board.
What the mutual admiration between Keir Starmer and Michel Barnier could mean for Brexit | Tom Baldwin
Interviews with both prime minsters show there’s a narrow path towards a better EU-UK relationshipA curious feature of Brexiter psychology is how the ruinous outcome they once actively sought for Britain is now blamed on tricksy European negotiators, l…
How Ed Miliband became Britain’s most divisive government minister
The Energy Secretary has made an eye-catching start. But how far is he prepared to rock the boat?
Europe should stop hand-wringing about Trump — and be more constructive
A little more reflection and a little less contempt might go a long way toward creating the kind of enduring transatlantic consensus we need.
The magnificent mind of Emmanuel Macron
The president is a lonely, tragic figure whose strange personality has inflicted chaos and carnage on French politics.
Biden skeptics debate whether to ‘get a spine’
The president’s survival depends on the timidity of his own party.
Balkan tensions burst onto the pitch at Euro 2024
‘Kill the Serb!’ ‘F**k Macedonia!’ Violent chants and regional rivalries tarnish Europe’s summer football tournament.
London premiere of movie with AI-generated script cancelled after backlash
Plans to show The Last Screenwriter, whose script is credited to ‘ChatGPT 4.0’, prompted complaints although the film-makers insist the feature is ‘a contribution to the cause’A cinema in London has cancelled the world premiere of a film with a script …
The Brief – The dinner of frustration
In psychology, frustration is an emotion arising from perceived obstacles to fulfilling one’s will or goal. In EU politics, frustration is today’s special.
Soiled nappies and karate: AI-rendered Putin biopic to be released
Polish director Besaleel’s film will feature an AI-rendered Russian president and footage shot by Ukrainian film-makers during the Russian invasionThe “world premiere” of a new biopic of Russian president Vladimir Putin featuring an AI-rendered central…