Organizers of the Sziget Festival have announced more than 40 new performers, including Bring Me The Horizon, Zara Larsson, Loyle Carner and Wolf Alice, strengthening the international line-up for the 2026 edition of the event.
‘Unveiling the “religion of electricity” uncovers a narrative embedded in modernity which challenges reductive secularization theories, especially Max Weber’s classic portrayal. The “religion of electricity” embodies both the scientification of religion and the re-enchantment of the world, offering intriguing anomalies to explore.’
‘Takaichi claims that internal party polling shows the LDP could potentially win a standalone majority without relying on coalition partners’ seats if snap elections are held now. However, it is unclear whether traditional LDP supporters will be so quick to back the new LDP–Japan Innovation Party alliance over their former Komeito comrades.’
‘The Czech Republic’s new coalition government…marks a shift towards a sovereignty-focused, security-conscious, and state-centred model of governance.’
2025 is likely to be remembered as the year the post–Cold War order finally collapsed. From Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his America First diplomacy to the erosion of liberal institutions, trade realignment and the retreat of woke ideology, the foundations of a multipolar world have decisively taken shape.
The Game Awards reached a new milestone in 2025, drawing a record 171 million global livestreams and confirming its status as the world’s most-watched video game event. Viewership rose sharply across platforms, driven by co-streaming, global distribution and major premieres.
The average US gallon of gas costs under $3, the Dow Jones is up 13.5 per cent YTD despite April’s 13 per cent drop amidst the tariff frenzy, and JD Vance seems set for the 2028 Republican nomination. Yet the government shut down for 43 days, letting Democrats win NJ and VA gubernatorial races: here are the second Trump admin’s biggest Ws and Ls for 2025!
‘The American Republic in the first half of the 19th century gradually drifted away from the Founders’ original vision and embarked on the path of modern mass democracy. The final result of this, paradoxically, became exactly what the Founders had feared…The Jacksonian rejection of the principle of hierarchy led not to the fulfilment of freedom, but to the rise of a new, faceless form of tyranny.’
What are Russia’s minimum objectives for demonstrating victory? What will happen to Gaza? How can the West persuade Central Asia to cooperate with the US and Europe? We asked a former senior director at the National Security Council in George W Bush’s White House for a year-end analysis of the world’s three major geopolitical conflicts.
Western media spent the week circulating baseless claims about Hungary, from a fake ‘longer’ US security strategy urging EU exit to Bloomberg’s allegation that Viktor Orbán plans to replace parliamentary democracy. The narratives appear designed to damage the government ahead of 2026.