The World Today How China manipulates the media The freedom of communication introduced by the internet was supposed to sound the death knell for state censorship. But authoritarian regimes still manage to control the message and how liberal digital media remains compromised. In the first of four articles, we look at how China continues to keep journalists on a short lead.
The World Today Philippe Douste-Blazy The French cardiologist, politician and pioneer of micro-levies explains how adding one dollar to every airfare has raised $2.1 billion and can be a painless solution to improve the health of the world’s poor.
The World Today NATO needs feet on the ground to curb Russian ambitions in the Baltic States After Ukraine, there is a pessimistic view of the alliance’s capacity to protect Latvia and its neighbours from the Kremlin’s probing
The World Today Chaos in the Arab world suits Russia’s domestic propaganda Moscow is using the unrest in the Middle East to reinforce its media messages about the threat from the West at home
The World Today Spanish politics has been infected by the Syriza virus After the Greek radicals’ climbdown on austerity, Spain’s Podemos is rethinking its previous embrace
The World Today Manipulating the media Four years ago, when Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office by a ‘Facebook revolution’, it seemed social media spelt the end of authoritarian governments. Such cyber-utopianism is now treated with scepticism. In our cover story we look at the mechanisms – some bullying, some more subtle – which governments use to maintain control of the media in the chaos of the digital age.
The World Today War has made Syria’s media slicker and more responsive but the message is still selective As the country falls apart, normal life continues on Syrian state TV
The World Today Liberty, equality, fragility The History of Modern France: From the Revolution to the Present DayJonathan FenbySimon and Schuster, £25
The World Today The route to a safer future with fewer road deaths Globally, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 29. It’s time to address this neglected and preventable challenge.
The World Today Esprit de corps unharmed by job losses There are big changes underway in the attitude of French diplomats. But one thing doesn’t change: morale depends on the relations between the foreign minister and the president.
The World Today Aden is being torn apart Amid fractured alliances, the era of a united Yemen is coming to an end
The World Today Why is Riyadh flexing its muscles? Saudi Arabia’s air strikes on Yemen are causing concern among its allies
The World Today Andrei Soldatov, investigative journalist The Russian expert on the secret services describes how Vladimir Putin’s regime monitors the internet
The World Today Report sets rules for UN blue helmet missions The United Nation’s peacekeeping operations are in deep trouble after 15 years in which the number of its blue helmets deployed has risen from 20,000 to 120,000.
The World Today Kafka in Saigon The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Grove Press, $26. UK edition forthcoming
The World Today Two books on the value of spies The New Spymasters – Inside Espionage from the Cold War to Global Terror, Stephen Grey, Viking, £20 Why Spy? The Art of IntelligenceBrian Stewart & Samantha Newbery Hurst, £25
The World Today What happens next after the Iran nuclear agreement? There will be shocks but Iran has more incentives to honour the agreement than to subvert it.
The World Today How we saw the future of flying in 1945 The ocean barriers are down, the mountain ramparts are removed from the paths of transport. Flying has advanced from adventure to an ordinary fact of everyday life. War has telescoped time in the development of aviation. Peace must now use the advantages which are offered for the benefit of mankind.
The World Today Piccadilly, London Lilliput for Syria’s refugees: An artist is pricking consciences in the West End