Keeper of the gate
The weekend despatch: In Seoul, a bet against borrowing intelligence from Silicon Valley. Off East Africa, a new volcano’s time capsule from the origin of the Earth. + What is sacred steel?
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23
Oct
The kingdom and the machine
The weekend despatch: Saudi Arabia’s bid to spring the accused OpenAI eavesdropper—at any price. Foreign powers and the secrets of the AI race. + What’s a lawyer doing in the DJ booth at Berlin’s Berghain?
15 min read
16
Oct
The usual suspects
The weekend despatch: High schools in flames across France. A government blaming its rivals, months before an election. + Who is Marina Herlop?
14 min read
09
Oct
Of unknown origin
The weekend despatch: Russia’s answer to the WHO about the mysterious death of a young researcher. Why outsiders have to take Moscow’s word for it. + Who’s John Congleton?
9 min read
02
Oct
The sheikh don’t like it
The weekend despatch: The question of motive behind the sham deals of one of global football’s richest clubs. The rising sea off California. + What’s happening in Eau Claire, Wisconsin?
13 min read
25
Sep
Out of sight
The weekend despatch: How stable is China? The threat of Hong Kong. + What was John Coltrane’s “churning tension”?
15 min read