Soft Power
LIFESTYLE
Anime’s Cult is Fading in Europe But Why?
Japanese anime helped romanticise Europe for global audiences. If the industry weakens, Europe may lose one of its strangest and most flattering cultural mirrors.
EUROPE
British Council Squeezed: Crumbling Bridge of Soft Power
As rivals invest in their global reach Britain is letting its primary cultural bridge crumble under a mountain of debt that the government refuses to forgive.
Popular
Young Voters Could Decide France’s Next President
Hate-speech allegations bruise Bardella and energise Mélenchon, but household finances and young-voter turnout will determine who wins France's presidency.
Sánchez Rents His Fate to Housing Anger
Sánchez is betting housing anger can save his government, but voters may blame him for the crisis.
Renault Goes Leaner: Drones and Electric Cars
Renault's falling petrol sales are paying for electric access, but real ownership is still missing for French households.
France: The Budget Strain Behind Raging School Protests
France's school protests began with overcrowded classes and missing teachers, but street violence and a budget fight now threaten to bury the grievances behind them.
Saudi Arabia Pays Cultural Businesses to Adopt AI
Riyadh's grants for AI in museums, fashion and film show a strategy aimed at spreading the technology beyond data centres and into everyday business.
