The Economist
Senior Editor , and former Central and Eastern Europe correspondent, for The Economist magazine; author of The New Cold War: Putin’s Russia and the Threat to the West and, more recently, The Snowden Operation: Inside the West's Greatest Intelligence Disaster
The World’s First "E-resident" on the Benefits of Digital Citizenship Since the Internet was created, there have been problems with online identification. We all know about fraud and identity theft. The New Yorker's most often-copied cartoon show's a canine at a computer saying, “On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.” Now that may be changing — in tiny Estonia. The country that gave the world Skype is now issuing digital ID cards to anybody who wants one. Edward Lucas, senior editor at the Economist , took them up on it. He's now the first “ E-resident ” of Estonia. Earlier this month, he discussed it with us.
The World’s First "E-resident" on the Benefits of Digital Citizenship Since the Internet was created, there have been problems with online identification. We all know about fraud and identity theft. The New Yorker's most often-copied cartoon shows a canine at a computer saying, “On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.” Now that may be changing — in tiny Estonia. The country that gave the world Skype is now issuing digital ID cards to anybody who wants one. Edward Lucas, senior editor at the Economist , took them up on it. He's now the first “ E-resident ” of Estonia.
Are the US and Russia Fighting a New Cold War? When Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, President Obama wanted to “re-set” relations with Russia. How times have changed. Her successor, John Kerry says, “the Cold War was easy compared to where we are today.” Russian aircraft — including strategic bombers — flew so close to the boundaries of European countries last week that NATO sent up intercepting aircraft. It’s Vladimir Putin’s latest challenge since he annexed Crimea and encouraged Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Putin is playing tough despite a weak hand. One available option for the US and the West -- go after the “dirty money.”
Growing Pedophile Scandal Rocks Catholic Church in Europe Revelations of child-abuse and cover-ups by Roman Catholic clergy are causing outrage in the Netherlands, in Austria and in Germany, where Pope Benedict XVI was Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger. The rash of sex scandals has the Vatican defending the Pope himself, and he's promised a pastoral letter of healing tomorrow. It will be addressed to the faithful in Ireland. Edward Lucas is International Editor for The Economist .
Obama Reverses Policy on Missile Shield NATO, the US and Russia should abandon "mistrust" and coordinate their efforts against international ballistic missiles. That's from NATO's new secretary general, just one day after President Obama pulled the plug on George Bush's plan for missile defense in Eastern Europe. Based on the latest intelligence about Iran's ballistic missile technology, the US will rely on missiles already deployed by the Navy on ships at sea. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff are unanimously in support. Russia's Vladimir Putin called that "a right and brave decision," but it's produced heated controversy in the Czech Republic and Poland, not to mention Washington, DC. We hear about technology, national security and international politics.
Iranian Missile Tests and Russian Threats Iran today test-fired nine ballistic missiles, including a new version of the Shahab-3, which Iran says has the capacity to strike Tel Aviv. The tests were shown on government-run TV and a commander of the Revolutionary Guard said they were designed to "tell the world...that our finger is always on the trigger." We get perspective from Iran, Israel, Russia and the US.
Dance of the Aging Lions, the Final Bush-Putin Meeting At a summit this week in Bucharest, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have agreed to support a United States missile-defense system based in Europe, but refused to back President Bush's proposal to immediately begin the process of extending NATO membership to Ukraine and Georgia in the face of strong opposition by Russia. Edward Lucas is Moscow correspondent for the Economist.
Russia's Presidential Election: Freedom Versus Stability From St. Petersburg to Siberia, Vladimir Putin has centralized Russian authority behind what the New York Times calls a " facade of democracy ." Elections of provincial governors were cancelled altogether. The results of next Sunday's presidential election have been known for weeks. Dmitry Medvedev will succeed Putin as President and Putin will become Prime Minister, a job he calls "the highest executive power in the country." We hear about what's called "managed democracy," which means less freedom but greater "stability." That could be great for western investors, but for Washington it's another story. Will Putin and Medvedev want better relations or a new kind of Cold War?
Too rich for our own good Affluent communities put their futures as risk when they become unaffordable for everyone but the wealthy.
The roofs above our heads What do our houses reveal about us – and what do they say about living in California?
California catastrophe The fires rage on in our own backyard, and in Northern California, encompassing tens of thousands of acres each. In L-A and Ventura Counties, the Woolsey Fire has scorched everything in its path. To the north, in Butte County, the Camp Fire has charred and destroyed even more acreage, of trees, brush and everything else, north of Sacramento, and the town of Paradise is a scene of utter devastation and heartbreak.
Construction continues at new Inglewood stadium The most expensive sports stadium in US history is rising from a huge hole in the ground in the South Bay city of Inglewood. In just two years Inglewood will play host to both L.A. football teams, the Rams and the Chargers, and add a million square feet of retail, office space, a hotel, parks and even a lake! As the 70,000-seat stadium site takes shape, the city around it is anticipating big changes -- some welcome and some worrisome.
