From commemorative trains to economic forums, from naval expansions to horrific violence against migrant workers, this week’s news paints a picture of a world where power is being asserted — and contested — on every front. The recurring theme is the personalization of political power: leaders wrapping themselves in national symbols, projecting strength through military postures, and demanding loyalty through spectacle. Whether these displays will prove durable or brittle may be the defining question of the coming years.
Sources
1. The Guardian: Trump’s omnipresence — commanding attention like a king
2. La Nación: Tren dedicado a Trump desata críticas
3. Dawn: PM Shehbaz hails Islamabad’s ‘true and special relationship’ with Washington
4. El País: Putin exhibe su poder blando en San Petersburgo
5. Ta Nea: Putin says Russia can keep Donbas and reach peace deal
6. The Guardian: Mexico’s ex-president accuses US of plotting to weaken governing party
7. RT: Kallas proposes EU naval mission for Hormuz
8. Ethnos: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire plan denounced by Hezbollah
9. O Globo: Four immigrant workers burned alive in Italy
10. Dawn: Vast astronaut mission kicks off commercial race to replace ISS
11. The Guardian: Chwalinska sets up French Open final against Andreeva
12. The Guardian: Canada endorses beluga whale relocation plan
