Putin's annual press conference, Murdoch family in court and predictions for 2025
December 2024
Happy holidays!🎉
It’s that time of year again. Wishing you much cheer this festive season and hope you have a peaceful start to 2025.
IN THE DRIVING SEAT
Vladimir Putin held his highly anticipated end-of-year press conference in Moscow, and fielded questions from journalists and citizens for 4.5 hours.
The annual event offers clues of the Kremlin’s policies and reveals how Putin manages opinions of his regime. For the Russian president, leading from a position of strength is crucial and this choreographed Q&A show is designed to cement his authority.
On 19 December, Putin delved into a range of topics, from the domestic (e.g. falling birth rates, grocery prices) to foreign relations (Syria, China etc.). But the health of the Russian economy as well as the conflict with Ukraine were themes that dominated the session.
According to Putin, Russia’s economy is stable and “keeps advancing against all odds”. On Ukraine, he said “we are getting closer to solving our primary tasks of the special operation”.
Putin also told the audience that he had yet to meet Bashar al-Assad, despite granting asylum to the ousted Syrian dictator. “I’m planning to do it. I will definitely talk to him,” Putin remarked.
As for the next White House occupant, Putin said he was “ready” to sit down with Donald Trump. Following the Russian president’s comments, Trump suggested that he was open to talks in order to end to the “horrible, horrible” war in Europe.
EXPENSIVE FAMILY FEUD
Art imitates life but life can also imitate art. The ongoing battle between Rupert Murdoch’s oldest children feels ripped from a season of Succession - a TV series inspired by the media tycoon and his brood.
A court in the US has struck down Rupert’s attempt to amend a family trust to give greater power of News Corp. to his eldest son Lachlan. Under current stipulations, Rupert’s first four children are set to share control equally when he dies.
However, ideology is a critical factor here: Rupert and Lachlan are known for their conservative editorial bent (see Fox News, The Sun tabloid). Murdoch senior now believes the news empire’s commercial value would be damaged if his other offspring implement moderate/centrist views.
This report by Australia’s ABC News explains what’s at stake.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025
Analysts, academics and pundits are peering into their crystal balls to guess what forces will shape the world from January onwards.
Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump’s second term in office is expected to have widespread effects. The Economist says his “America First” approach will impact immigration, trade, diplomacy and everything in between. Business consultancy Control Risks warns that Trump 2.0 is likely to accelerate the erosion of US security commitments while creating an increasingly complex investment climate.
Further disruption could come after national polls in Canada (date TBC), Germany (23 February) and Australia (by 27 September). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chancellor Olaf Scholz are set to lose their premier jobs, with voters in both countries shifting towards right-wing parties.
Over in France, President Emmanuel Macron is barely holding his government together. Does political uncertainty in Berlin and Paris threaten the EU’s prospects?
On the tech front, AI remains the top buzzword. Google is convinced that artificial intelligence tools will read multimedia inputs better and even pick up on non-verbal cues. The goal is to boost online search capabilities and develop integrated AI agents to support work tasks.
And finally, a fun entertainment prediction from The Hollywood Reporter - actor Josh O’Connor will be cast as 007 in the latest iteration of the James Bond franchise. Do you think the actor who played young Prince Charles in The Crown could become Britain’s famous fictional spy?
Thanks for reading! Take care and stay curious, Sara x
Putin’s interview I thought, on a personal level, was interesting. Hearing him and his voice and words, he seemed calm and to the point. Were they “scripted”, can’t know that and out of 4.5 hours, hearing 2 mins is nothing to honestly make a just opinion of.
However, he seemed open. His country is 5th in economic growth; bigger or better than UK and stronger than Europe, if I hear that correctly. Fact?
Inflation is high is commented, but they’re working are working on it. Aren’t they all... And he defended his compatriot; fair enough.
I would be interested to see and hear more. I mean 4.5 hours! That is a lot of material to cover.
Josh O’Connor as Bond…as I remember the Bond agent was to be a 40-50 year old with all those talents of survival who couldn’t or wouldn’t give up the position. O’Connor, Josh O’Connor is mid 30’s but looks mid 20’s. Good for him in life, but as J. Bond? Well I’m sure Hollywood will work on that.