Politics

The Daily Briefing: Monday 23 September

Merkel’s bittersweet victory, Boris on Miliband’s red flag, and the Minotaur’s cave of diplomacy

September 23, 2013
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Merkel’s difficulties start after the election (FT, £) The Chancellor is at the highpoint of her power, writes David Marsh, but her victory is bittersweet.

Kenya attack is product of brutal power struggle within al-Shabaab (Guardian) The Westgate mall atrocity reflects the outcome of a brutal power struggle within al-Shabaab that has brought the group's hardline jihadist wing to the fore, says Simon Tisdall.

At last, we see Ed in his true colours, waving the red flag (The Telegraph) The Labour leader wants more socialism, writes Boris Johnson, an idea that has failed all over the world.

In China, Bo Xilai’s political legacy may survive his downfall (Washington Post) China’s president Xi Jinping seems to take a leaf out of Bo Xilai’s playbooks, writes Simon Denyer.

Emmys highlight a Changing TV Industry(New York Times, £) The Emmys have seen handfuls of new players emerge in recent years, but there has never been a gate-grasher quite like Netflix, writes Brian Stelter.

Congress is putting the future of the dollar in peril (FT, £) Fresh evidence of Washington's dysfunction in servicing its debts would prompt diversification to other currencies, writes Ed Luce.

Into the Minotaur’s cave of diplomacy (Independent) The Syrians, who often memorise poetry, like Sergei Lavrov, who believe he writes it in his spare time: Robert Frisk on how Moscow became Damascus’s strategic deterrent.

What Labour needs to do to win the election (FT, £) Labour must offer policies that make sense for business, job creation, and investment, says Peter Mandelson.

The American dream has become a burden for most (Guardian) In the absence of a living wage and ethical pay structure, the work ethic on which the American dream is founded, doesn’t work, writes Gary Younge.

In my opinion politics needs columnists(Times £) It’s hard to sway voters’ opinions, writes Tim Montgomerie, but journalists can help navigate them through the campaign waters.