Han Kang's new novel has arrived.
And Ganni's new partnership for textile recycling.
“The Intersection” is your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday briefing on global affairs, business, culture, travel, and design—offering fresh insights through the lenses of sustainable development, women-centered perspectives, and emerging global trends. The aim? To keep you informed, curious, and always ready with a compelling conversation starter at the dinner table.
Easing back into things… I’m cold, angry, and tired. I just keep wondering when people who voted for him are going to realise they have been played? That said, the next four years won’t be consumed by him. Instead, expect a global perspective and a diverse range of topics to keep the conversation as dynamic as ever.
'We don't want to be Americans,' says Greenland Prime Minister.
Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex marriage.
The World Economic Forum’s 55th annual meeting is taking place in Davos, and yesterday, Greenpeace protesters entered the Congress Centre to display a banner calling for taxes on the super-rich.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro plans to declare a state of emergency following deadly clashes between rebel groups near the Venezuelan border, marking one of the most violent episodes since the 2016 peace accord.
Han Kang’s much-anticipated new novel, We Do Not Part, has arrived—a poignant addition to the oeuvre of the celebrated South Korean writer who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party and the country’s first female prime minister, has been dubbed the most powerful person in Europe by Politico EU. Since her 2022 election, Meloni has steered Italy sharply to the right, introducing policies on migration and LGBTQ+ rights that would once have drawn ire from Brussels but now seem to be met with ambivalence. Despite her controversial rhetoric, which includes lauding Mussolini and decrying LGBTQ+ advocates as a “lobby” pushing “gender ideology,” Meloni has deftly avoided direct clashes with EU leaders. Her coalition has passed measures such as criminalizing surrogacy abroad with hefty fines and prison terms while restricting parental rights for same-sex couples—policies that have drawn muted responses from Europe’s power brokers. Yet Meloni’s ability to navigate international diplomacy has solidified her status as a key player on the European stage. Her staunch support for Ukraine, including brokering Hungary’s approval of a €50 billion aid package, has earned her praise in Brussels and beyond. This balancing act—advancing an ultra-conservative domestic agenda while playing team player on the global stage—has helped Meloni become a palatable figure among European leaders, even as civil liberties erode under her watch. Her political acumen and alignment with the rightward shift in Western politics make her a figure both divisive and influential, embodying the tensions within Europe’s current zeitgeist. Unsurprisingly, she was one of the only current European leaders to have been invited to Trump’s inauguration.
Please explain to me how the MOON has already been added to the list of threatened cultural sites. Its debut on the World Monuments Fund’s (WMF) list of threatened heritage sites highlights growing concerns over preserving humanity’s extraterrestrial legacy. Traditionally focused on Earth, the 2024 watchlist now includes the lunar surface due to fears of looting and degradation as commercial and governmental lunar activities ramp up. With private trips anticipated following NASA’s Artemis III crewed mission in 2027 and SpaceX already conducting lunar research, the prospect of tourists disturbing iconic sites like Neil Armstrong’s footprints has raised alarms.
Loewe’s “Crafted World” exhibition, which premiered in Shanghai earlier this year, is set to enchant Tokyo’s Harajuku district this spring. As the Spanish house’s first major brand showcase, the immersive display blends history and modernity, offering a deep dive into Loewe’s 179-year legacy. Visitors can explore a rich array of artifacts, artworks, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the craftsmanship that defines its clothing and accessories. From its origins as a Madrid-based leather workshop supplying the Spanish Royal Crown to its evolution into a contemporary luxury powerhouse, the exhibition charts Loewe’s transformation through architecture, sculpture, scent, and more. Here’s hoping more luxury brands follow suit with exhibitions that engage and inspire the public.
India’s inbound tourism appears to be losing momentum, with fewer travelers venturing there. Having explored the country extensively myself, I’m curious—does India feature on your travel wishlist?
Last week, the streets outside London’s ICA were illuminated with the spirit of resilience as the Gaza Biennale made its UK debut. The event transformed the institution’s façade into a canvas for powerful projections of work by over 60 Palestinian artists, many still creating in Gaza under extraordinary adversity. Supported by groups like The White Pube and the Palestinian Youth Movement, the gathering was both a celebration of art’s power to endure and a pointed protest against the ICA’s ties to Bloomberg Philanthropies, accused of complicity in settlement infrastructure in the West Bank. Against this backdrop, the Biennale underscored its mission: to champion Palestinian creativity as an act of defiance, with each piece of art a testament to survival, identity, and the belief that creativity can pierce through even the most besieged spaces.
What is China’s role in combating the illegal fentanyl trade? The battle over fentanyl is an unrelenting game of cat and mouse, with suppliers devising ever more inventive ways to sidestep each new government countermeasure.
Ganni has signed a four-year deal with Ambercycle, betting on Cycora—a recycled polyester crafted from post-consumer textile waste—to redefine textile-to-textile recycling. With much of today’s clothing made from hard-to-separate blended materials, textile recycling remains a significant challenge, underscoring the appeal of natural fibers. Innovations like this are worth watching closely as the industry seeks sustainable solutions.
Languages are vanishing at an alarming rate, with one dying every 40 days—a stark acceleration compared to a decade ago. Unesco warns that predictions of half the world’s 7,000 languages disappearing by century’s end may even be optimistic. The loss is not just linguistic but cultural: history, traditions, and identity fade as languages fall silent. Efforts to combat this erosion are gaining ground, from grassroots initiatives like Wikitongues, which supports activists in documenting languages through videos, dictionaries, and Wikipedia entries, to ambitious projects such as developing written scripts for oral languages like Rohingya.
J.Crew has collaborated with designer (and J.Crew alum) Araks Yeramyan on a limited collection of pajamas and lingerie, and they are absolutely delightful. I had not heard of her brand, Araks, before, but upon browsing, discovered they are my ideal lingerie, lounge, and swim pieces. Saving for when I no longer need to wear my shearling dressing gown, flannel pjs, and wool socks to bed.
Cecile Richards (1957–2025) was a pioneering American activist whose career was defined by her commitment to reproductive rights, social justice, and progressive causes. As the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its Action Fund from 2006 to 2018, Richards reinvigorated the organization, expanding its reach and mobilizing a dedicated base of supporters. Beyond her work at Planned Parenthood, she co-founded Supermajority in 2019, a political action group aimed at empowering women, and served on the Ford Foundation board of trustees, underscoring her impact on philanthropy and advocacy.
Richards was shaped by her Texas roots and a family deeply engaged in political activism. Born in Waco, she was the daughter of Ann Richards, the trailblazing governor of Texas, and David Richards, a civil rights attorney known for landmark cases. Her upbringing in Dallas and Austin exposed her to the intersection of law, politics, and social change. A precocious activist, Richards protested the Vietnam War as a teenager and later attended Brown University, where she earned a degree in history. Her early forays into organizing led her to champion labor rights, running union campaigns across the U.S. before returning to Texas to support her mother’s gubernatorial bid.
Throughout her career, Richards remained a staunch advocate for progressive causes, leveraging her leadership roles to combat voter suppression, expand reproductive health access, and fight for gender equality. Her presidency at Planned Parenthood saw her facing intense scrutiny and legislative challenges, notably during congressional hearings in 2015 and the turbulent years following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, Richards left an indelible legacy as a tenacious leader and a beacon of resilience in the face of adversity.
Cecile Richards passed away on January 20th, 2025.
As always, I would love to know what you are learning about or what is at the top of your mind. Talk to you soon.
Jennifer
xxx