Charles Glass | NYRB | 4 December 2012 Excellent despatch from Syria's biggest city. Earlier this year, the rebels burned the souks. Now they're looting factories, kidnapping for ransom, and imposing themselves on residents who've come to fear and loathe both sides Comments Joseph Stiglitz | Project Syndicate | 6 December 2012 Stiglitz sizes up US economic position post-election, and suggests policy programme for next four years. He's not hopeful much of it will materialise though; more likely will be a muddling through with no major policy initiatives Comments Richard Dowden | Spectator | 7 December 2012 Pity the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the rest of Africa steams ahead, Congo stays mired in problems of decades gone by. Corruption, brutality, incompetence. Kabila better than Mobutu was, but not nearly good enough Comments Farhad Manjoo | Slate | 4 December 2012 That thing about jobs coming back to America. It isn't just Apple computers. Here's a man who's making great clothes in America, including a hoodie that lasts a lifetime. But, there again, his chief designer comes from Apple Comments Mike Dash | Smithsonian | 29 November 2012 Probably the London casino of choice for the 0.1%. Oozes wealth. Who knew it was founded by a cunning fishmonger, who specialised in relieving the aristocracy of their fortunes? He died the richest self-made man in England Comments Ben Tausig | The Awl | 7 December 2012 Crosswords are a big reason people still buy newspapers. But crossword constructors get a miserable deal. Typical rate: $100 per daily puzzle, $200 if it's the NYT. And no bylines, so no personal fame. How can they do better? Comments | 
