Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

Today from London I'm your host Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Singapore's People's Action Party chooses elite paternalistic leaders as reliably as

it handily wins elections, which is why its latest pick, presumably the country's next

prime minister is so unusual.

He has frailties, he has hobbies, he has a guitar.

And it's been three years since the last edition of the world's flashiest every two years

art exhibition.

The pandemic has delayed the Venice Biennale, but our culture correspondent says it's proved

very much worth the wait.

It's been a tough time.

Russia made good yesterday on a threat it's been making for weeks.

It got off gas supplies to the European Union countries of Poland and Bulgaria.

Poland's prime minister said it would be taking Russia to court.

And Bulgaria's leader said the country could not be blackmailed.

President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen made clear she'd been preparing

for the escalation.

Next week EU energy ministers will meet to discuss their options.

Europe needs Russian energy to run its household in industries so it's been walking a tight

rope here.

Sanctions are designed to dent Russia's economy but not so much as to make Vladimir Putin turn

...