The surprise appointment of Sir Nick Clegg, former Deputy PM in Cameron’s Coalition Government, as Facebook’s head of global affairs and communications makes sense seen as part of Zuckerburg’s defensive manoeuvres to stave off imposed regulations especially by the EU. Clegg worked as a European Commission bureaucrat, was an MEP and an MP and is well-connected at least on the EU side. A commentator said: “He’s probably respected everywhere across the EU except his own country.” Though he’ll have his work cut out both within and outside the company. He’ll work directly to Sheryl Sandberg.

Born 7 January 1967 in Chalfont St Giles, England, he’s a Sun Capricorn square Mars in Libra, and trine Pluto Uranus and widely sextile Saturn and sextile Neptune in a talented Half Grand Sextile. So tougher and more ambitious than he appears. He does have a syrupy sweet Venus in Aquarius opposition Jupiter in Leo which will be useful for PR though it tends to undercut his gravitas.

His Solar Arc Neptune is conjunct his Sun around now and moving to square his Mars in 2019 which isn’t too decisive or successful. But he’ll push on confidently through 2019 (no doubt with a considerable salary) though running into problems by 2020/2021. FB insiders give him 1-2 years on the job.

He’s not a great mix with Zuckerburg despite having his Sun conjunct MZ’s Jupiter and trine MZ’s Venus Sun, since Clegg’s Neptune is conjunct MZ’s Mars and opposition MZ’s Sun, which will have a suspicious and evasive effect and make MK feel he’s been stalled. Their relationship chart has a friendly composite Sun Venus in a sensible sextile to Saturn; but it also has a volatile, explosive composite Mars Uranus which will be triggered from May 2019 onwards, as their ideas clash. And by 2020 tr Neptune will be undermining their composite Sun in a conjunction.

Clegg’s relationship with Sheryl Sandberg is also combative with a composite Sun Mars; with Mars inconjunct Saturn. That’ll be a scratchy interface though she may not stay around for ever.

His relationship with the Facebook chart looks fairly nailed down and controlling with a composite Sun square Pluto and Pluto widely opposition Saturn. Tensions will rise from April 2019 onwards with tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars and there’ll be tussles right through into 2020.

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Actress Olivia Coleman, who is playing a middle-aged Queen Elizabeth 11 in The Crown Season 3 & 4, has built up a sterling career. She started in comedy and moved on to prestigious and highly acclaimed TV series like crime drama Broadchurch and Le Carre’s The Night Manager with nominations and awards raining down on her. More recently she played Queen Anne in The Favourite and is in the upcoming Les Miserables. With the next The Crown due in 2019.

Born 30 January 1974 in Norwich, England, she is a Sun Aquarius trine Pluto and sextile Neptune to mark her out as special; with a substantially Air chart with a Grand Trine of a confident Jupiter Mercury in Aquarius trine Saturn in Gemini trine Uranus in Libra. Certainly communicative, innovative, adventurous and with gravitas from Saturn. Her Mars in earthy and determined Taurus makes an upfront and energetic square to her Sun and Jupiter; and her Moon is Aries or Taurus. She also has Venus in Capricorn (well-suited to playing monarchs) which is square her Uranus. She is married with three children so a varied career will keep her Venus Uranus happy.

Being largely Air and Earth she’ll be cool rather than emotional – a practical thinker.

Her actor’s 15^th Harmonic is heavily aspected; as is her 13H, often found with comedians; and her creative 5H as well.

Oh hallelujah. John Chau who was killed by tribal people on a remote protected Andaman Island in the Bay of Bengal, was described as a Christian martyr on the Covenant Journey website to which he belonged. He was described as a missionary who wanted to bring Jesus to the islanders, who have a reputation for violence. He wrote in a diary of his last days “Lord, is this island Satan’s last stronghold where none have heard or even had the chance to hear your name?”

He knew it was forbidden by Indian law to visit and was shot at on his first visit when a teenager’s arrow pierced his waterproof bible. He decided to return and try again, spurred on by the feeling that he was God’s instrument. Critics say his violation was selfish and put the fragile tribe at risk – potentially exposing them to modern diseases against which they have no immunity.

Born 18 December 1991 he was a late Sun Sagittarius with Mars Mercury also in Sagittarius in an overly expansive square to Jupiter in Virgo. Sagittarius can be a great crusader for causes and especially Mars square Jupiter ramps up the self-righteousness. He also had the can-be-fanatical Uranus Neptune in Capricorn trine Jupiter, sextile an obsessive Venus Pluto in Scorpio. Plus a Taurus Moon. Nothing much would budge him from his vision when he got going.

As is often the case with sudden death he had various Solar Arcs approaching though not exact which suggested great danger.

His ‘seeking soul’ 7^th Harmonic was strong and stressed, which can also be mentally on the edge.

Years back I filmed on St Kilda, a remote island off the north west of Scotland. People had lived there since the 10^th century and had a perfectly decent, probably fairly pagan, set of beliefs for getting them through an extraordinarily tough life out in the Atlantic. Then the missionaries came in the late 19^th Century, built a church, banned singing and dancing, and within fifty years the island was abandoned.

God-botherers and proselytizers drive me nuts.

The French are working up a head of steam doing what they do best – demonstrating against the government. The ‘Yellow Vest’ barricades at toll-booths, roundabouts and fuel depots at have been ongoing for a week or so, with two people accidentally killed and more than 530 injured, 17 seriously. It was initially a protest spurred on by social and local media, about rising fuel taxes. But it has grown into a wider rebellion against inequality and decline in living standards, stoked by anger at a political class seen as cut off from reality, and the pro-business Macron’s persistently negative image as a “president of the rich”.

They are on course for a clash with police in Paris tomorrow who insist the Champs-Elysees will be on lockdown as they march towards their desired location of the Place de la Concorde in central Paris. Macron’s personal popularity ratings have reached a new low, dipping below 30%.

His Presidency chart 14 May 2017 11.25 am has tr Neptune square the Mars through 2018 till late 2019 which always has the scent of failure about it. He has made some positive reforms in loosening labour laws and overhauling the welfare state but not enough benefits have filtered down to the proletariat.  And downsizing the staggeringly generous levels of state support was never going to go down well, even if everyone admits it needs done.

He may pick up some traction from tr Pluto trine the Presidency Taurus Sun from spring 2019 till late 2020. But it’ll be an uphill struggle.

The France 21 September 1792 3.30pm Paris chart looks on high-alert and highly-strung this December/January 2019 with tr Uranus opposing the Neptune; and bedevilled in terms of transport and communications in March with tr Uranus conjunct the 3^rd house Saturn – tensions won’t die down quickly.

Macron’s Scorpio midheaven is conjunct the France Mars and square the France Uranus opposition Pluto – so he was always going to run into the French revolutionary ardour – pitchforks to the fore.

His personal chart, 21 December 1977 10.40 Amiens, has a Capricorn Ascendant which means his fortunes and his motivation will fall lower from early 2020 onwards.  Tr Uranus is square his Ascendant through this December/January 2019 so his image will be getting a shake up.  But he has boundless confidence with a Sagittarius Sun opposition Jupiter; and an emphasised Mars in Leo squaring onto Uranus opposition a Taurus Moon which gives him sticking power, if not always much common sense or subtlety.

Cheryl, the UK singer and X Factor judge, always a controversial figure with an erratic temperament, has had a less than sparkling comeback after a four-year break. Her new single has slumped to No 45 in the charts and her X Factor appearance at the weekend was torn to shreds by critics and the public for an off-tune and off-the-wall performance and overly sexy outfit.  Over the years she’s been in and out of marriages (two) and relationships, the most recent with One Direction Liam Payne with whom she has a child. She had a high profile bust up in 2003 with nightclub toilet attendant, which resulted in an assault verdict. And over recent years she’s split with a series of key professional and personal advisers.

Born 30 June 1983 Barnet, England, maybe 8.28 pm (astrotheme), she’s a feisty and volatile Sun Mars in Cancer with her Mars and Mercury in late Gemini square Saturn Pluto. And that is very angry and very tough. Her bleak, unyielding Saturn Pluto are further emphasised being on the point of a mini Grand Trine to Venus in flamboyant Leo trine Neptune.

She’s not looking happy with tr Saturn opposition her Sun/Mars midpoint now and then opposition her Sun in December.  Plus confidence-dissolving Neptune aspects to her Jupiter/Node now till the New Year; and more in 2019/2020. She’s a formidable fighter so will push one. But her Solar Arc Saturn Pluto is bearing down on her lucky Jupiter Uranus over the next few years which will be a bumpy ride. The 2019 Eclipses will rattle up her Sun and Mars; and if her birth time is accurate tr Saturn is sinking her into a low profile few years. Then in the early 2020s tr Pluto will square her Pluto and Saturn – she’s got a lot of changing to do.

Mark Zuckerburg has been firmly defending his position at Facebook after another series of scandals, as befits a Sun and Venus in Taurus with four planets in Scorpio. He’s not a man for turning, despite stock being down 40% since a July high. On top of earlier fake news, election meddling and privacy concerns, a Times investigation has suggested the company had attempted to ignore and conceal Russian interference on its platform and had hired a PR firm to dig up dirt on its competitors.

Believe it or not, he was born with his Mars in Scorpio retrograde – 14 May 1984 Boston, MA, maybe 14.39 hrs (astrotheme). And his Mars goes direct by progression sometime within the next 18 months. This usually brings a crucial turning point with a huge outflow of energy. Though it will almost immediately run into a conjunction with his natal Saturn for a considerable setback. He looks deflated exactly now, with a few swampy Neptune transits continuing on from this year and escalating in 2019. But should get his act back together into 2020/2021 with tr Pluto trine his Sun and sextile his Jupiter/Node midpoint.

That’s when the Facebook IPO chart, 18 May 2012 11.31 am New York is roaring ahead with tr Pluto trine its Jupiter and it’ll stay on a high till 2024. But there will be a hiatus before then as it pushes against headwinds and lurches at times in 2019/2020.

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO, 28 August 1969, has been getting the brunt of the criticism since all of the transgressions happened on her watch. She’s a Sun Virgo trine Saturn in Taurus with an adventurous and lucky Jupiter Uranus Mercury in Libra. She’s not doing well in 2019/2020 with tr Pluto opposition her Jupiter/Saturn midpoint which can accompany a job loss. Though she should care given what she’s got in her bank account.

Robert De Niro is divorcing his wife Grace Hightower after 20 years, though they split briefly in the early days of the marriage and came back together.

He was born 17 August 1943 at 3 am in New York to painter parents, with his father leaving when he was two, announcing he was gay. He moved between both parents and grandparents when he was a child and started acting young.

He’s a Sun Leo square a determined Mars in Taurus; with a powerfully confident Pluto Jupiter in Leo in his 2^nd along with his Sun – so fairly focussed on money. His Pisces Moon squares both Uranus and a 12^th house Saturn, reflecting his erratic childhood. Saturn in the 12^th often refers to lack of a good male model and that added to Neptune in his 4^th would give him problems in committing to a settled domestic life.

At the moment he has tr Pluto moving through his 7^th which often puts strain on relationships; plus tr Neptune squared his Sun/Moon midpoint a few years back, so dissatisfaction will have been building. Exactly now his Progressed Moon is opposition his Uranus for a separation announcement.

Grace, 7 April 1955, is an Aries Sun square an adventurous and lucky Jupiter Uranus in Cancer and in a determined trine to Pluto. Their Fire signs are a good match; and her Venus in Pisces is conjunct his Moon which also chimes. Her Jupiter Uranus falls in his 1^st so her bounce and exuberance would lift him up. But like him she has Mars in stubborn Taurus and hers opposes Saturn in Scorpio which would double up on the unyieldingness. Her Pluto is conjunct his Sun which would give an intense bond initially but may have become overly restrictive.

Their relationship chart has an affectionate composite Sun Venus aspect; and a passionate Venus trine Pluto, sextile Neptune. Lots of positives, some negatives  – Hollywood isn’t a place with much marital sticking power.

The life sentence in the UAE for spying on behalf of the UK government handed out to Durham University student Matthew Hedges came as an unpleasant shock. And is all the more peculiar given the close ties between the UK and UAE (United Arab Emirates), both economically and militarily.

He spent five months in solitary confinement during the first six weeks of which he was interrogated without a lawyer or consular access and signed a document in Arabic which has described as a confession, despite neither speaking nor writing Arabic. Middle Eastern justice systems are back in the dark ages and should give people serious thought before they jaunt off for exotic holidays and/or fun work experience.

The UAE, a former UK protectorate home to around 100,000 Britons, is the UK’s largest export market in the Middle East. And the UAE is a major investor in the British economy and London with many of its leaders being Sandhurst trained.

Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, issued a blunt statement saying it “is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances”.

The UAE was formed 2 December 1971. The relationship chart with the UK looks stressed over the next few weeks into early 2019 with tr Saturn square the composite Jupiter Uranus and Mars, putting a damper on good feelings and raising aggravation; and will limp on through 2019/2020. There must be a leverage behind this – perhaps Saudi pressure in a sulk over UK criticism of the Khashoggi murder?  Though Hedges was detained way before. Who knows?  It will no doubt emerge at some point.

The UAE is not looking too chipper and hasn’t been for a while with tr Neptune squaring its Sun Jupiter in Sagittarius square Mars in Pisces, running on till late 2019.

Jeremy Hunt (thank heavens it isn’t still Boris as FCO chef) looks undermined and less than pleased with the UAE until the New Year.

Add on: More is emerging about possible reasons behind Hedges’ conviction. He may have been naïve in exploring security issues for his doctoral thesis, however openly, in a country which has become, like others in the region, increasingly averse to any questioning by outsiders.

The Emirati crown prince Prince Mohammed, known as MbZ, the defacto ruler, 11 March 1961, it is thought has a ‘scratchy’ relationship with the present British government, despite being trained at the UK Sandhurst Military Academy. He has acted as a mentor for Saudi’s Mohammed bin Salman. Donald Trump’s explicit statement that ME allies would no longer hear US officials complaining about human rights, governance or corruption has been warmly received. And equally Emirati and Saudi leaders have bristled at allies, like Theresa May, who have not followed Trump’s lead.

MbZ is a Pisces sextile Jupiter Saturn in Capricorn; with his Mars in Cancer square Theresa May’s Sun. Their relationship chart has a cold composite Sun Saturn being rattled till early March 2019; and a mutually unsupportive, volatile and uncompromising (on both sides) composite Mars opposition Neptune square Uranus.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/hedges-case-a-sign-of-uae-kickback-against-western-criticism

Businessman Carlos Ghosn, who rose to super-hero status as head honcho of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, appears to have stumbled from his elevated pedestal charged with false accounting and under reporting his earnings and now detained in Japan.  He turned Renault’s fortunes round as ‘le cost killer’; and rescued Nissan from near bankruptcy as ‘Mr Fix It.’

Born 12 March 1954 in Brazil, he’s Lebanese-Brazilian-French, multi-lingual and from an entrepreneurial family. He has a Pisces Sun on the focal point of a Mutable T Square to a risk-taking, adventurous (and opportunistic) Mars in Sagittarius opposition Jupiter. Such a Sun can have a good deal to offer but is often arrogant, know-it-all and headstrong, and is very driven.

He has a strong get-it-together 5^th harmonic; and a rise-and-fall 10H. His leaving-a-legacy-for-history 17H is also marked so he’s not all bad.

Tr Neptune is proving his downfall now as it forms a panicky-failure square to his Mars in 2018/19 and then bursting his happiness bubble and denting his confidence square to his Jupiter in 2019 as well as making an undermining conjunction to his Sun – and all that trails into 2020. Tr Pluto is also opposing his Uranus exactly now for the final time for a major upheaval; as well as hard-aspecting his trapped and enraged Mars/Pluto midpoint.

He’ll probably bounce back by 2021 as his Solar Arc Jupiter is conjunct his Pluto; though he’ll be muddled at the same time with tr Pluto square his Neptune. At that level, handling and generating multi-billions, they all get tinged with megalomania and think themselves untouchable.