Afghanistan, the “graveyard of empires” is taking another lurch with the US withdrawal. The Taliban, removed from power in 2001, now controls half the country causing alarm in China and Russia. Motives are mixed since neither of the eastern superpowers want an upsurge in Islamic terrorism, or an outflow of narcotics or a surge of … Read more
Chile is now officially embarking on writing a new constitution to replace the 1980 Pinochet one which is blamed for the deep social inequalities that gave rise to deadly protests in 2019. Following the upsurge of public anger, a referendum voted in a 155-member body, to craft a new Magna Carta for the country. Independent … Read more
Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn celebrate an extraordinary 75 years of marriage this week. They knew each other almost from birth, married after the war and survived the rigours of political life, evolving into an equal partnership in his time in the White House, when she expanded the role of the first lady, attending … Read more
The unveiling of the (aesthetically unexciting) Diana statue went off without a duel on the lawn between the Royal brothers to sighs of relief all round. Only for a documentary to pop up ‘Harry & William: What Went Wrong?’ on ITV tonight with the omnipresent Omid Scobie, the Harry & Meghan “Finding Freedom” biographer, stirring … Read more
Michael Gove, a close Cabinet colleague of Boris Johnson through Brexit and the pandemic though a questionable friend, has announced a surprise split from his wife of 20 years Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine. He has been talked of as a possible future Tory leader though he has lost in his last two attempts and … Read more
Donald Rumsfeld, Defence Secretary under GW Bush and principal architect of the calamitous Iraq invasion post 9/11, has died. Kissinger called him the most ruthless man he ever met. John McCain called Rumsfeld “one of the worst secretaries of defence in history”. He had the unique distinction of being both the youngest (under Gerald Ford) … Read more
Gwen Berry, the US hammer thrower has responded to criticism after she turned away from the American flag on the podium at the Olympic trials medal ceremony, saying she “never said that I hated the country. All I said was I respect my people enough to not stand or acknowledge something that disrespects them.” She … Read more
Jill Biden has made it to the front cover of Vogue looking cheerful, energetic and capable with neither she nor Joe, as yet, giving any indication of the turbulence hinted at in the disruptive Inauguration chart. She’s an odd mix with her husband, having a chatty, argumentative Sun Mars in Gemini on the focal … Read more
Britney Spears let fly with both barrels in an impassioned court testimony about the ‘abusive’ conservatorship that has governed her life for 13 years, giving her father control of her finances and her personal life. This is the first time she has been able to speak out publicly. She talked of wanting another child which … Read more
Charismatic leaders, appalling and otherwise, often have strong Neptune Pluto and/or 8th house energies. Both Hitler and Charles De Gaulle had Neptune Pluto in Gemini in the 8th. Churchill had Neptune and Pluto, not conjunct in the 8th. Mao Tse Tung was another Neptune Pluto in Gemini conjunction – in his 5th; Stalin had Neptune … Read more