Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most prominent political opponent has died in a Siberian prison colony to which he was sent on what are described as trumped up charges. For many years he has been a lawyer and an anti-corruption activist, with six million YouTube subscribers in 2021. He has described Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, as … Read more
Pakistan is going to the polls in the least credible election yet with Imran Khan, the most popular politician jailed on multiple charges and his party suppressed, in what insiders say is a sign that the military are taking control. Mobile calls and the internet have been suspended. Khan as prime minister until … Read more
Viktor Orban has caved in, allowing all 27 European leaders to agree to an aid package for Ukraine. There had been fears that Hungary’s Prime Minister would block the aid package as he had done already last December. He is known to be pro-Putin and pro-Trump and he is seeking to shift the balance of … Read more
Hugh Hefner, a headline-grabber in the days before #metoo when Playboy bunnies and the bon vivant lifestyle that went with them were regarded as acceptable entertainment has been cut down to size six years after his death by his third wife, Crystal Harris, in a tell-all memoir. She was 26 when they married and he … Read more
Plus ca change. Boeing continues on a downhill slide with nuts, bolts, doors and wheels falling off. In 2019 their planes were grounded after the second accident within a few months, both with high mortality. There is nothing to suggest an improvement in their fortunes ahead. Their start chart, 15 July 1916, with a … Read more
All political careers end in failure, so goes the accepted wisdom, but none more so than Nicola Sturgeon. In her day hailed as a paragon by the press at large (mainly) and protected from criticism by phalanxes of her rabid Nat-trolls, she strode on, a shining example to other lesser leaders. Murmurs in the background … Read more
Melania Trump paid a glowing tribute to her mother Amalija Knavs who has just died calling her “a ray of light in the darkest days.” Melania was born 26 April 1970 in Slovenia then part of Yugoslavia, an independent communist country, with her parents joining her at some point after she moved to the … Read more
Jill Biden is standing by her man, rushing onstage when he zoned out at the end of a speech two weeks ago to ensure he left the platform in good order and throwing her wholehearted support behind his determination to stand again for the White House. More than anyone she will be aware of … Read more
Katherine Birbalsingh, known as Britain’s strictest head teacher with an outstanding educational record in her school, is facing legal action over a ban on prayer rituals. She defended the policy, arguing that it was vital in order to “maintain a successful learning environment where children of all races and religion can thrive”. Previously, the … Read more
Yemen is the latest epi-centre of conflict in an increasingly turbulent Middle East. US and UK forces, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, struck “a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels” in a bid to thwart their capacity to endanger international shipping moving through the Red Sea which in … Read more