The Brighton bombing on 12 October 1984 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), an attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and other members of the British government, at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, is marked by a well-reviewed BBC documentary. In the event five people were killed and 30 injured. Thatcher was uninjured and decided … Read more
Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow, described by one inmate as “Glasgow’s Guantanamo Bay”, which over the decades housed violent criminals is to close. Opened initially in July 1882 it has a starkly descriptive chart with a tough, unyielding stellium in Taurus with Saturn in Taurus conjunct Neptune on one side and Algol, Chiron, Pluto and South … Read more
Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s closest aide and architect of the Labour victory has been dropped in as chief of staff at No 10 replacing Sue Gray, who had become a distraction. He is credited with removing Corbynism which has not improved his popularity with the left and has tended to parachute his friends and allies into … Read more
Lee Miller, former model turned war correspondent, with a traumatic childhood is the subject of a biopic starring Kate Winslet. A review says she “captures the spirit of the character: the brawling, confrontational tough-broad aspects of Miller’s personality, as well as her considerable magnetism – a hardboiled screwball heroine – chain-smoking, whisky-swilling.” “She balances the … Read more
The European Union could die because of overregulation and underinvestment says Emmanuel Macron and is running out of time to survive as he backs Mario Draghi’s plea for an investment fund to combat the rise of Chinese and American dominance. Macron said the bloc’s failure to meet the challenges posed by global economic rivalry was … Read more
Boris Johnson, Philip Scofield, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry – once shining stars in their respective spheres now brought low by their staggering lack of self-awareness and tendency to handout blame to others rather than ‘fess up to any missteps on their part. Astrology though illuminating in its own terms about characteristics … Read more
As the Middle East stands on the brink of a new order after Israel’s onslaught on the Lebanon it is worth considering what has shifted in the power game. The attack on Hezbollah strikes at the heart of Iran’s influence in the region and also undermines Bashar Assad in Syria who relied on Hezbollah’s fighters … Read more
Parkrun, a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) event for runners, walkers and volunteers that takes place every Saturday morning at more than 2,000 locations in 22 countries across five continents is celebrating its 20 anniversary this week. It started in London on 2 October 2004 and grew into a global phenomenon with many millions of runners registered. … Read more
And the world holds its breath. Hezbollah is decapitated of its leadership, Hamas effectively weakened if not destroyed. Will Iran retaliate as its proxies are knocked off the chessboard, though it has shown no sign of wanting a direct confrontation? From an Israeli point of view neutralizing Hamas and Hezbollah who were attacking across their … Read more
The charismatic New York mayor Eric Adams is facing a federal indictment on bribery and fraud charges bribery and soliciting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish businessmen. In typically ebullient form he has been comparing himself to Job, the biblical figure who must endure various plagues. And relates a tale from his rough childhood where his … Read more