Sunday 22 June

As the bloodshed continues unabated in Ukraine and Gaza, the latest escalation in the Middle East crisis has the power to unleash unprecedented global shockwaves. I won’t be only one who finds it frankly terrifying that, thanks to Trump, Putin and Netanyahu wrecking the rules-based international order so no organization (eg the UN) any longerContinue reading “Sunday 22 June”

Tuesday 6 May

The news agenda has accelerated to fever pitch over the last fortnight, journalists and commentators falling over each other to opine on the latest Trump antics, the local election results, the royals and much else, all adding to pressure on our mental wellbeing. Although the two major parties have long needed a wake-up call, theContinue reading “Tuesday 6 May”

Sunday 29 December

So Christmas is over for another year and we’re now amid Twixmas, the travel industry invented name for that no man’s land between Christmas and New Year (therapeutic for some, possibly many) when it’s tricky to know what places and services are open and when. This lack of consistency can make it hard to planContinue reading “Sunday 29 December”

Sunday 15 December

Syria – what a dramatic turn of events which no one saw coming. Just a month ago, a Western diplomat was apparently arguing that sanctions should be lifted from Assad because clearly he had won the war and now we needed to ‘move on’. Although such a rebel operation (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS) must haveContinue reading “Sunday 15 December”

Saturday 17 August

Considering it’s been the traditional media ‘silly season’, maybe no such thing these days, there’s been no shortage of headline grabbing news and some getting very exercised about it. Within days of taking office the new government started talks with the junior doctors and have now put an offer to the rail unions that looksContinue reading “Saturday 17 August”

Sunday 23 June

As general election fever rages on, especially following the dramatic entry into the fray of Nigel Farage and the publication of the party manifestos, the Conservative party’s campaigning shows ever increasing desperation in the form of repeating proven lies (like the £2000 additional tax under Labour one), introducing one policy gimmick after another and extremeContinue reading “Sunday 23 June”

Saturday 8 June

As general election campaigning accelerates by the day, we see an increasing number of faux pas (or missteps, as some journalists like to call them) and dirty tricks on the part of the key political parties. The facts haven’t emerged yet but we have to wonder if the hoax video call from ‘the previous UkrainianContinue reading “Saturday 8 June”

Sunday 30 July

You almost have to feel sorry for beleaguered PM Rishi Sunak – while his MPs swan off on holiday for weeks on end, he doggedly continues trying to defend his government’s terrible record despite most of the problems being of his own making. He’s been slammed for taking no genuine interest in green policies orContinue reading “Sunday 30 July”