A deadly vacuum
Now is a difficult time to empathise with Russians – which is why we need Maxim Osipov. We need him…
Location, location, location
The Labour MP Rupa Huq, of Pakistani heritage, has been suspended for suggesting that Kwasi Kwarteng, of Ghanaian heritage, was…
The road less travelled
How best to write a book about the Himalayas when Mount Everest has been reduced to just another tick-off on…
Barometer
Out of office Could Liz Truss end up being Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister? She would have to remain in office…
The fate of castaways
Absent mothers resonate in the latest offerings from two heavyweights of French literature. Getting Lost is the diary kept by…
Diary
In Singapore last week, I was asked: do ministers just come in, reach for the dumbest available policy and go…
Dangerous myth-makers
Racism lies at the heart of the Victorian rewrite of the creation myth. What happened in prehistory, according to Thomas…
Barcodes
Beep-bop. The sound of the supermarket checkout – a noise Morrisons felt the need to mute after the Queen’s death…
2576: After Eleven
The unclued lights form five pairs, as suggested by the title. Across 6 Fashion blunted by useless needle (6) 10…
Puzzle No. 723
Black to play. Giorgobiani-Sivanandan, Fide Cadets U8 Girls Championship, 2022. Black has a subtle winning move in this position. What…
Portrait of the week
Home Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, came up with a message for the Conservative party conference: ‘Whenever there is change,…
Low life
At eight o’clock in the morning a nurse injected me with a radioactive marker and told me to go away…
Fifty shades of grey
Grey. More grey. So very, very grey. That’s the main visual impression left by Robert Carsen’s new production of Verdi’s…
Letters
Troubles ahead? Sir: Jenny McCartney’s article ‘Border lines’ (1 October) was a profoundly depressing one. Perhaps there will be a…
The right reforms
Conservative governments have a habit of self-destructing: they die not in battle with political enemies but as a result of…
Collapse imminent for the European establishment?
In 2017, after Emmanuel Macron bested Marine Le Pen in the French Presidential election, following on the heels of defeats…
Loyalty according to Simon
Simon Birmingham is at the top of the ‘moderates’ totem pole in the Liberal Party. He wears the Black Hand…
What Elon Musk doesn’t get about peace
The power one person can hold should never be underestimated. They can take people’s lives, as Vladimir Putin does, or…
Opec will regret taking on the US
Production will be cut. Supplies to the rest of the world will be curbed. And inflation will rise just a…
‘Real feminist’ Nicola Sturgeon hits back at JK Rowling
JK Rowling is a feminist idol for lots of women. After the break-up of her marriage, Rowling became a single…
Truss is foolish to block Rees Mogg’s energy saving campaign
When you have defined yourself against the nanny state and scorned the idea of limiting supermarket ‘two for one’ offers,…
Biden is playing politics with his marijuana pardons
In a somewhat shocking turn of events, president Biden has pardoned all people with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession…
