Has Dark Mofo lost its mojo?
Dark Mofo is one of those pretentious displays of artistic expression that make most people roll their eyes and sigh.…
This is going to end well…
Who guards the guardians? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes and all that. The Daily Caller has the answer: Four of the world’s biggest…
The Singapore spectacular
With the President-for-two-terms of the United States, Donald J Trump and the President-for-life, Kim Jong Un actually in Singapore for…
Nukes 101 with Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un’s nuclear bluff looks like working. He and President Trump are on Singapore soil as I write, preparing to…
Why we should celebrate Australia’s refugee policy
As someone who grew up in a church community that welcomed refugees to our country from places as far afield…
Abbott was right to fight the left
Australia’s former prime minister, Tony Abbott is blamed for nearly everything these days. Higher rates of suicide amongst LGBTIQ youth,…
Maybe it’s not academic freedom, but the wrong name
The debate grinds on. Last week Australian National University Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt, an astrophysicist who probably never imagined things could…
Who really won the sexual revolution?
Chivalry is a virtue, but only when exercised responsibly. Unfortunately, men have so gone overboard in their chivalry that many…
Our universities and more…
I suspect a fair few readers are pretty incredulous about the whole Peter Ridd saga at James Cook University. Ridd…
Enough of the political fury: now for the full facts about Grenfell
The opening of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is good news. It will now become harder for politicians and campaigners to…
It’s the Year of the Slug and I’m at war with the slimy little bastards
I know some people are fretting about Brexit, and others about the drive-by violence the President is doing to the…
Third Heathrow runway finally approved; Trump says he can pardon himself
Home A third runway at Heathrow Airport was approved by the cabinet; £2.6 billion was earmarked for compensation and soundproofing. Northern…
Which town is most proud to be English?
Ready for take-off? That Heathrow timeline in full: 1949 Labour government proposes an additional two runways for newly opened Heathrow…
Why the government won’t dare to attempt reform of the abortion law
A debate that won’t happen Sir: ‘Westminster is overdue an abortion debate’ (Leading article, June 2). Yes, but there is…
This period of British history is like the first months of the second world war
A distinguished retired EU diplomat from a small EU member state sends me a thoughtful letter. He complains that Brexit…
Brexiteer MPs know it’s going badly wrong but can’t agree what to do next
Brexit could look very different by the end of this month. In the coming days, the government is expected to…
There are too many women on Radio 4 and they’re always moaning
We had a long drive back from the north-east last weekend. Six hours or so, including a stop halfway, just…
Sweet sorrow: the only grief we mention is that with comfort buried inside it
It was the phrase ‘sad sweet feeling in your heart’ that arrested my attention. But who would have thought it…
When diversity means uniformity
I’d been suffering under the misguided illusion that the purpose of mainstream publishers like Penguin Random House was to sell…
Let’s hope for a better, demerged, RBS when it’s back in private hands
At last the government has restarted the process of selling its stake in Royal Bank of Scotland. A first £2…
Putin says he’s making Russia great again. In reality, it’s crumbling
This is Putin’s time. Next week, the Fifa World Cup kicks off in Moscow, and the Kremlin has spared no…
Orban and Salvini are redefining democracy in Europe
By 25 May the world was learning of the Italian populist parties’ plans to form a coalition government. This would…
Let’s get real. Kindness is not going to save you – or the world
I originally thought of calling this piece: ‘Kindness is the New Rock ’n’ Roll’ — but only as a joke.…
Are Trump’s tariffs a good idea? The arguments for and against
Yes Supporters of the global free-trade regime that has been built up over the past 25 years like to think…
The jihadi sisterhood: meet the new breed of Islamist fanatics
‘Does the pin make me go ?’ Like most 16-year-old British schoolgirls, Safaa Boular was adept at using emojis. She…
