Citizens of nowhere: This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud, reviewed
A fictionalised version of Messud’s recent family history traces the many moves of three generations forced into exile from Algeria
Paris is perhaps the greatest character in Balzac’s Human Comedy
The drama of the street is a constant theme, though Balzac himself took most pleasure in the city’s ‘gloomy passages and silent cul-de-sacs between midnight and two in the morning’
Bet probe Tory was previously married to his wife’s opponent
Dear oh dear. With less than two weeks to go until polling day, Rishi Sunak’s campaign has been hit with…
Farage’s Putin comments could trip him up
‘You know what I am! I’m a fighter, I’m a warrior, I’m a campaigner. I stand up against big institutions…
The Washington Post has missed out on a great editor
When Robert Winnett was named the new editor of the Washington Post, it made a lot of sense to me.…
The Venezuelafication of American streets
My grandma loves to joke about how she got a tooth knocked out by a motorizado (biker) in the Venezuelan…
On Summer Solstice and the passage of time
Some of my long-time readers will know that for many years past I have spent a few days most summers…
Luis Rubiales deserves his day in court
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish football federation, is going to court for ‘The Kiss’. It was confirmed this week…
France under Macron keeps getting worse
The warnings continue to come thick and fast in France about the disaster that could befall the Republic on 7…
Starmer looks slippery over Corbyn questions
It’s a measure of how weird the past few years in British politics have been that Keir Starmer’s claim that…
Why is Rishi Sunak scared of the Question Time audience?
Before Rishi Sunak was allowed to talk on last night’s BBC Question Time Leaders’ Special, he had to receive a…
The Supreme Court’s oil ruling spells trouble for the SNP
Judges on the Supreme Court appear to have joined Just Stop Oil. In a landmark ruling, with profound implications for the…
Saying ‘no’ to Donald Sutherland was the start of a beautiful friendship
I’d only been working for a few months as a researcher on the Observer’s magazine. One late evening, the deputy editor rushed…
Who are the Russian NHS hackers?
What do you do if you’re a modern state and need extra capacity in a hurry? You outsource. And if…
Britain can’t keep pushing its borrowing limits
Rishi Sunak tends to avoid taking aim at his predecessor. But in last night’s BBC Question Time election special, as he was…
Is Macron considering using France’s emergency powers?
Does Emmanuel Macron have one more joker to play? Perhaps. His petulant decision to dissolve the National Assembly has been…
Economic recovery has come too late for Sunak
Today’s retail sales figures, showing that volumes increased by 2.9 per cent in May after a fall of 1.8 per…
Why are Joe Biden’s poll numbers improving?
After several weeks of almost daily embarrassing senior moments on the campaign trail, Joe Biden is somehow improving in the…
Sunak’s election tour: where has the PM campaigned so far?
Over the first four weeks of the general election campaign, Sunak has so far personally made his way around 37…
Sunak’s best Question Time moment also exposed his weakness
Tonight’s election Question Time programme was probably the best of the campaign in that it gave space for proper discussion…
US must stay the course on Aukus
There’s more in common between Australia and the United States than you may think. Apart from a love of big…
Embracing Nuclear energy: my journey from sceptic to advocate
Eighteen months ago, I embarked on a journey to the United States and Canada with the Shadow Minister for Energy…
Nothing pretty about a post-pandemic Budget
The New South Wales Budget tabled this week completes the series of 2024-25 budgets from the larger states and the…
Why did anyone think England would win the Euros?
Tonight’s England game against Denmark at the Frankfurt Arena should be made compulsory viewing for those who blindly insist that…
The nuclear gamble
Finally, the Opposition has announced it is going to develop a nuclear power future for Australia. The government, along with…
