Ukraine finally launched its highly touted counteroffensive on August 29. But the whole world is already hailing it as a stunning success. Not least because, over the past 5 days alone, Ukrainian soldiers recaptured territory in eastern Ukraine that took Russian soldiers 5 months to capture. Ukraine’s forces have continued to press their counterattack in… Read more.
Europe
The Queen Is Dead. God Spare Us the King!
This blog is replete with my anti-monarchist views. But those views date back to my childhood. That’s when I developed an innate sense of resentment at seeing my compatriots take greater pride in the “Queen’s Honours” (like knighthoods and OBEs) than in our national independence. But I am heartened that Barbados is leading “Commonwealth countries”… Read more.
Meghan and Harry Playing Royals in America Is Ballsy Enough. But Back in England, After ‘The Cut’ from Royal Duties They Orchestrated, That Takes the Cake, No?
Frankly, the way the British media are hailing Meghan and Harry’s return this week, not just William but even Charles can be forgiven for feeling rather like the good son in “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. But, even though it’s Sunday, I suspect some of you may not appreciate (or even get) that Biblical… Read more.
Former President Poroshenko Is Acting Like He’s Still Ukraine’s Commander in Chief. I Get Now Why President Zelensky Wanted to Arrest Him…
Their rivalry Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a genocidal war in Ukraine that is making strange bedfellows of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his predecessor Petro Poroshenko. After all, just weeks before Putin launched it, Zelensky was accusing Poroshenko not just of treason but of attempting to flee justice to boot. Poroshenko is one of… Read more.
Sanna Marin, Finland’s Party-Girl Prime Minister, Takes Drug Test
I love Finland. And I’m an even bigger fan of female leaders. That’s why I was so proud to proclaim that “Finland is great because women rule. But Sanna Marin, Finland’s party-girl prime minister, is making a mockery of my proclamation. Sanna Marin, Finland’s party-girl prime minister Sky News reported yesterday on her still-unfolding, party-gate… Read more.
Marina Ovsyannikova, Who Defied Putin on His Own State TV, Finally Getting the Navalny Treatment
Frankly Marina Ovsyannikova seems hell-bent on provoking Putin to make of her the jailed martyr he is making of Alexei Navalny. Marina Ovsyannikova, a former editor of the state-run Channel One network who denounced Moscow’s war on Ukraine during a live TV broadcast, faces criminal charges after Russia’s security services raided her home on Wednesday.… Read more.
Ukraine Is Taking Fight to Russia. But Crimea Is Still Ukraine
Much is being made about explosions that sent Russians scurrying from their beach cabanas on the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea on Tuesday. Ukraine claims they resulted from the derring-do of its Special Forces – who infiltrated behind enemy lines and blew up a Russian military airbase. But red-faced Russia insists the explosions resulted from nothing… Read more.
Rishi Sunak Playing Reverse Robin Hood to Become British Prime Minister…?
Common sense dictates that politicians play Robin Hood by lacing stump speeches with promises to take money from the rich to give to the poor. This, even though everyone knows the policies they implement invariably make the rich richer and the poor poorer. But wannabe prime minister Rishi Sunak seems utterly lacking in common sense.… Read more.
WTF! Prince Harry Chose Exile Because Camilla Joked His Child Might Have Ginger Afro Hair’?
According to the hype, Prince Harry’s forthcoming memoir will contain shocking revelations that are bound to shake the very foundation of the British monarchy. Except that redoubtable British biographer Tom Bower just stole Harry’s thunder. In Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, Bower rehashes hackneyed gossip with contumely relish (e.g., that Meghan… Read more.
British PM Boris Johnson Resigns. But He’s Staying On…?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made quite a show today of announcing his resignation. But the “greased piglet” that he is, he made clear his intent to squeeze out a few more months in power. In fact, Johnson reportedly spent the hours before announcing his “resignation” reshuffling his cabinet. The man is insufferable! Mind you,… Read more.