What the Shoigu reshuffle means for Putin’s war machine
There was an expectation that the appointment of Vladimir Putin’s new government would see some change in the Russian security…
JK Rowling is playing with fire
The transgender debate has a habit of bringing out the worst in people. It’s no wonder, really. It’s an issue…
Working in Brussels, I saw the dark side of the EU
To this day, many Remainers see the vote to leave the EU as an entirely self-inflicted wound. But is that…
Sergei Shoigu out as Russia’s defence minister
It’s reshuffle time in Moscow and it seems that Sergei Shoigu, who has served as Vladimir Putin’s defence minister for…
Labor is limiting access to retirees’ super pension funds
When someone retires after the age of 60, their superannuation savings become ‘unrestricted non-preserved’ and can be converted into pension phase, or…
The pop culture wars
Pop culture has become a proxy for wars about our culture
Victorians will pay more and get less
The Allan government’s first Budget was business as usual, but in Victoria that’s nothing to be glad about
Eurovision: decadent and profane
A cursory watching of the Eurovision Song Contest has brought to light the fact that this contemporary ‘entertainment’ event, despite…
The dignity of Eden Golan
Two questions dominated last night’s Eurovision Song Contest final in Malmo, Sweden. First, whether 20-year-old Eden Golan, Israel’s entrant, would…
The legacy of devolution – 25 years on
Winnie Ewing, SNP royalty – Madame Écosse to those who had served alongside her in the European Parliament – opened…
Natalie Elphicke row deepens
Was Keir Starmer’s decision to welcome the Tory right wing MP Natalie Elphicke to the Labour party a genius strategic…
I’m proud of my mayoral campaign
In 18 months of campaigning to win the battle to be mayor of London – spoiler: I didn’t win –…
Chinese society is rapidly militarising
The reports in China’s state media speak about ‘advancing national defence education in the new era’, teaching students to be…
Why are the yakuza stealing Pokemon cards?
A high-ranking member of the yakuza (Japanese mafia) has been arrested in Tokyo for selling stolen Pokemon cards. Keita Saito was…
The Arts Council wastes money – and is bad news for art
‘You’re gay.’ That was the first tip I got from a friend who writes applications for Arts Council grants. He…
Warragamba Dam: the political yo-yo of failed water politics
Warragamba Dam is spilling again, but it didn’t have to be this way. There have been warnings for decades about…
Think of the kids: student-led learning finally dies
Most of us were lucky enough to make it through the education system largely unharmed. Today, parents are terrified that…
Why Israel is crucial to Eurovision
Eden Golan has qualified for the final of tonight’s Eurovision Song Contest and will represent Israel in the world’s most-watched…
The FTSE 100 hits a new high – but don’t celebrate yet
Another day, another all time high. As the week closed, the FTSE 100 index hit 8,433 — the highest level…
The bizarre sexual politics of the French
‘More sex please, we’re French,’ declared, in effect, France’s president Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, demanding that his compatriots counteract a…
Why is Russia’s economy booming despite sanctions?
Over two years on from the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is the most sanctioned nation in the world. And yet the country’s…
Has the SNP really turned its back on identity politics?
The term ‘progressive’ has been much abused in the past decade. Originally a term denoting enlightenment and social universalism, it became…
The Tories are in free fall
A couple of weeks ago we were told it was Rishi Sunak’s best week ever. Now, it is hard to…
Why won’t phone companies stop kids using social media?
When it comes to social media, parents find it difficult enough to keep up with their offspring’s online world. What…
What price is too high to keep conservatives in the Church of England?
Future historians of the Church of England might look back at this weekend as the beginning of the end. A…
