Absinthe and the casual fling: Ex-Wife, by Ursula Parrott, reviewed
A sensational bestseller, first published anonymously in 1929, centres around the adventures of a bright young American divorcée, seizing love wherever she can
The sad history of the Hawaiian crow
Sophie Osborn describes how this sociable, inquisitive, loud-cackling bird became extinct in the wild – and her own efforts to save the California Condor from the same fate
The rootlessness that haunts the children of immigrants
Edward Wong tries to connect with his Chinese heritage by retracing his father’s military postings before the Great Famine – but finds the country too changed to make comparisons
Small mercies: Dead-End Memories, by Banana Yoshimoto, reviewed
Rape, poisoning, child abuse and betrayal feature in Yoshimoto’s dramatic stories – but gratitude and forgiveness run alongside sadness, stitched in the same cloth
Why are stocks suffering?
Today’s stock market plunge is interesting for two main reasons. First, for those of us who have never traded on…
Is Robert Jenrick emerging as a leadership frontrunner?
Robert Jenrick chose a swelteringly hot day in sunny Newark to stage his official leadership campaign launch. ‘I’m in politics…
Joe Biden is still president, apparently
On Thursday, while delivering remarks at the eulogy for the late Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Vice President Kamala Harris “accidentally”…
The trouble with ‘spy swaps’
Yesterday’s exchange of prisoners at Ankara airport in Turkey will have been personally ordered by President Putin. He is a…
Is Farage already sick of being an MP?
Nigel Farage was elected as MP for Clacton by a solid margin of 8,405. Four other Reform UK candidates were…
Watch: ITV snubs Truss at races
To West Sussex, where spectators are enjoying the sun at the Goodwood Racecourse. But it hasn’t necessarily been the most…
Scottish Tory leadership race ramps up
Back to Scotland, where the third official candidate in the Scottish Tory leadership contest has been announced. Meghan Gallacher, the…
Of course whole-life prisoners should be banned from marrying
Is there any point in rehabilitating prisoners sentenced to ‘whole life’ tariffs, who will die in custody? Today’s announcement banning…
Could the Russia prisoner swap help bring peace to Ukraine?
I can well understand that joy and relief experienced by the supporters and families of the hostages released yesterday by…
Macron’s lavish spending is jeopardising French finances
In the last years of Louis XVI’s reign, French finances were in a parlous state. State debt had ballooned, its…
Starmer’s response to the riots raises several questions
It goes without saying that the riots in Southport, Hartlepool and London are a mindless reaction to the killing of…
Influencers take over the DNC
The Democratic National Convention Committee announced last month that it has issued the same credentials as traditional news outlets to…
False narratives still drive anti-Semitism
Like many in the West, I was horrified on October 7 when reports came in that Hamas terrorists had invaded…
Contempt for Christians on the rise in Scotland?
Contempt for those with Christian convictions appears to be on the rise in Scotland. A survey conducted by new think…
Trump’s digs at Kamala’s racial identity could prove damaging
While Donald Trump’s outlandish behavior usually garners free publicity for him in the news, this time, there is a lot…
Boxing mismatch shows Olympic officials need to get a grip
The hugely controversial Olympic boxing bout between Italian Angela Carini and her opponent Imane Khelif from Algeria lasted just 46…
Will Starmer’s thug crackdown get results?
When Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Southport on Tuesday to pay his respects for the victims of the stabbing tragedy,…
How independent is the Bank of England?
As Kate Andrews argues here, the Bank of England were never going to cut interest rates during an election campaign…
Russia and the West agree largest prisoner swap since the Cold War
The Kremlin has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former marine Paul Whelan and British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza from captivity. This is…
JK Rowling hits out at Olympic bosses over boxing controversy
To the Olympics, where a rather contentious boxing match has come to an abrupt end. The sport came under the…
Welcome the warmth
Unlike Green politicians, sheep are not stupid
Editor’s picks
