Could Russia stoke conflict between Serbia and Kosovo?
The prime minister of Kosovo has been talking about a possible war in the country, with Russia as the instigator. In…
What’s the matter with Disney?
If there’s one thing that gives a bad name to gender stereotyping it’s the Disney princess: a combination of hideous…
The lost art of letterheads
One of the pleasures of the letters from unhappy ministers to the Prime Minister last week (though not, presumably, for…
Can Oxford’s new Vice-Chancellor fix the university?
There’s a new Vice-Chancellor taking over at Oxford later this year. She’s Irene Tracey, warden of Merton College, and an…
A mess: British Museum's Feminine Power – the Divine to the Demonic reviewed
The point at which the heart sinks in this exhibition is, unfortunately, right at the outset. That’s where we meet…
Is Nancy Pelosi's communion ban unfair?
The Eucharist has, to use the current jargon, been weaponised in the standoff between Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US…
Enjoyably plummy and male: Battleground – The Falklands War podcast reviewed
The Battlegroundpodcast on the wars of the 20th century, said presenter Saul David happily, ‘will have lots of bombs and…
Roe v. Wade and Britain’s non-existent abortion debate
Judge Samuel Alito was incontrovertibly right about one thing in his leaked, draft ruling on Roe v. Wade: ‘Abortion presents…
Justin Welby is wrong about Rwanda
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Easter sermon was quite something; forcefully delivered, arrestingly put. At the heart of it was his…
How Mother’s Day became big business
As ever, the Romans got there first. Their version of Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day was the feast of Juno…
What Madeleine Albright got right – and wrong – on Kosovo
Unsurprisingly, it’s Kosovo where Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, is remembered with particular gratitude: today there’s an official…
The foie gras and fur ban was never really about animal suffering
Well, too bad Carrie and Zac. It looks like the government is going to drop its commitment to banning imports…
We could learn a thing or two from Swiss democracy
There was another referendum in Switzerland over the weekend. This one was about protecting the young from the evils of…
The Pope is right: it is selfish to choose pets over children
Well, we’ve been terrifically amused and amusing at the expense of Pope Francis, who this week declared at a Vatican…
The churches must stay open
Hooray for Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who used the one day of the year when his pronouncements are amplified by the…
Children’s books for all ages: the best of 2021
She’s done it again: J.K. Rowling has written a captivating children’s book. The Christmas Pig(Little Brown, £20) is about a…
What the BBC show trial of Michael Vaughan tells us
After dropping Michael Vaughan in punishment for what he said (or might not have said) many years ago, the BBC…
How the pumpkin hijacked Halloween
You see them everywhere in vast orange mounds: pumpkins, piles of pumpkins, large enough to be turned into a coach…
Why is it so hard to live without a mobile phone?
Why is it so hard to live without a mobile phone?
It’s time for James Bond to die
I saw the new James Bond last night, but after reading today’s reviews I’m not sure I watched the same…
Why incels aren’t terrorists
Sometimes, a nutter is just a nutter, even when he’s a homicidal nutter. In the case of Jake Davison, the…
The futility of Meghan's mentoring scheme
What, do you reckon you’d get from Princess Eugenie in 40 minutes, always supposing you were a woman trying to…
Cake expectations: afternoon tea has gone OTT
Afternoon tea has gone OTT
The hypocrisy of Matt Hancock
Matt Hancock has not, we can agree, made it his business to lighten the public mood during the pandemic. That…
Boris, Carrie and the politics of weddings
Well! The PM’s nuptials have taken everyone unawares. And it’s hard not to feel that a small and informal wedding…
