Author: |Posted: 5:30 pm on 31/03/09
Category: Snowblog
There is undoubtedly a historic feel to the impending arrival here of the new American president.
But despite the ascent of Barack Obama, Grosvenor Square, in London’s west end, together with the looming hulk that is America’s embassy, will be the focus of anti-globalisation protesters tomorrow.
As a clapped-out old protester myself – to my shame I never made it to the Vietnam demo in the same square in 1968 – I know the difficulties of focusing protest.
Author: |Posted: 12:04 pm on 31/03/09
Category: Snowblog
Last night France’s finance minister talked to us on Channel 4 News. So did China’s ambassador to London. They were both in their individual ways impressive.
They were both women too. In 2009, well into the 21st century, it is still rare to interview women, even on a programme as enlightened as ours!
Author: |Posted: 5:42 pm on 30/03/09
Category: Snowblog
MPs have only themselves to blame. They have had decades to sort themselves out and bring themselves, first, into the 20th century, and latterly, into the 21st century.
Their expenses regime, which they alone vote on, brings politics into considerable disrepute. Unfortunately for her, Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has been the fall guy.
Author: |Posted: 3:46 pm on 30/03/09
Category: World News Blog
Today’s attack on a police training school in Lahore could be part of a worrying trend. This was not suicide bombing, but a commando-style raid, as per the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team which left seven dead in the same city earlier this month, and the attacks on the hotels in Mumbai, India last year.
If these incidents are tactically connected, the finger of suspicion could point to homegrown Lashkar-e-Taiba militants. A senior army officer said the attackers were “Afghans”, but a police recruit read more
Author: |Posted: 11:26 am on 30/03/09
Category: Snowblog
I’m in a high-speed inflatable on the Thames, south of the barrier.
What a godforsaken spot! The ExCeL centre where the G20 leaders will meet on Thursday is flanked by a large scrapyard and rather forlorn-looking Victorian dock.
Author: |Posted: 10:29 am on 30/03/09
Category: Snowblog
So Britain’s 12th largest building society goes bust – and the chairman complains that the chancellor isn’t bailing it out.
Stunning! If, as some suggest, the Dunfermline Building Society is a victim of reckless lending, what possible obligation does Mr Darling have to bail it out?
Author: |Posted: 4:57 pm on 27/03/09
Category: World News Blog
Here’s another country on the global recession’s front line: Botswana, hailed as the longest continuous multi-party democracy in Africa.
Botswana is classified by some economists as an “upper middle-income” country, but the wealth is very unevenly spread, so – according to DFID – 49 per cent of the population lives on less than $2 a day. read more
Author: |Posted: 11:28 am on 27/03/09
Category: Snowblog
Hard on the heels of spending a staggering £422m on eight Chinooks that have still never flown, the first-class brains in our MoD have come up with another ruse: a “super hangar” built at a cost of £113m in Wales to provide engineering services for the RAF. Splendid!
Author: |Posted: 10:05 am on 27/03/09
Category: Snowblog
I awaken to the amazing reminder from my radio that Britain still bans the heir to the throne from marrying a Catholic.
I turn over in bed to check the calendar. Yes, it really is 2009. Evan Harris MP will try to change the law in parliament today. He will almost certainly fail. What does this say of the human rights act?
Author: |Posted: 7:07 pm on 26/03/09
Category: Snowblog
In political life there’s little more obscure than being stuck away in the European parliament.
But one British MEP has broken cover, courtesy of YouTube and his own brazen speechifying in front of Gordon Brown.
