1 day agoTwo men, one idea: A theological dystopiaOne may well wonder the Christian right’s eventual goal for America, in the aftermath of the US supreme court decision to overrule Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a constitutional right to abortion. Is it planning on creating a theological dystopia, a prison with respect to reproductive…Justice Samuel Alito2 min read
2 days agoColombia’s Petro and the poetry and prose of political changeWhen a spectator stand at a bullfight in Espinal, a city in Colombia, collapsed, I curiously watched for the first comments of the country’s newly victorious president-elect Gustavo Petro. At least four people had been killed and hundreds injured. The bull had apparently escaped from the plaza hosting the spectacle…Colombia2 min read
3 days agoThe G7 has returned to being a gentlemen’s clubToday, leaders of some of the world’s biggest economies get together in the Bavarian Alps. This Group of Seven (G7) summit comes after events have moved swiftly apace, notably with Russia invading Ukraine, triggering key economic, geopolitical and humanitarian developments. Borrowing from Bloomberg’s list of the bespoke challenges faced by…Group Of Seven2 min read
4 days agoWomen’s lib and freedom from Le Corbusier’s Modulor scaleSetting women free is about a myriad things — control of one’s body, of course, but also control of the environment. And few people have had more impact on women’s lack of control of their environment than the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier. In India, Le Corbusier’s name is often…Womens Lib2 min read
5 days agoThe Commonwealth prides itself on the post-colonial dividendConsider the attendees of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. The list includes most heads of government of the 54 member states, not least Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari, Britain’s Boris Johnson and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. Now consider the no-shows: South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, India’s Narendra Modi, Pakistan’s…Commonwealth2 min read
6 days agoCommonwealth signals that it’s not a club of ex-British colonialsThe Commonwealth has emerged for its first summit since the pandemic firing on all cylinders. In a manner of speaking. Surely it must be a deliberate decision for the association of 54 countries to hold its summit in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, the newest Commonwealth member. …Commonwealth2 min read
6 days agoOur man in Kigali (and Gitega)There may be many things to say about the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda but here’s something you probably never thought to hear: it may prove to be a quite remarkable showcase for British diversity. Consider the following paragraph from a BBC report on Prince Charles and…Britain3 min read
Jun 20Colombia and Latin America’s quickening political pulseIs the Colombian election result a continuation of something quintessentially Latin American? A quickening pulse perhaps? To pick Gustavo Petro as its president is a bold and decisive move by Latin America’s third most populous nation, the US’s closest ally in the region. After all, Mr Petro is controversial. He’s…Colombia1 min read
Jun 19A peaceful transfer of power in America? Yes, but…I don’t know about you but the Colombian election has been a rare bright spot in the news from the Americas. Note that news Colombia has elected its first-ever leftist leader and its first-ever Afro-Colombian vice president came as we learnt the following: ** that the Texas Republican Party had…Colombia2 min read
Jun 18Rome’s republic of soupSometimes, of a Sunday, we make Ceci e pasta. Or Pasta e ceci. The order of the words depends, I suppose, on which bit of the dish you want to emphasise — the pasta or the chickpeas. When it’s very soupy, the ceci is the life of the dish, but…Pasta And Chickpeas2 min read