Finland and Russia... "It's complicated"
Thursday, 21 April 2022
Finland’s government is toying with the idea of joining NATO. And the decision will be made in weeks, not months, according to Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
geopolitics
Is the Shanghai lockdown really about COVID?
Wednesday, 20 April 2022
There are some interesting words in the English language. Take the case of the verb “shanghai”. The word is derived from the name of the city on the east coast of China.
In the late 19th century, there was frequent shortages of sailors willing to crew ships to far off destinations, so ship owners would drug sailors and haul them on board. By the time they became woke, they were already en route to China and could not get off, hence the phrase “I was shanghaied”.
IMF World Economic Outlook, Summary: 'We're Screwed'
Monday, 18 April 2022
The International Monetary Fund has released the April 2022 World Economic Outlook. Unsurprisingly, the ongoing Ukraine conflict is front and centre.
So, who is your favourite diplomat?
Tuesday, 12 April 2022
When I was a kid, someone told me that “a diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a tactful way in such a way that that you’ll look forward with pleasure to making the trip.”
Punch-drunk idiots
Thursday, 7 April 2022
Yesterday, US president Joe Biden and his acolytes in the EU announced sweeping new sanctions against Russia
Going after oligarchs? Dumb move...
Tuesday, 5 April 2022
The word “oligarch” was derived from the Greek word ὀλιγαρχία “ Oligarkhia” meaning ὀλίγος “oligoi” (few) and ἄρχω “arkhein” (to rule).
Is this the real 'Great Reset'?
Monday, 4 April 2022
A number of significant events over the past few days. Let’s note some of them and look at what pulls these together.
1. In Hungary:
The party of nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán has won a landslide victory in the country’s general election in spite of western media predictions that the results would be “too close to call .”
Truth, lies, and sellotape
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
A few thoughts around what has been happening in the world recently. You decide which is which.
Extraordinary renditions go mainstream
Sunday, 27 March 2022
In July 2021, Nigerians woke up to the news that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of a banned separatist movement known as Indigenous People of Biafra, had been arrested and brought to the capital Abuja.
Kanu , who also holds UK citizenship, fled Nigeria in 2017 while out on bail facing charges of terrorism and incitement. He had reportedly been living in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, since his escape.
How did he end up paraded in handcuffs in Abuja? According to his family, Kanu was a victim of extraordinary rendition — they say he was kidnapped in Nairobi by Nigerian authorities.
Saudi Attack: brace for another oil price hike
Friday, 25 March 2022
Spectacular pictures coming out of Saudi Arabia this evening after a Houthi militia attack on an Aramco facility in Jeddah.