I have always thought of myself as the very model of a model European. Both sets of my grandparents were diplomats who lived and worked all over Europe and the world, and spoke several languages. My father grew up in Lyon, where he learned to appreciate good food and wine. Even more, he considered western … Read more
Senior Tory: leadership candidates ‘too frightened of party membership’ to get to root cause of election defeat Former justice minister David Gauke has cautioned that the current contest for the Conservative party leadership is failing to learn the lesson of why the party suffered such a huge defeat in the general election, and the crop … Read more
In January 2024, the US Defense Intelligence Agency’s Middle East crisis cell awoke to the heartbreaking news that three US soldiers had been killed in a drone strike on the Tower 22 base in northern Jordan. In our headquarters in Washington DC, we were saddened – but not surprised. Back then, I was an officer … Read more
How do you follow the game that made the world cry? It’s a question that’s haunted writer Graham Parkes ever since 2021’s Bafta-winning Before Your Eyes. Released during the height of lockdown, Parkes’ webcam-controlled yarn uses players’ blinks to fast-forward through protagonist Benny’s memories, blinking in and out of each uplifting and gut-wrenching moment of … Read more
Critics argue that such statements are not only baseless, but also dangerously undermine the sacrifices made by the armed forces. Recent allegations by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah suggesting collusion between the Indian security forces and terrorists have sparked a heated controversy. Security experts and officials have quickly moved to counter these … Read more
Tom Daley is only 30 but it feels like he’s been part of our sporting lives for ever. Britain’s most successful diver has gone from prodigy to legend over five consecutive Olympics. Here’s a look at how the Guardian has followed Daley’s journey over the years. Beijing 2008: debut and row with teammate Daley during … Read more
A war of words has broken out between the former Australian prime minister Paul Keating and the former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi over Taiwan, after the prominent Democrat accused Keating of making a “stupid statement” about the territory. Keating was quick to hit back on Tuesday, suggesting Pelosi had “very nearly” sparked a military … Read more
BBC A fashionable alligator handbag and tiny vials of perfume that still release a potent scent are just some of the precious artefacts recovered from the world’s most famous shipwreck – the Titanic. The exact location of the warehouse where they are stored is a closely guarded secret, because of the value of its contents. … Read more
As my train inched its way into the station at La Souterraine, some three hours south of Paris on a blisteringly hot June afternoon, the woman in the seat next to me asked: “Vous descendez ici?” Her expression seemed to say “Really? You’re getting off here?” Map for Monet I could see what she meant. … Read more
Introduction: UK jobless rate drops Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Unemployment across the UK has dropped unexpectedly, as more people find work – or drop out of the labour market altogether. The latest labour market data, just released, show that the UK unemployment … Read more