Simon Tisdall hits the mark in his analysis of our contemporary “villains” but I fear he is over-generous (“In an unheroic age, Putin, Trump and Netanyahu are sick parodies of great men”). For these men are tyrants and their impact goes beyond their murderous actions, crimes against humanity and “undermining of universal values”. Perhaps their … Read more
The question I feel as though, over the years, I’ve allowed setbacks to knock down all my pillars of happiness and now feel I just live among the ruins.When I was young, I read books where naive anti-heroes had funny experiences and I thought if I was open-minded, funny things would happen to me, too. … Read more
Children in care: ‘Stop moving our things in bin bags’ When Elliott was taken into care at 12 years old, he was told to pack all his belongings into black bin bags. A pendant given to him by his nan – who he did not know when he would see again – was lost on … Read more
BBC Terry Wiggins, a chef who leads the catering team at Westminster’s Portcullis House, is retiring this month after 50 years. He reckons he has served 13 prime ministers in that time and is still dreaming up new recipes. “Can I have more pork please?” Terry bellows in the direction of the kitchen. Under the … Read more
Nikki Fox/BBC The full public inquiry into mental health services is something Lisa Morris (left) and Melanie Leahy have waited years for For mothers Melanie Leahy and Lisa Morris, the long wait for a full public inquiry into the deaths of mental health patients in Essex is finally over. On Monday Baroness Lampard will open … Read more
Sarah Ward Cherym say women are so under-represented in the industry, they’re often mistaken for other band’s girlfriends when they show up to gigs “When we first started in the music industry, it was pretty much a boys’ club,” says Hannah Richardson, Cherym’s lead singer and guitarist. “We were like, why can’t girls do it? … Read more
BBC David Morrissey reprised his role for the second series The return of BBC series Sherwood has once again had viewers gripped. The hard-hitting, gritty drama focuses on gun crime and gangs in post-industrial Nottingham. But some viewers have taken to social media to debate the credibility of its opening plotlines. Warning: This article contains … Read more
BBC Stephanie Soucek is at the Door County Fair to woo women to vote for Trump Surrounded by food trucks, Ferris wheels and funnel cake stands on a hot August afternoon, Stephanie Soucek has one goal in mind. The 42-year-old chair of the Republican Party in Door County, a bellwether district in the battleground state … Read more
BBC Ingolf thinks the rest of Germany looks down on people from the old East “If the old parties had done their jobs properly then the AfD would not exist,” Ingolf complains, echoing a common sense that the rest of Germany looks down on so-called “Ossis” in the east. Far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have … Read more
Stanis Bujakera Stanis Bujakera, one of DR Congo’s most prominent journalists, says he was traumatised by his stay in Makala Prison In attempting to describe Makala Prison – the scene of a deadly and failed breakout this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo – two people who have been inside used the exact same … Read more