Universities are on the frontline in the UK’s battle against Islamic extremism July 21, 2015 Mohammed Emwazi, Michael Adebolajo, Seifeddine Rezgui – by all accounts quiet, unassuming individuals until they became ISIL’s celebrity executioner, Lee Rigby’s murderer, and author of the Tunisian massacre respectively. Insofar as any common thread binds this grim trio and all too many other recent terrorists, it is not poverty, deprivation or social isolation, but their [...]
Balotelli riles Reds as Sterling enjoys flying start for City July 21, 2015 ENGLAND’S most expensive player Raheem Sterling scored less than three minutes into his Manchester City debut yesterday, prompting former Liverpool team-mate Mario Balotelli to spark a Twitter row. Sterling slotted home just 137 seconds into City’s pre-season tour match against Roma in Melbourne, his first appearance since leaving Anfield under a cloud in a £49m [...]
The Bank of England could – and should– have raised UK interest rates much sooner July 20, 2015 Heartening as it was to hear the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, dropping hints last week about the raising of Bank Rate, serious doubts remain over the effectiveness of the low interest rate regime in reviving the economy. Moreover, the impression continues to be given that the delay in raising rates carries [...]
David Cameron sets out five-year plan to fight Islamic extremism in UK July 19, 2015 The Prime Minister will today call on Britain to fight the “subversive” doctrine of Islamist extremism and its “sick worldview”. In a keynote speech in Birmingham today, the Prime Minister will set out the principles he will adopt over the next five years to defeat extremism. Addressing the “struggle of our generation”, he [...]
We should be proud of our City – and what it contributes to UK society July 19, 2015 The City has had an action-packed fortnight, stuffed with events that each had a very different focus and a very different meaning. On 7/7, the whole country paused to reflect on the bombings of 2005. Sombre yet inspiring services were held across the UK, including at St Paul’s Cathedral, which provided opportunities to honour those [...]
Meet Paul Lister, the Laird who wants to re-introduce bears, wolves and forests to the Scottish Highlands July 19, 2015 It says something about the wildness of Alladale that TV adventurer Bear Grylls chose a spot nearby to set up his Survival Academy. It’s a wild place: Paul Lister, the Laird of this Victorian hunting lodge in the Scottish Highlands, might even answer the baronial door wearing a wolf mask. It’s his self-deprecating joke; [...]
48 hours in… Belgrade July 19, 2015 WHERE TO STAY The city isn’t the prettiest in eastern Europe, but Hotel Moskva in the centre is beautiful inside and out. With a great restaurant and spa, it’s the most comfortable way of doing Belgrade. Visit hotelmoskva.rs, rooms start at €89 WHERE TO GO The National Museum of Serbia is the largest in the [...]
Iran nuclear deal: After the nuclear deal, Iran is our “frenemy” July 17, 2015 Tuesday’s agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme is a momentous achievement, but only if it can be enforced and verified. Following the diplomatic deal in Vienna, Western governments should engage with Tehran, but also help to contain Iran’s growing influence in the region. While Tehran celebrates the upcoming removal of international sanctions, its neighbours are anxious; [...]
North Koreans are about to go to the polls in local elections – but they can only vote “Yes” July 17, 2015 It's not necessarily the kind of thing you'd expect from the country run by a man prone to shooting those who fall asleep when he's in the same room – but this weekend the residents of North Korea will go to the polls to elect their local people's assemblies. Of course, as The Economist reported [...]
Buckwheat to score Summer Hurdle hat-trick for Fergie July 16, 2015 THIS is one of the more low-key weekends of the Flat racing calendar and for that reason I’m also going to take a look at tomorrow’s decent National Hunt card at Market Rasen. John Ferguson only started training jumpers four years ago, but he’s still managed to win the last two editions of the Summer [...]