(Posted 02/17) A second international arrest warrant has been ordered for the former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo amidst allegations that he received up to $20m in bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The former president would, in return, have granted a lucrative contract to build a transoceanic highway between Brazil and the Peruvian […]
Brexit Musings 1 : “I’ve Started, So I’ll Finish”
Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, the Brexit negotiations are finally upon us. And this is where I get really busy because from now on, I’m going to follow what happens in Brussels very closely. Not surprising, because I’m one of those bargaining chips up for grabs – or, at least my UK qualification […]
Simone Veil And Abortion – A Woman’s Voice In A Man’s World
Simone Veil (1927 – 2017) [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Abortion is a drama and will always remain a drama[/perfectpullquote] Simone Veil will be remembered as the health minister who gave women throughout France the right to abortion, as well as being the first woman to become president of the European Parliament. She […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (II) – The UK’s Proposals
For over a year, Theresa May has prided herself in refusing to reassure EU nationals about the impact of Brexit on their personal lives, until the Brexit negotiations had started, and the EU had given similar reassurances concerning UK nationals in the EU. It must be said that she has kept to her word, and […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (I) – The European Council’s Proposals
The prospective deal that Theresa May offers EU citizens already living in the UK, is a minimalist view on an ideal world for EU nationals. Once again, she has failed to make a connection with ordinary people, this time with genuinely worried EU expats in the UK, and British expats living in the EU. Her […]
Article 50: “Je T’Aime, Moi Non Plus” (I Love You, Me Neither)
A year after the Brexit vote, the long negotiations between the UK and the EU have begun. Having been deeply saddened by the referendum result and the UK’s triggering of Article 50, I now ask myself if the UK has ever been a true EU member and has European ideals. It is now clear that […]
UK Election: “And The Winner Is…Democracy.”
By calling a snap general election, Theresa May took a gamble and failed miserably. From having a small majority in the last parliament and a 20-point lead in the opinion polls, she has ended up with neither. On hearing the news, on Friday morning, I got out of bed with a spring in my step. […]
UK Election – Half A View From Half An Expat
The UK election is upon us and, even for a disenfranchised expat (well, half an expat), it’s still interesting. It’s that time again in the political calendar, where all politicians become very nervous, and start belatedly worrying about what everybody else actually thinks of them. If I were in Theresa May’s shoes (something that my […]
Taming The (Lone) Wolves
Saturday’s London terrorist attack affects us all deeply, whether we were directly involved, or watching it from a distance. I feel particularly saddened by the attack because it took place in a part of London that I’m so familiar with, having qualified at Guy’s Hospital, all those years ago. The attack is just the latest […]
- Science
- ...
Pennies From Heaven – Trump Turns His Back On Humanity And Reason
In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord… – Donald Trump, June 2017 And every time it rains, it rains, pennies from heaven Don’t you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven You’ll find your fortune fallin’ all over […]