Sexual intrigue turns into a matter of national security

Robert Harris describes a prime minister’s love affair as the first world war looms, summer of 1914, a world on the brink of catastrophe.  Imagine how powerful and successful older man can fall in love for a much younger woman, who is flattered and moved by attention. In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with none other than the Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state. As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with … Continue reading Sexual intrigue turns into a matter of national security

Combing through the wreckage after an affair

Tim Park’ story of discovery and self-discovery in a superbly crafted satisfying novel and his study of the aftermath of an affair – the oldest game in town- between Dan Burrow, the headmaster of a public school in Yorkshire and our narrator and Julia, the mother of two of his pupils. Or better say former affair and former head master, because we join Dan’s story when it’s all over, and he is combing through the wreckage. He’s recreating a walk he and Julia undertook years before, from Konstanz in Germany to Como in Italy. That earlier walk also followed the … Continue reading Combing through the wreckage after an affair

Berkshire is valued at $1tn

Warren Buffet’s Group Berkshire has become the first publicly traded Us company outside the tech sector to be valued at $1tn, joining an exclusive club dominated by Apple and Microsoft. The conglomerate has been transformed by Buffett over six decades powering into almost every corner of the US economy, including railcars over 32, 000 miles of track across the US, owns parts manufacturer for Boeing, and also runs one of the biggest US motor insurers. Buffet, now 94, spent a year selling stocks including half the stake in Apple that triggered large profit for Berkshire. Shareholders have rewarded Berkshire, pushing … Continue reading Berkshire is valued at $1tn

Two Delta Airlines maintenance workers killed while servicing plane

Two Delta Air Lines workers who were servicing  a Delta Plane  at the airline’s wheel and brake shop at Hartsfield – Jackson, Atlanta International Airport have been killed and one seriously injured after an accident at an airline maintenance facility shortly after 5:00 local time on Tuesday. According to local medical authorities Mirko Marweg 58 and Luis Aldarondo, 37  were identified as the dead men. In a statement, the airline said : “The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning at the Atlanta Technical Operations Maintenance … Continue reading Two Delta Airlines maintenance workers killed while servicing plane

Telegram founder arrested in Paris

Pavel Valeryevich Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on landing in Paris on Saturday evening, But why did French police detain him? Sources close the investigation about the offences Pavel Durov may be charged with allegedly from complicity in drug-trafficking to fraud. Telegram put on statement saying Mr Durov had “nothing to hide On Monday evening, the Paris prosecutor said in a statement that Mr Durov was being held in custody as part of a cyber-criminality investigation.  The statement mentioned 12 different offences under investigation that it said were linked to organised crime, … Continue reading Telegram founder arrested in Paris

Eriksson has died aged 76

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 Eriksson, the first non-British manager of the England team, led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals at three major tournaments during his five-year tenure in charge between2001 and 2006. In January 2024, Eriksson was diagnosed with cancer. His children Line and Johan, said, on Monday “Our father Sven-Goran Eriksson fell asleep peacefully in his home at Bjorkefors outside Sunne this morning”. He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness , but now it came to an end. Dad told us at the beginning of … Continue reading Eriksson has died aged 76

Siblings lost and found

Nancy, a London-based narrator, has just discovered that she has a half-brother from New Zealand and a half-sister, inherited from her father’s previous relationship. Her other has died recently  and never fully explained to the reader. Nancy finds to her surprise that she is pregnant by a distant partner. The discovery of Oliver , her half-brother, ruptures Nancy’s relationship with Rita her half-sister. Rita struggles to accept a stranger as part of a family that is complicated enough especially when doing so tarnishes the image of her late father. Nancy’s world is punched inside out at the above discoveries. As … Continue reading Siblings lost and found

Global businesses lost trust of the public

Capitalist elite runs corporation as a business  that uses its accumulated wealth to own the means of production and exercise economic power. In the twenty-first century, our most desired goods and services aren’t stacked in warehouses or on container ships, they appear on your screen, fit in your pocket or occupy your head. Although, we consume more than ever before, big business faces now faces a crisis of legitimacy. The pharmaceutical industry creates life-saving vaccines but has lost the trust of the public. The widening pay gap between executives and employees is destabilising our societies. Facebook and google have more … Continue reading Global businesses lost trust of the public