If you look at North Africa/Middle East, those countries that retained their monarchies (Morocco, Jordan, UAE, Oman, Saudi) have fared, on the whole, rather better than those that overthrew them (Lib… (View Post)

Well, yes. The lesson from this, and from Putin's writings, is always to take these people at face value or, if you like, their own value. Don't over-interpret. If they write, or speak, lik… (View Post)

You must be joking. Snippet from today's Guardian: "US president Donald Trump on Thursday again urged Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to strike a deal with Russia, claiming that Russia… (View Post)

The Reformers I've heard about on the grapevine are a pretty gruesome lot. Unbiddables with a high opinion of their own abilities not shared by anyone who knows them. But, maybe Lord Offord will… (View Post)

Sorry to say but I rather enjoyed this Guardian article about the discomfiture of the Dubai-based tax exiles caught in the cross-hairs. Obvs don't wish any of them harm (Mr Tice, please note), b… (View Post)