Current Affairs

Condi Rice, America’s Secretary of State, delivered a stern dressing down to us pansy Europeans today, and we feel much bucked up for it. Stern words from Nanny never go amiss, particularly here in Britain. If you missed it, here are the key points (in track changes): * Our nationally

PledgeBank is an excellent site, part of the MySociety network, where you can make a public pledge to do something if a certain number of other people will pledge to do the same. That’s not to say there aren’t some strange pledges. Take this one, a natty fascist

An interesting episode in the French Assemblée Nationale, not a place prone to interesting episodes. The UMP – Chirac’s party – have blocked an attempt by the left to repeal a provision in a proposed law that requires schools to put a positive spin on the French empire, particularly in North

The BBC website discusses an intriguing idea – personal tradeable carbon allowances. The principle is the same as that used for large companies – you have an allowance, and if you exceed it you have to buy more, if you stay within it you can sell your surplus. I think it’s

The Argus reports that Conservative clubs in Sussex (not part of the Tory party officially, but a related organisation) have been revelling in longer opening hours, despite the party’s threats of death, destruction and mayhem.

The member of the House of Representative for the San Diego area has resigned, after admitting to taking almost $2.5m in bribes from defence contractors. Brown envelopes were not for Randy Cunningham – they don’t come that big – rather, he just let defence contractors buy him a house, pay

A harrowing site for a Friday evening, this is a Texas state government site, listing the offences and last statements of executed prisoners. Reading through them, two things occurred to me. First, while most last statements are thanks, a few statements are strong declarations of a perceived injustice, as pithy

Slate reports on one American’s attempt to swap a car for a bicycle.

Sir Christopher Meyer continues to try and have his cake and eat it. In response to a letter from John Prescott calling for his resignation, (reported here), Meyer responds: I am confident I can continue to do this job independently and impartially and effectively. Well, that’s not quite the

A disagreeable debate has flared up at the normally excellent Obsidian Wings. A contributor, Charles, sparked it off by blasting a Congressman who called for US withdrawal from Iraq, a ‘loser’ and a ‘defeatist’, and – essentially – blaming anyone on the left of the political spectrum for not having the balls