Ian Banks

Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest Dispiriting, deadly and unrevealing – there is a decent documentary to be made about the former model from Slovenia, but this one is unredeemable

“Ratner’s film plays like a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest in which a button-eyed Cinderella points at gold baubles……while her husband and his cronies prepare to dismantle the Constitution and asset-strip the federal government”.

www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...

American paramilitary units are on the cover of international newsmagazines.

But please, come visit and invest.

We’re “open for business.”

@economist.com
www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

The rise of Fafo parenting: is this the end of gentle child rearing? Mothers on social media are advocating a tough, no-nonsense approach to parenting. Does this teach children important lessons – or just make them feel isolated and ashamed?

Rise of FAFO ‘Fuck Around & Find Out’ of tough-love sees end of gentle parenting causing entitled young adult disappointment in cruel reality of life & societal collapse. But in SMS acronym-speak don’t forget CUL8R boomerang effect on our ultimate care home visits www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Melania Documentary Flops as Crew Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Chaos The first lady’s documentary was a mess in production—and now it’s struggling at the box office.

Toxic: Amazon spends $40m on rights & $35m on an aggressive marketing blitz, yet the ‘Melania’ film’s early failures comes as Rolling Stone details serious labor issues with two-thirds of production staff actually requesting not to be listed in rolling film credits. newrepublic.com/post/205753/...

Donald Trump says 'very dangerous' for UK to deal with China Sir Keir Starmer says

“Very dangerous” for UK warns hypocritical Trump yet he’s due in Beijing in April , after 2025 invite off Xi Jinping, to continue dialogue on trade, regional security & fentanyl to "reset" bilateral relations - with further U.S State Visit for President Xi later in 2026 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September Waymo has laid out plans for a robotaxi service in London with a pilot scheme due to begin in April.

Incredible technology and innovation even futuristic films like Bladerunner and 5th Element films didnt forsee. But mapping London cabbie ‘knowledge’ of streets is one thing what of all the bikes, couriers, deliveries, e-bikes, scooters and J-walkers with headphones on? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

YouTube video by Jonathan Pie Terror in America.

If it wasn’t so tragically true and close-to-the-bone Jonathan Pie’s blacker than black news parody would be an ironically funny watch youtube.com/watch?v=oU7L...

YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)

Not a public call to arms but to peaceful whistles and phones in Springsteen’s Streets of Minneapolis eulogy. We need more like this:

“In the winter of '26
We'll remember the names of those who died, On the streets of Minneapolis” youtube.com/watch?v=wWKS...

‘It’s not too late to fix it’: web inventor Tim Berners-Lee says he is in a ‘battle for the soul’ of the internet Founder of the world wide web says commercialisation means the net has been ‘optimised for nastiness’, but collaboration and compassion can prevail

Tim Berners-Lee says Net is “optimised for nastiness”, but that collaboration & compassion can prevail? He of all people should know and be listened-to - but what of the slow, incessant decline of basic morality, honesty, empathy and kindness in civil society too? www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland as MSPs back law Rest of UK has resisted calls to make builders install bricks that provide nesting for swifts and other endangered birds

Great to have Scottish legislation leading the way, but really not expensive or rocket science and ought to be an everyday UK design solution. Also, don’t forget other bird habitat bricks for house sparrows, redstarts & starlings etc - plus bats, bugs & bees! www.wienerberger.co.uk/products/bri...

I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.

I don’t let bullies win.

Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.

Two are dead in Minneapolis. Trump is to blame | Kenneth Roth The US president bears political responsibility for having greenlighted ICE agents’ regularly lawless conduct

“..Trump didn’t pull the triggers that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, but he bears political responsibility for having greenlighted the agents’ regularly lawless conduct”. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump continues to rail against Ilhan Omar after Minneapolis town hall attack – live Trump calls Minnesota congresswoman a ‘fraud’ who ‘probably had herself sprayed’; Omar says ‘I don’t let bullies win’ in remarks after town hall attack

His 2024 Supreme Court ruling sank Presidential standards of official conduct via immunities & moves away from decent ethical principles. So no surprise Trump on attack on congresswoman Ilhan Omar says she “probably had herself sprayed”. Can there possibly be any worse or more bigoted U.S President?

Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar attacked with 'unknown liquid' during town hall Omar was uninjured and continued to speak at the event following the incident.

Minnesota officials predicted “creepy”, “beyond weird” Trump’s “bigoted lies” on Somalis & Ilhan Omar in particular would incite violence. Thank goodness this wasn’t more serious - but one day it might, & then he as President would be culpable for stirring up hatred www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

YouTube video by Netflix Skyscraper Live | Official Trailer | Netflix

Awesome but stressful (even though not live and knowing the outcome), watching Alex Honnold ‘s epic free solo ascent of the 408m / 102 story ‘Taipei 101’ without ropes on Netflix Skyscraper Live. A dangerous death-defying live TV precedent though - So whatever next? youtube.com/watch?v=ZXiE...

Federal Open Market Committee The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.

Today critically sees start of 2-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting & US house price data. Odds of another US Govt. shutdown from 31st Jan increased to 80% chance as Democrats say they’ll block federal spending over fallout on Trump immigration crackdown www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypoli...

‘Embarrassed’ v ‘force to be reckoned with’: Americans on Trump’s foreign interventions From capturing Maduro to proposing a take over of Greenland – people respond to the president’s rhetoric

Americans on Trump a year after his Pandora’s Box was opened: “…It’s going to be a very long three years.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Trump officials continue to push lies after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti Trump and team seem to prioritize vilifying victims of their immigration operations, regardless of conflicting evidence

McLaughlin, Noem & Miller accounts seem inconsistent with public video evidence in absence of any ICE body cam. Justification or not for killing Alex Pretti can only be proven one way or other by truly impartial review & this ought to be law, not exception anyway. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Sepp Blatter suggests fans should not travel to US for World Cup The ex-Fifa boss showed his support of a Swiss lawyer who called for a boycott of the tournament due to security concerns in the US

So Sepp Blatter supports World Cup boycott by fans due to US security concerns? That crook’s not going anyway since as ex President, Fifa extended his ban from football to 2028 for various violations of code of ethics incl. £18m of illicit bungs taken 2010 to 2014 www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Suella Braverman accuses Tories of betrayal as she defects to Reform UK The MP was unveiled as Reform's latest recruit by leader Nigel Farage at a rally, bringing the number of the party's sitting MPs to eight.

So likely & cosy a fit in Reform for uber right-wing populous Cruella Braverman, I actually thought she had already jumped ship off the Tory-titanic after she resigned from Liz Truss's disastrous cabinet & later got sacked by Rishi Sunak. Am sure she will feel at home. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NRA and pro-gun groups call for ‘full investigation’ into killing of Alex Pretti Groups typically aligned with Trump call for investigation as NRA wades into the national dialogue

2nd Amendment as part of Bill of Rights confirms Right to Bear Arms, yet Bill Essayli appointed by Trump as California US attorney in 2025 says: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Watch: Federal and state officials give conflicting accounts of Alex Pretti's death Pretti's death comes less than three weeks after Renee Good was shot dead by an immigration agent in the city.

Beggars belief that in age of mass social media posts that such ‘1984 Newspeak’ of mistruth is not discredited easily. Surely in this day & age, ICE operatives in theoretical ‘line of fire’ should carry body worn video (BWV) cameras anyway? Guessing not in Minnesota? www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Andy Burnham 'disappointed' after bid to become MP blocked The Greater Manchester mayor is seen as a potential leadership challenger to Sir Keir Starmer.

TBH selfishly speaking, I would rather retain Andy Burnham as City Mayor of Greater Manchester than MP engineering his Labour Party ascendency anyway, but saying that, method of NEC decision & clear Labour paranoia on behalf of Starmer speaks volumes…https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr4e7ep468o

Is Zelensky a disliked dictator or a popular hero? Our poll of Ukrainians shows a surprising shift in the president’s ratings

Our poll of Ukraine is now in (N=1000). Mr Zelensky approval at >70%, very few want elections before peace. But also suggests 58% will not want Ukraine to concede territory, and that many also expect the war to end within the year ->
www.economist.com/europe/2025/... by @olliecarroll.bsky.social

The remarkable recovery of Narendra Modi Despite an electoral reverse in 2024, India’s prime minister seems dominant

You might think India’s prime minister would be blamed for mishandling the country’s biggest trading partner. Yet most Indians approve of him standing up to Donald Trump

Hvornår overhaler Parrick Dorgu Rasmus Højlund i antallet af flotte mål scoret for Man Utd? #pldk

Oftentimes can be frustrating watching Dorgu as a Man Utd fan, but when he is good he is very good and his goal tonight was a thing to behold! Have to remember he is so young. Great win tonight.

‘This is what fascism looks like’: terror in Minneapolis reminiscent of civil war Alex Pretti’s death could be a moment of reckoning for Democrats to call time on Trump waging war on his people

In the first year of his second presidency, Trump’s ICE deployments have been carefully aimed at cities that are Democratic-led and often Black-led…In this, he is borrowing from an authoritarian playbook” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Arsenal v Manchester United: Key stats and talking points Arsenal v Manchester United: Key stats and talking points

“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” once said Fergie and United seemingly winless against Gunners in last 6 Premier League games (drawn 1, lost 5). But here’s hoping lightning can strike twice following our Derby epiphany moment under Carrick last weekend. www.bbc.co.uk/articles/cly...

Putin wouldn’t need as much AI to recreate his Nanook of the North or King of the Bare look.