Jill Lawless

The Pierre Trudeau one is the best.

Former army chief seen as Zelenskyy's top rival reveals to AP a rift between them The former Ukrainian army general widely seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken publicly for the first time about a deep rift between the two men.

The former Ukrainian army general widely seen as the top political rival to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken publicly for the first time about a deep rift between the two men.

Tremors from the Epstein files rattle the age-old foundations of Britain's House of Lords Britain’s House of Lords is facing scrutiny as an indirect result of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Peter Mandelson quit the Lords over his friendship with Epstein.

Tremors from the Epstein files rattle the age-old foundations of Britain's House of Lords

apnews.com/article/uk-h...

‘First feline’ Larry marks 15 years as Britain’s political top cat Larry the cat is marking 15 years as Britain’s Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street, a symbol of stability in turbulent political times.

‘First feline’ Larry marks 15 years as Britain’s political top cat - a symbol of stability in turbulent times.

apnews.com/article/larr...

Eek.

I do love an Olympic opening ceremony.

Looking forward to getting to grips with this later. #BurnsNight

London’s homicide rate is at a record low as mayor says it disproves Trump's 'dystopian' claims London's murder rate fell in 2025 to its lowest level in decades, officials said Monday. Mayor Sadiq Khan said the figures disprove claims by U.S.

London’s homicide rate is at a record low as mayor says it disproves Trump's 'dystopian' claims

apnews.com/article/lond...

10 years.

My word of 2026 is potato.
Pretty satisfied with that.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, warm wishes to all.

Title: The last-minute christmas rush at the bookshop. Image: diagram of a small bookshop packed with coloured dots representing people. The various colours represent the following groups: Contentedly browsing customer, Frazzled staff member, Can't find the book they want, Can't remember what they came for, Complete decision paralysis, In the queue to pay, Thinks they're in the queue but aren't, Dozed off in a comfy chair, Waiting to pounce on the comfy chair, Crying child, Crying adult, Vortex of discombobulated shoppers.

“The last-minute christmas rush at the bookshop.” - my latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books

Crystal Fabergé egg crafted for Russian royalty shatters record and sells for $30.2 million A rare Fabergé egg crafted for Russia’s ruling family before the revolution has sold for more $30 million.

A rare Faberge egg crafted for Russia's ruling family before the revolution has sold for more $30 million.

Tom Stoppard, sparkling playwright who won an Oscar for 'Shakespeare In Love,' dies at 88 British playwright Tom Stoppard, who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998’s “Shakespeare In Love” has died. He was 88.

Farewell to Tom Stoppard, one of the greats.

apnews.com/article/stop...

Author photo bookalikes.

So, happy 50th anniversary to Melody Maker’s review of Bohemian Rhapsody: “Queen, with a suitably baroque vocal orchestration, contrive to approximate the demented fury of the Balham Amateur Operatic Society performing The Pirates of Penzance”

If pressed, I’m Team Turner, but both halves of the Turner & Constable show at @tate.bsky.social are stunning.

Remembering Jimmy Cliff with the greatest film soundtrack ever.

Is there a word for this? The imprint of the leaf on the pavement.

Australian prisoner sues for his 'human right' to eat Vegemite A prisoner in Australia is challenging a state's ban on Vegemite in prisons, claiming that denying him the polarizing yeast spread violates his human rights.

“The polarizing yeast-based spread.” #secondmentions. Australian prisoner sues for his 'human right' to eat Vegemite

apnews.com/article/aust...

#celebritytraitors

Seriously. ☹️

Photo from 2017. Manchester again in my thoughts.

Literary mystery meets dystopian future in Ian McEwan's 'What We Can Know' Ian McEwan has released his 19th novel which is titled “What We Can Know.” The British author describes the book as “science fiction without the science.”

Dystopian, yes, but also a really fun book, sprinkled with asides on everything from poetry to snake surgery.
apnews.com/article/ian-...

Sonny Curtis, Crickets member who penned ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ theme, dies at 88 A vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote both the rebel anthem “I Fought the Law” and the theme to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Sonny Curtis has died at 88.

A vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote both the rebel anthem "I Fought the Law" and the theme to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Sonny Curtis has died at 88.

But who are the Mrs Brown’s Boys 1%?

At last Canada’s culinary greatness is recognized by the British media.

My career-long quest is to get it called by its proper (Canadian) name, a shuffle.

After 26 years and more than 1,000 episodes. One of the great radio shows.

I’m just a few episodes in. I’ll get back to you!