Cross my heart and hope to die

If I could be anywhere writing about anything, right now, I'd be lost in Kiev. I used to read about certain countries in Europe after they threw bananas at some black soccer player, and say to myself, "I'll never go there." But I am a little older now, and I am more confirmed in the fact of this one-shot life. And knowing that this is not a dress rehearsal, and knowing, too, that questions are burning in me, and feeling that my whole purpose here is to observe, I simply don't much care anymore. I am past the age where one can afford to sit around waiting for the world to autoliberate from its various hatreds. And I have had my hatreds too. Like most humans. I began this blue period thinking mostly of justice for my people. And having explored that subject, I came to wonder how other societies handled their national crimes. And so we've spent the past few months thinking of some of the most horrifying wrongs of the 20th century, and in those wrongs I have seen so much of myself. It … [Read more...] about Ukraine Has Not Yet Died

Brief Encounter is based on David Lean's 1945 film of the same name (Image: Tony Bartholomew) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info But Brief Encounter asks us How many relationships were doomed before they began by the romance-response “no … we must be sensible”. The play follows a spontaneous love affair between characters Alec and Laura (Image: Tony Bartholomew) Related articles Donald Sutherland affair with huge star 'The most beautiful breasts' Olivia Newton-John on her vanished lover: ‘I’ll never be at peace’ David Lean's 1945 black-and-white film made Carnforth train station's clock a star and propelled Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson into stellar icons of the silver screen. Viewers in wartime … [Read more...] about Brief Encounter review: A light-hearted love letter to Blitz Britain

Fleeing conflict triggers the most horrifying of games of chance: Are you on the “right” side of a border when fighting erupts? Are you able to flee a city under siege in the brief moments when bombs are not being dropped? Do the people in your new, ostensibly temporary home have the wherewithal to support you as you find your feet? Questions and uncertainties do not end once you enter a place—a new city, a new country—that is safe from the violence. Instead, new ones emerge, and you must hope for the best. According to the United Nations’ refugee agency, more than 4 million people have undertaken this game of chance as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The majority are in neighboring countries—mostly Poland, but also Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova. (Among this overall number are more than 300,000 who fled to Russia and Belarus.) Of these, Moldova is the smallest and, in many ways, the most vulnerable. The country has barely more residents than does … [Read more...] about The Road to Moldova

After my father’s death, I didn’t write for two years. Even reading fiction no longer interested me. But when a friend mentioned W. E. B. Du Bois’s Dark Princess , a romance novel published in 1928, I was curious. The novel had been disparaged and overlooked by critics; maybe that’s why I was attracted to it. Did Du Bois, the renowned social scientist and activist—whose seminal book of essays, The Souls of Black Folk , remains one of the most influential works of African American literature—really write a romance? I had never been a reader of the genre , but death had recalibrated so much of my relationship to the world that it was hard for me to be definitive about anything, even my own tastes. Dark Princess begins in New York City with Matthew Townes, an aspiring obstetrician who is prevented from continuing his medical studies because he is Black. After leaving school, he travels to Berlin, where he meets Kautilya—a purple-haired princess from India who invites him to … [Read more...] about What W. E. B. Du Bois’s Forgotten Romance Novel Taught Me About Writing

Goals tend to come with the territory when Liverpool rock up for an afternoon of Premier League action. Jurgen Klopp is often smiling and who could blame him? He spends so much time celebrating Liverpool goals thanks to the likes of Mohamed Salah , Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, and, of course, club record £85million man Darwin Nunez. But Salah has not always been there to charge relentlessly beyond the defence, nor has Nunez been the man hurling his entire body onto the end of in-swinging crosses like a missile. And while Liverpool supporters may cower at the sight of some of their previous strikers, Daily Star Sport considers eight of Liverpool's worst strikers over the years. Andriy Voronin Read More: Jurgen Klopp shuts down transfer talk by insisting Naby Keita is Liverpool's solution Andriy Voronin made quite the impression on ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez when the pair first crossed paths. Benitez was impressed by the Ukrainian when he led the line … [Read more...] about Liverpool’s worst ever strikers and where they are now from Voronin to Le Tallec

T he text message came a little before 5 p.m. It was August 26, 2021. Eleven days earlier, the Taliban had overthrown the Afghan government. My friend—a German writer and academic—had been trying to help my family flee the country. Now she told me she had gotten my two younger sisters and me on the list for a flight to Frankfurt, a last-minute evacuation negotiated by the German government and a nonprofit group. “What about my mom?” I asked. She didn’t reply for a moment. “I was not able to get her on this flight,” she answered. Please, I begged her: “My brothers are gone and my father is living with his second wife. She just has us, no one else, for God’s sake please do something.” But there was nothing she could do. “These are the names that they offered me,” she wrote. “I know it’s a terrible choice.” She said we had 20 minutes to decide whether to stay or go. We would need to pack, then take a taxi to a secret location, where we’d meet the buses that would drive the … [Read more...] about My Escape From the Taliban

Friends revealed that GP Kate McCann, 43 spent five months on the book Friends said she “went to hell and back” to write the book she hopes will find her daughter, recollecting every detail from those first terrifying days four years ago. She is being thrown back into the global media spotlight as she prepares for the publication of her 400-page memoir titled Madeleine, billed as “the most heartbreaking book you will ever read”. Friends revealed that GP Kate, 43 spent five months on the book – which goes on sale on Madeleine’s eighth birthday next Thursday – and often broke down reliving her nightmare. She hopes its launch will be the key to the solution and is using it to appeal to the youngster’s kidnappers to “let her come home”. “The whole family is undergoing great stress,” said a friend who has been consoling Kate at her home in Rothley, Leicestershire. “Kate’s been in pieces.” Friends revealed that GP Kate McCann, 43 spent five months on the book She … [Read more...] about I’ve been to hell and back to revive the huge search for Madeleine, says Kate McCann

Harry Kane's 95th minute header secured a dramatic 2-2 draw for Tottenham Hotspur against Chelsea. Tuchel's summer signings combined to open the scoring, as £60m man Marc Cucurella teed up Koulibaly with an inch-perfect floated cross and the Senegalese ace volleyed home past a helpless Hugo Lloris. Raheem Sterling, another arrival this month, had a golden opportunity to double Chelsea's lead, but the former Manchester City man could only fire over, after some glorious footwork from Ruben Loftus-Cheek. However, Tottenham creeped back into the contest and got back into the game, courtesy of a slick 25 yard finish from Hojbjerg. But the equaliser only jolted Chelsea back into action and they were soon ahead again as James finished a wonderful team move to send Tuchel running up the touchline Jose Mourinho. However, he will likely regret his dart up the pitch as Kane's header pegged the Blues back in the 95th minute to secure what could be a huge point - Daily Star Sport considers … [Read more...] about Four things Thomas Tuchel got right and one wrong as Chelsea denied by last gasp Spurs

Tehran — Iran on Monday denied any link with the attacker of British author Salman Rushdie but blamed the writer himself for "insulting" Islam in the novel "The Satanic Verses." "We categorically deny" any link with the attack and "no one has the right to accuse the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in Tehran's first official reaction to Friday's stabbing. "In this attack, we do not consider anyone other than Salman Rushdie and his supporters worthy of blame and even condemnation," he said at his weekly press conference in Tehran. "By insulting the sacred matters of Islam and crossing the red lines of more than 1.5 billion Muslims and all followers of the divine religions, Salman Rushdie has exposed himself to the anger and rage of the people." Attack on Rushdie "an attack on freedom of expression" Rushdie, 75, was left on a ventilator with multiple stab wounds after he was attacked at a literary event Friday in upstate New … [Read more...] about Iran denies any link with Salman Rushdie’s attacker and blames the writer himself

Jesy Nelson has announced she has finished work on her debut solo album in an emotional Instagram post. ‘Just sat here listening to my album in my car and I’ve literally cried my eyes out like a baby,’ the former Little Mix star wrote on her Instagram Story. ‘I’ve never felt more proud. I can’t wait to share with you guys.’ The 31-year-old added that there were subjects explored on the new album that she’s never spoken publicly about before. ‘There’s things I’ve written on there that I’ve never spoken about, I’ve poured my heart and soul into this,’ she shared. ‘I just hope you love it as much as I do and the people that have worked just as hard on it with me,’ she added alongside a love heart emoji. However, who will distribute the new album is the next question. After reports that she was sent ‘back to the drawing board’ over the album’s material, Jesy’s former record company confirmed the Essex-based star parted ways with label Polydor after they ‘failed to … [Read more...] about Jesy Nelson reveals she’s finished first solo album in emotional post: ‘I’ve never felt more proud’