Astrology

Thousands turned out to line the streets for former boxer Ricky Hatton’’s funeral in Manchester Cathedral after his surprise death aged 47. During his glittering 15-year career, he won four world titles at both light-welterweight and welterweight. But after his retirement was open about his struggles with alcohol, drugs and depression including suicidal thoughts. He…

Living with never-ending suffering is the myth behind Chariklo, wife of Chiron, who was unable to heal himself from a poisoned arrow. Her task as caregiver was to create a sacred inner space more powerful than the endless challenge she faced – to transform the tragedy of her situation into a spiritual connection. Ben Belinsky…

Joan Kennedy, the shy, vulnerable first wife of Ted Kennedy, who had three children with him, and shared his problem with  alcohol, has died. Two of their children were cancer victims. Ted Jr. developed bone cancer aged 12, and Kara contracted  lung cancer and died of a heart attack in 2011 aged 51.  Joan was…

The convoluted responses from die-hard traditionalists within the Anglican Church at the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury are of little interest to outsiders. Evidently seven serving bishops say they welcome the new archbishop but wouldn’t receive communion from her.  Why are religious zealots so hung up about women/gender/sexuality? The ancient spirit versus flesh war still…

Two years since the Hamas attack on Israel there is a slender hope of a negotiated peace deal with Donald Trump pushing hard for a settlement. The attacks were the first large-scale invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, with 1,195 people killed by the attacks, 736 of them Israeli civilians. About 250…

Margaret Thatcher, the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the position, was born 100 years ago. A polarising and divisive figure in UK politics, she is still viewed favourably in historical rankings and her realignment towards neoliberal policies had a significant effect. A Soviet journalist dubbed her…

Writer Jilly Cooper, ‘Queen of the bonkbuster’ who brought sex and sharp-eyed social observation to Middle England’s bookshelves with rollicking tales of raunch and rivalry amongst the Cotswolds polo-playing classes, has died after a fall. Queen Camilla, whose first husband Andrew Parker-Bowles was said to have been the inspiration for the invented lothario Rupert Cambell-Black,…

James I of England, the first Stuart king of England, and James VI of Scotland, has had a less than glowing reputation, deemed as odd and effeminate and has been underplayed in comparison to Elizabeth 1 and Charles I. A new biography paints a different picture of an assured intellectual who promoted peace in Europe…

Actress Patricia Routledge,  a British treasure of screen and stage, with an extraordinary range, has died. Best known for  playing the social-climbing battleaxe Hyacinth Bucket in classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (“an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously.”) she also starred in Alan Bennett’s TV monologues, and in BBC One’s amateur sleuth…

Manchester is yet again shaken by a traumatic incident after a terrorist attack on a synagogue by Jihad al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest armed with a knife. Two victims were killed, one by friendly fire from the police, who also shot the attacker.  The city…

Another USA government shutdown has started with the prospect (at the minimum) of lay-offs – 750,000 federal employees expected to be placed on enforced leave, with pay withheld until they return to work, essential workers like military and border agents may be forced to work without pay, parks will be closed, rubbish pile up and…