Military axis of Russia, China and North Korea will test what the West stands for

“Up Periscope”. We are all familiar with these words from wartime movies. They signify that those who have been tensely awaiting events are about to reconnect through a narrow aperture with the wider world. In the fast-moving world of international politics, diplomacy and trade, sometimes there is urgent need to survey where we are, while […]

Ministers need to stop pointing out obstacles to delivery – and start tackling them

When I wrote here last week about the vast range of issues that come within the remit of the Planning Board, I omitted to mention another very important category of decision-making powers that is vested in the board. These are functions in relation to compulsory purchase of land by the State or by local authorities and other State […]

The fragmented EU will struggle in negotiations with the US

You can bet your bottom dollar (if you’re still in that currency) that the various intelligence agencies will be concentrating many surveillance resources and personal connections to ascertain the negotiation agendas in respect of forthcoming talks on Trumps tariff war threats.  In particular, the European Union is, in terms of security for its negotiation process, […]

Tariff war a major self-inflicted wound for the United States

One of the advantages of having three sons interested in sports is that our household succumbed to early pressure to get the full Sky package more than 20 years ago. In those days Sky’s package included Fox News and I developed a strange fascination with the political slant of the channel.  People now rarely speak […]