There is so much more I could have said .. Uzbekistan is where Ulugh Beg’s observatory was mapping stars in the 15th century, and the native region of the man from whom we get the word ‘algorithm’. But mainly this is about travels with my mother!

In which Aditya Chakrabortty describes why my duties of more than 30 years were the most fun you could have with your trousers on.

Beautiful piece from Mishal Husain about a place i've always wanted to visit
theguardian.com/travel/2024/ap…

Bang on, from Sadiq Khan: 'Leaseholders in England should have the right to withhold service charges'
theguardian.com/society/2024/a…

Useful advice from Jeremy Clarkson on how to iron out any difficulties you might have with your planning application: theguardian.com/media/2024/apr…

בגדה המערבית חמאס לא שולט. שם אי אפשר להגיד שההרג של פלסטינים, שהמעצרים ההמוניים, שהפגיעה בילדים ובקטינים היא בגללם. בגדה המערבית יש פשוט כיבוש, שליטה צבאית אלימה על מיליוני בני אדם שנשלטים על ידי הצבא שלנו אבל שאינם אזרחי המדינה שלנו. חושבים שזה רע רק להם? זה יתפוצץ לכולנו בפנים

This is a beautifully-drawn portrait of a time and place that has now disappeared: Yugoslavia after Tito.

The best, or the only, way to define the current intellectual climate is to say that whatever people used to claim to be right, now they do the opposite and they claim only this is right.

Whoever disagrees with me is a troll. This is democracy.

One thing the student protests bring into focus is that American authoritarianism doesn’t flow from Trump.

They’re eating what now … pret sandwiches? Alright that’s it, you won me over. the innocent children must die

'If you want exposure to new cultures and new ideas, go to the fringes of London... That’s where the future of the city is being reimagined and remade – more interesting and optimistic than anything coming from the fetid minds of the right' Aditya Chakrabortty
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

If this were true, billionaire gasbags like Musk would be roundly ignored

Love this - an ode to Edmonton and Enfield!

Those British newspaper columnists opining that student protestors in the US are the ‘end of civilisation’ might wish to consider whether this kind of massive overreaction by the police is something they really endorse.

Anyone thinking about how London is changing would do well to read this brilliant article by Aditya Chakrabortty theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Aditya Chakrabortty Brilliant article but of course as creeping gentrification takes hold, Foxtonisation will be forced upon us. Hope politicians realise a London without the working and 'lower classes' won't work. Just a chattering class ghetto city ain't gonna cut it on the global scale.

Aditya Chakrabortty Couldn't agree more. Have lived in Perivale / Alperton area the last few years and it's far more interesting than Islington!

As London continues to be vilified by right-wingers as a 'no go area' Aditya Chakrabortty cuts through their toxic bluster to reveal a city reinventing itself on the margins 'more interesting and optimistic than anything coming from the fetid minds of the right'
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Important points are made here about the differences between outer and inner London, and the way they've changed dramatically. Hurrah for zones 3-5