Author: Leigh Banks

35Bn euros to Russia for fuel and 1bn to Ukraine for survival … the Tony award for EU self-interest Yes, the world has to survive as the powers-that-be fuel the bloody war in the Ukraine. We need oil and gas to stay alive, of course, But should we still be getting it of Putin? As… Continue reading Parsons knows – EU, the chickens of Kyiv

A woman hosting a Ukrainian refugee family fleeing the war has said they were asked to pay for luggage by an airline providing free ‘escape’ flights. Agnese Edmonds said the family was asked to pay £108.49 for two suitcases when they booked their tickets from Krakow, Poland to London Luton ewith Wizz Air. The flight itself was free, but the… Continue reading Wizz Air’s final-destination baggage. Is it a wheeze – or are they just taking the wazz out of Ukraine refugees?

People are saying that making the Ukraine a candidate for EU membership is a good day for Europe. It sends a ‘very strong signal’ to Putin. The move has set in motion a long process – potentially taking years – which could bind Ukraine closer to the West  Candidate status was also granted to Moldova,… Continue reading Looking back on the lady in the blood-red lake

Bruce almighty: Daughter’s instagram photos speak a thousand words to victims of the ‘silent’ disease This snap – and many others – taken by Bruce Willis’s 10-year-old daughter a few days ago express the loneliness of the long-distance aphasia victim… Mabel Ray Willis visited a ‘special’ place with her mum and dad and took cam-pix… Continue reading In the woods … Mabel, 10, snaps her dad as he faces loneliness of the long-distance aphasia sufferer

Jacques Levy’s widow has lost her wayward battle to cash-in on Bob Dylan’s giant song catalogue sale. Claudia Levy failed to overturn a previous Manhattan ruling that denied her lawsuit seeking a portion of the money Dylan made when he sold off his catalogue to Universal Music Group in 2020.  She had argued that her late… Continue reading Final crash on the Levy – Jacques widow desired Dylan’s millions and got nothing

Bobby Rydell, born in Philadelphia, became a teenage idol in the 1950s and was still working when he died at the age of 79. In more ways than one Bobby was a survivor … he survived the musical revolution of 60s and 70s and survived the rigours of the rock’n’roll way of life. And he… Continue reading How Bobby Rydell went from the Wild One to being Mr Nice who wanted to save lives

By Eric Lastick, a regular contributor MY BABYBOOM MEMOIRS: In the back page of childhood with my silver ponyboy, cap shooter; a capgun reprise, to an old’ gunslinger true task master of all those ‘’ Billy the kid’’ folklores. Lamp up and lights on, to one’s own crawlspaces of body and mind. BOYHOOD TAILS…so many,… Continue reading A babyboomer and the high plains drifter

Another of those people who became part of the fabric of British society, Dot Cotton actress June Brown has passed away, aged 95. She is said to have died at her died home in Surrey with her family by her side. An EastEnders spokeswoman said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June… Continue reading June Brown has said goodnight…

Inside are stories and videos of power and heroism across the Ukraine. We have focussed on the battered and broken, those who have lost everything .. families, homes, jobs. Ukraines cannot lose the future, none of us can until the big doors finally clank. But their future at the moment looks bleak, blighted and broken.… Continue reading A Nightingale will sing once more in Kyiv square

Once upon a time if the Peaky Blinders put you up against the wall you could well have been facing a brush with death… But Arthur-mo – a Brummie art instillation has capped that! And it aims to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. The epic 50m open air art gallery portrays all of… Continue reading Flat-cap this! As Shelby thugs say goodbye to telly, it’s chic-y blinder street art