Section: The United Kingdom
A TV comedian wins the first round of Ukraine’s presidential election
FEW COUNTRIES are as disposed to spectacle and phantasmagoria as Ukraine, the birthplace of Mikhail Bulgakov and Nikolai Gogol. Their shadows, surely, enveloped springtime Kiev on March 31st as a comedian who plays the president in a popular TV show “Servant of the People” emerged as the likely next president of Ukraine. Ukrainian politics have...
Family of American killed in downed MH17 jet sues Russia banks, money-transfer firms
The family of an American killed when a Malaysian Airlines plane was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 filed a lawsuit on Thursday against U.S.-based money transfer companies and two Russian banks they accuse of providing services to the group they blame for striking Flight MH17. …read more Source:...
Terrifying moment lion attacks circus trainer in front of audience in Ukraine and FIGHTS it off
Horrifying footage shows the lion overpowering Hamada Kouta, 32, then clawing and mauling at him as he lies on the floor of the circus ring while the crowd shriek in Lugansk, in rebel-held Ukraine. …read more Source: Daily...
Ukraine is poised to elect a comedian as its next president
In a strange instance of art becoming life, Volodymyr Zelensky, who played the country’s president in a popular tv show, might soon assume the role for real. Ukraine may be about to elect a comedian as its next president. Some might see this as a dark joke, yet the rise of Volodymyr Zelensky reflects voters’ deep disillusionment with...
Ukrainian government bans gas price hikes before vote
The Ukrainian government has banned state-run gas producer Naftogaz from raising consumer gas prices, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said on Wednesday, a move likely to please voters but disturb the country’s creditors. …read more Source:...
As the western alliance crumbles, Russia and China are moving closer together
On diplomatic issues such as Syria and Venezuela, the two powers appear increasingly in lockstep. As the Western world fixates on Donald Trump, Brexit and all its other problems, its rivals watch with fascination and glee. Russia and China are cooperating more closely than ever before, learning from each other and increasingly confident they can...
A comedian could be Ukraine’s next president. How did that happen? | Volodymyr Ishchenko
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has united a polarised country by rejecting angry nationalism – but his politics offer no panaceaA politically inexperienced comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is in the lead after the first round of presidential elections in Ukraine – and by a huge margin. He is almost 15 percentage points ahead of the incumbent president, Petro...
How funny is the comedian who may be Ukraine’s next president?
Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the leading candidate to take the top job in his country – so who is he, and will he bring the laughs?It’s a gag worthy of an Armando Iannucci screenplay. And yet it is real. In this week’s presidential run-off in Ukraine, 41-year-old actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a political unknown, leads the pack of...
Comedian faces scrutiny over oligarch ties in Ukraine presidential race
Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy is leading the race to become Ukraine’s next president thanks to an insurgent campaign that rails against corrupt politicians influenced by rich oligarchs. …read more Source:...
Speaking slang and ‘educated Geordie’ | Brief letters
Regional dialects | Boycotting posh hotels | April Fools’ Day | Comedians in politicsKaty Guest affirms the Oxford English Dictionary’s contribution to our understanding of regional English varieties (Embrace our regional slang, or you can kiss my chuddies, 1 April), but we should not forget the work of that other pillar of the...
