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Talk about Newsnight

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Newsnight Review - 29 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 29 Sep 06, 05:22 PM

center2_203.jpgThe panel, chaired by Kirsty Wark, discuss Oliver Stone鈥檚 World Trade Center, the 鈥渕ockumentary鈥 Death of a President, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, and the exhibition Holbein in England at Tate Britian.

Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel, Sir John Mortimer, Nikki Gemmell, Rachel Campbell-Johnston and Johann Hari.

Friday, 29 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 29 Sep 06, 04:22 PM

meldrew_203.jpgAge discrimination in the workplace is about to be outlawed 鈥 what differences will the new legislation make? Nato wants to open up a new front in Afghanistan but where will it get the troops it needs? Plus racing cars in the boardroom.

Comment on here.

Can McLaren's software keep a business off the crash barriers?

  • Paul Mason
  • 29 Sep 06, 02:49 PM

We had a fascinating day at the futuristic bond-like HQ of McLaren, the Woking-based Formula One team. They're about to spin off the software that runs race strategy into a commercial business tool aimed at chief executives. The software analyses about 8 million possible scenarios per race, and recalibrates the possibility of them happening every two seconds: the idea is that the same methodology - for geeks it is based on Bayesian probability - can be used to speed up and make rigorous the kind of strategic decisions you have to take if you are a chief executive...

Continue reading "Can McLaren's software keep a business off the crash barriers?"

Thursday, 28 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 28 Sep 06, 05:20 PM

tony_203.jpgPakistan鈥檚 president meets Tony Blair and is expected to ask questions about the . John Prescott announces he will step down as deputy leader; the rainforest timber that's being used in the House of Commons and government offices as part of a multi-million pound refurbishment programme; Michael Crick's invitation to a Tory meeting; and Martin Amis talks about his new book.

Comment on here.

What's in a speech?

  • Martha Kearney
  • 27 Sep 06, 07:53 PM

clinton_203.jpgOnce, politicians used to practise their speeches by filling their mouths full of pebbles to practise voice projection. Things have changed a bit since Demosthenes' time.

Nowadays politicians practise on autocue the night before in the conference hall. One year we all got a preview of Iain Duncan Smith's speech which was accidentally broadcast on our ringmain. The quiet man had cranked up the volume by mistake.

So as a form of political communication have speeches dated a bit over two and half thousand years? An old fashioned tub thumping style doesn't work well on television. Neil Kinnock who was one of the country's best orators in a hall was often disastrous on TV. His delivery was once compared to a tortoise trying to reach orgasm. And you must remember the Sheffield rally.

Continue reading "What's in a speech?"

Bed Bugs and brass bands

  • Martha Kearney
  • 27 Sep 06, 05:26 PM

trumpet_203.jpgDay Three in the Big Conference House and the strains are already beginning to show.

You may know that there is a certain amount of condition between ourselves and the Today programme.

On Monday () they were bombed by pigeon droppings. Now in a spirit of oneupmanship we've been hit by bed bugs.

Our cameraperson Julie - veteran of many war zones - was a bit surprised to be attacked by bedbugs in Salford. Morale was further lowered when the team arrived at work this morning slightly jaded after intense late night political analysis in the Midland Hotel bar to find a brass band practising loudly in our newsroom.

See how we suffer for you.

Continue reading "Bed Bugs and brass bands"

Wednesday, 27 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 27 Sep 06, 05:09 PM

musharraf_203.jpgWe talk to Pakistan鈥檚 President Musharraf about the so-called 鈥渨ar on terror鈥; how police have been using legal loopholes to avoid speeding convictions; and Martha Kearney reports from Manchester on Bill Clinton鈥檚 speech at the Labour Party conference.

Comment on here.

In the Line of Fire - Pervez Musharraf

  • Newsnight
  • 27 Sep 06, 05:02 PM

musharraf203.jpgHeads of state usually hold off publishing memoirs until they have left office behind and are unfettered by diplomatic niceties. But Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has chosen to publish an account of his experiences as premier - including details of events surrounding the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington - while still in office. His claim that one US official used threats to secure Pakistan's cooperation in the so-called war on terror has caused much controversy.

On we speak to President Musharraf about his book, the war on terror and much else besides.

Watch Newsnight's report and interview here.

Read an extract from and leave your comments and reviews below.

Tuesday, 26 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 26 Sep 06, 05:35 PM

blair_conf203100.jpg comes from Manchester where Jeremy has been watching Tony Blair's valedictory speech to the Labour Party conference. Tonight he (Jeremy, not Tony) will be joined by guests including Alastair Campbell to consider the state of the party as Mr Blair prepares to take his leave of it. Meanwhile Justin Rowlatt has been preaching the benefits of leading an ethical life to Labour delegates 鈥 find out how he got on. And we return to the cultural melting pot that is the Nottinghamshire town of Eastwood.

Newsnight is at 10.30pm, but Talk about Newsnight never closes. Leave your comments on the programme below.

Monday, 25 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 25 Sep 06, 05:50 PM

brown1_203.jpgJeremy Paxman is at the Labour Party conference 鈥 he sat through the Chancellor鈥檚 speech today, as did Martha Kearney who reports on it for Monday鈥檚 programme. Also, Frank Luntz brings us the results of his most recent for Newsnight; and Steve Smith takes a look at some watercolours that have been attributed to Adolf Hitler.

Comment on here.

Disturbance levels

  • David Grossman
  • 25 Sep 06, 05:34 PM

Students of labour trivia will instantly notice that Cherie鈥檚 alleged comment (鈥渢hat鈥檚 a lie鈥) is exactly the same phrase as that octogenarian peace protester Walter Wolfgang shouted at Jack Straw last year. You鈥檒l remember his fate. The Labour party membership has rather taken him to their hearts and voted him onto the ruling National Executive Committee.

So why wasn鈥檛 Cherie slung out by Labour stewards this year? Well apart from being the wife of the PM, this year Labour has a far more nuanced approach to crowd control. We understand there are five levels of disturbance, each of which will elicit a different grade of response. I don鈥檛 know what they are, but here鈥檚 a guess:

Level 1 鈥 looking bored
Level 2 鈥 eating crisps or other noisy food
Level 3 鈥 booing
Level 4 鈥 swearing
Level 5 鈥 suggesting Gordon Brown may not have the electoral appeal to win Labour a fourth term.

Whatever happens I can't see Cherie being the membership's choice for the NEC next year.

How now Brown crowd?

  • David Grossman
  • 25 Sep 06, 03:30 PM

cherie1_203.jpgHas Cherie stolen the show? 鈥 I can report the press here in a bit of a frenzy looking for Cherie Blair 鈥 it appears she has taken Gordon鈥檚 speech a bit badly. Especially the bit where he described how well TB and GB worked together.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lie!鈥 said Cherie as she headed for the exit of the hall.

There is an alternative version from Downing Street that Cherie really said 鈥渃an I get by?鈥

Take your pick. Or are both versions wrong? What else might everyone鈥檚 favourite human rights QC have said as she left the hall?

The God Delusion

  • Newsnight
  • 22 Sep 06, 07:36 PM

thegoddelusion.jpgJeremy Paxman talks to Richard Dawkins in Friday's programme. Read extracts from Dawkins' book The God Delusion by clicking , then post your responses below.

Friday, 22 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 22 Sep 06, 06:19 PM

cheque_203.jpgIf major party donors dry up thanks to the cash for peerages allegations, should the taxpayer start footing the bill for our political parties? Plus Jeremy Paxman talks to controversial author Richard Dawkins about his book The God Delusion.

Comment on here.

Newsnight Review - Friday, 22 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 22 Sep 06, 06:02 PM

men5_203.jpgThe panel, chaired by Hardeep Singh-Kohli, discuss the film Children of Men; the book Kingdom Come from author JG Ballard; Piano/Forte at the Royal Court Theatre; and Rodin at the Royal Academy.

Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know if you agree with our panel Rosie Boycott, Ian McMillan, Paul Morley and Michael Portillo.

Have you given up flying?

  • Newsnight
  • 22 Sep 06, 11:54 AM

plane_203.jpgFor Justin Rowlatt's next Ethical Man film, he'll be looking at holidays and flying. When he had his carbon footprint taken at the start of this project air travel for his family holiday accounted for a massive chunk of his emissions - so, he's mended his ways and given up flying for a year. Of course, he thinks he's pretty special for doing that - but is he alone? We've heard quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that other people are ditching the wings in favour of other kinds of holidays and travel. Are you one of them? Have you quit flying for good? Let us know and we'll bring you the results of this most unscientific of surveys in October.

Thursday, 21 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 21 Sep 06, 03:53 PM

dhl_203.jpgThe health service strikes over plans to sell NHS logistics to German delivery firm DHL; the Green Party begins its conference but is there much point now the three main parties have gone green as well? Plus, how uncomfortable is Iran鈥檚 Jewish community finding life under Ahmadinejad?

Comment on here.

What's the point of the Green Party?

  • Newsnight
  • 21 Sep 06, 12:44 PM

greenparty_203.jpgThe Green Party conference gets underway today in Hove. But with the three main political parties having stolen most of its clothes, are the Greens now being left behind?

Were you once a member of the Green Party but have since changed allegiance? Do the Greens still have a part to play in today鈥檚 politics?

Let us know your views.

Wednesday, 20 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 20 Sep 06, 05:53 PM

abu_izzadeen_203.jpgAbu Izzadeen turns up at John Reid鈥檚 meeting in an East End Muslim community centre; the accusations that oil company Exxon funds groups who argue that global warming is not caused by human activity; and Sue Lloyd-Roberts returns to Romania after 16 years.

Comment on here.

Tuesday, 19 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 19 Sep 06, 06:03 PM

thailand_203.jpgMilitary coup in Thailand; pictures of Kurdish soldiers being trained by Israelis in Northern Iraq; and Sir Menzies Campbell on his day at conference.

Comment on here.

Campbell or Kennedy?

  • Newsnight
  • 19 Sep 06, 12:25 PM

campbellkennedy_203.jpgCharles Kennedy is to address the Liberal Democrats鈥 conference today and is expected to get a warm welcome.

Meanwhile, current leader Sir Menzies Campbell has won a vote on plans to scrap the party鈥檚 commitment to a 50p top tax rate.

Mr Campbell has said he鈥檚 not concerned about being overshadowed by Mr Kennedy today, but should he be? Many party members are still unhappy about the way Charles Kennedy was ousted nine months ago, and a recent poll suggested that twice as many members would prefer to see Mr Kennedy resume the leadership role than Mr Campbell.

So, does Ming have more than just tax to worry about?

Monday, 18 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 18 Sep 06, 05:18 PM

darfur_203.jpgRwanda鈥檚 president discusses his fears for Darfur; bungs and balls 鈥 we ask the Chief Executive of UEFA about self-regulation in football; Warren Blackwell talks about the conviction that was quashed last week; Iran鈥檚 President Ahmadinejad鈥檚 ongoing defiance; and the latest from the Lib Dem conference.

Discuss here.

Astrid Varnay, 88. Opera singer.

  • Paul Mason
  • 17 Sep 06, 12:44 AM

varnay203.jpgDuring the last two crazy weeks (Blair, iPods, NHS shenannigans) I've been trying to find time to write about Astrid Varnay, who died aged 88 on 4 September. She was a soprano who sang Wagner. At the start of the second world war she had a "Ruby Keeler moment" when, in 1941, she was called on to stand in at short notice as the female lead in Die Walkure at New York's Metropolitan Opera. As in all good "understudy makes good" stories, it just happened to be the performance that was being broadcast live to the nation. The next day Pearl Harbor happened! Thereafter she became, arguably, the greatest female opera singer in the world...

Continue reading "Astrid Varnay, 88. Opera singer."

Friday, 15 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 15 Sep 06, 06:00 PM

lansley_203.jpgThe government is accused of deciding hospital cuts and closures for political gain; the Pope has angered Muslims by being critical of Islam; and George Bush has responded to Colin Powell鈥檚 suggestion that he鈥檚 losing the moral high ground in the 鈥渨ar on terror鈥.

Post your comment on here.

Click here to comment on Newsnight Review

Newsnight Review - Friday, 15 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 15 Sep 06, 05:28 PM

dahlia1_index203.jpgThis week the panel, chaired by Martha Kearney, discuss the film The Black Dahlia; the latest novel by William Boyd, Restless; Ta-Dah, the new album by the Scissor Sisters; the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the V&A; plus Rupert Everett reads from his autobiography in the studio.

Comment on of Newsnight Review and let us know whether you agree with our panel Kwame Kwei-Armah, Mark Kermode, Rowan Pelling and Sarah Churchwell.

Chinese student protest caught on videophones

  • Paul Mason
  • 15 Sep 06, 10:51 AM

With the big internet companies getting hammered by the US Congress and human rights lobby, it's good to see that Youtube - the DIY internet TV channel - has been able to carry graphic footage, shot on a cameraphone, of students in Ruian, China protesting and getting dispersed by the police.

What happened, allegedly, was that a young teacher was found dead outside her apartment; the authorities concluded suicide; the student population took to the streets to question the verdict. Many took footage of their clash with police on their videophones, and posted them to blogs.

As the blogs got taken down, some footage appeared on Youube. You can read Sameer Padania's account of this unprecedented video revolt . And just click the link in the footage to see the footage at Youtube.

Thursday, 14 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Sep 06, 06:29 PM

icebergs_203.jpgA new report on global warming; former US president Jimmy Carter on Guantanamo; and is Clare Short about to lose the Labour whip?

Discuss here.

Would a hung parliament be good for Britain?

Faith and Freedom

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Sep 06, 05:44 PM

cartercover.jpgFormer American President Jimmy Carter, who appears on Newsnight on Thursday, argues how Christian values can inform and animate progressive politics in his book Faith and Freedom.

You can read an extract from his book by clicking 鈥 then add your comments and reviews below.

Would a hung parliament be good for Britain?

  • Newsnight
  • 14 Sep 06, 12:02 PM

short_203.jpgFormer Cabinet minister Clare Short has said she will step down as a Labour candidate at the next General Election.

Writing in Thursday鈥檚 Independent, she revealed that she had reached a stage where she was 鈥減rofoundly ashamed of the Government鈥 and that she believed the Labour Party had lost its way.

She concluded that 鈥渢he key to the change we need is a hung parliament which will bring in electoral reform鈥, a recommendation that has put her in the firing line of the Chief Whip.

So, would a hung parliament be a good thing for democracy? Would it add a 鈥減lurality of voices and power centres in the Commons鈥 and thus change British politics profoundly as Clare Short suggests? Is it even possible to campaign for a hung parliament?

Tell us what you think...

Wednesday, 13 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 13 Sep 06, 12:57 PM

graphic203.jpgIn Wednesday鈥檚 programme, Jeremy Paxman chairs a special debate about Britain鈥檚 public services, following Newsnight鈥檚 series looking at the in other parts of the world.

You can contribute towards the debate by posting your comments here.

iTunes vs eMusic - the business angles

  • Paul Mason
  • 13 Sep 06, 10:38 AM

ipods_mason_203.jpgI went to the launch of both the new, movie-enabled iPods and the new cross platform MP3 download service, eMusic last night. Not to the actual all singing, dancing and cocktail party bit of course - I had a programme to make (watch it here). There are two more bits to the story that are worth thinking about: (i) what would you make if iPod's didn't exist but you wanted a movie playing device (ii) the startling business transformation story that is behind both iTunes and eMusic, and how un-British both of them sound...

Continue reading "iTunes vs eMusic - the business angles"

Tuesday, 12 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 12 Sep 06, 05:12 PM

blair2_203.jpgTony bids farewell to the TUC amidst much heckling; Paul Mason wonders if iPods have a future; we debate whether modern life is bad for children; and look at the controversy involved in changing Iraq鈥檚 flag. Discuss, debate and comment on here.

You can also contribute to our debate, The death of childhood..? by clicking here.

The death of childhood..?

  • Newsnight
  • 12 Sep 06, 02:26 PM

kids50s1_203.jpgIs modern life making our children depressed? A group of more than a hundred top scientists, teachers, childcare experts and even children's authors have written to the Daily Telegraph saying that it is.

They argue that they need 鈥渞eal food (as opposed to processed 鈥榡unk鈥), real play (as opposed to sedentary, screen-based entertainment), first-hand experience of the world they live in, and regular interaction with the real life鈥.

They also say that children are having to cope with too much homework, are forced to grow up too quickly, but yet are too protected from the world.

So are they right? And is it really possible to live a life with children where they only ever climb trees and graze knees, never watch telly and don't do too much homework? We want to hear what you think. Do the letter writers have a point or are they harking back to a 1950s idyll of childhood that never really existed.

We鈥檒l also be discussing this topic in Tuesday鈥檚 programme.

Illegal migrants: the analysis the 麻豆约拍 Office will not release

  • Paul Mason
  • 12 Sep 06, 12:21 PM

(....or How Freedom of Information Works, Part 96). On 13 June, 麻豆约拍 Office minister Liam Byrne told MPs his mind was open on the proposal for an amnesty for illegal migrants. On 13 July he ruled it out. What had happened to make this change - a fairly major change if you are one of the 1/2 million people here illegally? Answer: "analysis". But will Newsnight viewers get to see that analysis? See if you can predict the outcome of this story...

Continue reading "Illegal migrants: the analysis the 麻豆约拍 Office will not release"

Monday, 11 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 11 Sep 06, 05:48 PM

flag_203.jpgIn a special, extended edition of Newsnight, we explore the impact of the 9/11 attacks on their fifth anniversary. A range of influential guests join Jeremy in the studio. You can discuss here.

The pornography of terror?

The pornography of terror?

  • Newsnight
  • 11 Sep 06, 01:12 PM

rubble4_203.jpgOn a day of ceremonies to mark the fifth anniversary of the 11 September attacks, Newsnight鈥檚 preparations are underway for a special edition of the programme this evening.

With guests that include General Sir Rupert Smith, the former Deputy Allied Commander of Nato; the novelist Martin Amis; the legendary US anchorman Dan Rather; the former CIA Director Jim Woolsey; Prince Hassan of Jordan; and the former PM of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, we鈥檒l be devoting an extended programme to the anniversary and the war on terror the attacks spawned.

It's a huge subject, but also controversial. Over the past five years 9/11 has touched the stories we do on Newsnight almost every day. But by making programmes that replay the iconography of the attacks, is there a danger of playing into the hands of the terrorists?

Also as part of tonight鈥檚 programme, we鈥檒l be talking to the artist Joel Meyorowitz, the only photographer to be given access to ground zero in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.You can view some of his images via his

Sketch: The TUC on the eve of battle

  • Paul Mason
  • 11 Sep 06, 07:51 AM

Sunday is a round of press conferences and receptions at the TUC, in which, if you are well attuned, you can work out the meaning behind what people are actually saying. I went into yesterday with the following unanswered questions:
- how much support is there for Alan Johnson, the only potential Blairite candidate who could hope to pick up backing here?
- what's the impact of John McDonnell's candidacy, beyond raising policies that nobody else is willing to?
- who are the unions thinking of for deputy leader?
- how are they feeling about Gordon Brown?
Here are the answers:
1. Johnson: the big four union leaders have clearly been talking to Alan Johnson, and not just about deputy leadership. However Tony Woodley's statements about Johnson were fairly unequivocal...

Continue reading "Sketch: The TUC on the eve of battle"

Now I am pissed off

  • Justin Rowlatt -
  • 8 Sep 06, 06:37 PM

I wanted to write about the controversy I caused by asking a child if he was 鈥減issed off鈥. The problem is my editor got there first, which pissed me off. What made it even more irritating is that he鈥檇 called me into his office the morning after my report and given me a mild dressing down. 鈥淎 word of wisdom,鈥 he said, 鈥渄on鈥檛 swear at children.鈥

ethicalgore203b.jpgGood advice, but in the meantime I need to blog about something else and this week I met (to steal his gag) the former future president of the United States.

Continue reading "Now I am pissed off"

Newsnight Review - Friday, 8 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 8 Sep 06, 06:25 PM

queen_poster.jpg
Helen Mirren in The Queen; Gaddafi, the Musical; Mark Haddon鈥檚 new novel A Spot of Bother; and Little Miss Sunshine. Comment on the of Newsnight Review and let us know whether you agree with the views of our panel, Julie Myerson, Michael Gove, Toby Young and Jari Kunzru.

Friday, 8 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 8 Sep 06, 05:37 PM

brown_smile203.jpgOn: Michael Crick follows Gordon Brown around Edinburgh on a day when the former home secretary Charles Clarke laid into the chancellor; we ask was George W Bush's claim that secret CIA prisons helped thwart terror attacks just an attempt to sweeten the pill of Wednesday's admission the prisons exist; and a contrite Ethical Man meets ethical Al Gore.

Thursday, 7 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 7 Sep 06, 06:14 PM

blair_school203100.jpgTony Blair's statement: is the damage already done? We spent the day following both Blair and Brown. CIA secret jails: Former Secretary for 麻豆约拍land Security Tom Ridge speaks to us about rendition, detention and human rights. Gaddafi the musical: Stephen Smith goes to meet the people behind the English National Opera's latest outing.

Blair's statement - is it enough?

  • Newsnight
  • 7 Sep 06, 03:28 PM

Tony Blair has confirmed he will stand down within the next 12 months, but does his statement go far enough? What do you think? Here it is in full:

"The first thing I would like to do is apologise actually on behalf of the Labour Party for the last week, which with everything going on back here and in the World has not been our finest hour to be frank but, I think what is important now is that we understand that the interests of the country that come first and we move on...

Continue reading "Blair's statement - is it enough?"

Write the statement that would get Blair off the hook

  • Newsnight
  • 7 Sep 06, 12:26 PM

blair203.jpgTony Blair is to make a statement on his future this afternoon following a period of resignations, intense speculation, political manoeuvring and poison.

But what can he say to get himself off the hook? What announcement can possibly end the Labour Party infighting?

In no more than 50 words, we invite you to pen a statement to becalm the party and reassert the authority of the government. It's a tough task. But we have faith in you...

The Great Immigration Scandal

  • Newsnight
  • 7 Sep 06, 12:00 PM

moxon203_logo.jpgWhen 麻豆约拍 Office immigration caseworker Steve Moxon was sacked for blowing the whistle on what he said was widespread abuse of the government's managed migration policy, he was denounced by many as being a xenophobic agitator. Now his ideas about immigration are beginning to be accepted by many. Read an excerpt of his book , then leave your comments and reviews below.

Wednesday, 6 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 6 Sep 06, 05:26 PM

blair3_203100.jpgResignations and rumours 鈥 just another chapter in the story of Blair鈥檚 future? Natasha Kampusch, the teenager who spent eight years locked up in a Vienna basement, gives her first interview, and ethical man Justin Rowlatt gets on his bike to take his cycling proficiency test. Comment on here.

Is Gordon behind it all?

  • Newsnight
  • 6 Sep 06, 04:47 PM

blair_brown203.jpgWere today's mass resignations a coordinated act, and if so, who was behind it? As usual the spotlight turns to Gordon Brown but, also as usual, he's nowhere to be seen.

What do you think, and what should Mr Brown do next? Let us know below.

And read what people have made of Tony Blair's position here.

What do you make of it all?

  • Newsnight
  • 6 Sep 06, 01:11 PM

blair_203.jpgBlair鈥檚 future, rightly or wrongly, seems to be on everyone鈥檚 lips (at least everyone in the media) and today's resignations suggest that this could be crunch time for the Prime Minister. So, what do you make of it all? Is the government in meltdown as David Cameron suggests or is this a small earthquake in Chile?

And what should Tony Blair do next鈥?

Is Gordon Brown behind all this?

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

  • Newsnight
  • 5 Sep 06, 05:28 PM

didioncover_logo2.jpgIconic US author and journalist Joan Didion's latest book, The Year of Magical Thinking, is a study of the grief she experienced following the death of her husband and illness and subsequent death of her daughter.

You can read an extract from the book and leave your comments and reviews below.

You can also watch Steve Smith's interview with Joan Didion here

Tuesday, 5 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 5 Sep 06, 05:08 PM

blair_afp203100.jpgThe never-ending story of Blair鈥檚 departure timetable, plus an interview with author and icon of US journalism, Joan Didion. Post your opinions of and its topics here.

Monday, 4 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 4 Sep 06, 06:11 PM

afghanistan_203.jpg
Mark Urban assesses the state of Nato鈥檚 mission in Afghanistan; Susan Watts brings us more on her investigation into stem cell treatments; philosopher Dr Peter Singer discusses his latest book, 鈥淓ating鈥, which is also the subject of Newsnight鈥檚 series; and the Best Public Services in the World series continues with a look at the Danish prison service. Post your comments on below.

"Eating" by Peter Singer and Jim Mason

  • Newsnight
  • 4 Sep 06, 04:22 PM

eating_203.jpg
On Monday's programme Newsnight speaks to controversial author Peter Singer. You can read extracts from his new book, Eating, by clicking .

Leave your comments about the interview, the book and the subjects it raises below.

You can also watch Newsnight's interview with Peter Singer here

Friday, 1 September, 2006

  • Newsnight
  • 1 Sep 06, 05:38 PM

molly_ap203.jpgIs the story of 12-year-old a parable for our times? Was there ever any real evidence that she had been abducted, or was it an assumption people were all too keen to make in the present climate where Muslims are being prejudged, just because they are Muslim?

Also, the forgotten plight of Gaza - is discussing what to do about the crisis in the Palestinian territories, alongside its discussions on reconstruction in Lebanon, but is it all hot air?

And Tony Blair's loyal MPs. Just how loyal are they?

We welcome your thoughts on the programme.

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