Decision to release FSB hitman 'not taken lightly'
The Guardian Weekly|August 09, 2024
The German government said it did not take the decision to release a jailed FSB hitman lightly, as it confirmed its involvement in a historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the west.
Deborah Cole
Decision to release FSB hitman 'not taken lightly'

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, said the deal - involving the release of Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany for murder - had been arranged "in close and trusting cooperation with the United States and European partners", making it possible "to secure the release of 15 people who were unlawfully detained in Russia and a German national [Rico Krieger] who had been sentenced to death in Belarus".

Hebestreit said their liberation was "only possible by deporting Russian nationals with a background in intelligence who were in prison in Europe and transferring them to Russia". He confirmed that among them was Krasikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany after murdering a Georgian citizen in a Berlin park.

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FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIAN WEEKLYSe alt
When it comes to a good savoury crumble it's all down to the detail
The Guardian Weekly

When it comes to a good savoury crumble it's all down to the detail

\"Savoury crumbles are a really good idea, so I don't get why we don't make them more often,\" says Esther Clark, who writes The Good Home Cook Substack. As Clark notes: \"Crumbles are incredibly forgiving: they go into one tin, there's barely any washing-up, and they freeze well, making them a good weeknight number.\"

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2 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Generation game An American's view of life in China during the turbulent Covid years, through the eyes of his curious, jaded students
The Guardian Weekly

Generation game An American's view of life in China during the turbulent Covid years, through the eyes of his curious, jaded students

When Peter Hessler, the celebrated chronicler of Chinese society, arrived at Sichuan University in the autumn of 2019, he was expecting to take a break from writing. Hessler made his name as a journalist documenting the lives of everyday people during China's boom years in the early 2000s.

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2 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Claims to fame Will this sympathetic biography of a failed pop star help its enigmatic protagonist find the status his stoicism deserves?
The Guardian Weekly

Claims to fame Will this sympathetic biography of a failed pop star help its enigmatic protagonist find the status his stoicism deserves?

In 2004, the British journalist Chris Heath spent more than a year shadowing Robbie Williams's every movement for his book on the singer, Feel. If this was above and beyond the usual requirements of a biographer, you could see why he thought it might pay off. We tend to be fascinated by success, and the cost that fame can exact upon the individual. And so who better to take such an approach with than both the biggest pop star of his generation and the most self-critical?

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Heartfelt home truth An extraordinary portrait of a 1950s American housewife, based on the diaries of Will Self's mother in an act of filial generosity
The Guardian Weekly

Heartfelt home truth An extraordinary portrait of a 1950s American housewife, based on the diaries of Will Self's mother in an act of filial generosity

Will Self has a history of gonzo premises. He has written novels set in the afterlife, in a world ruled by chimpanzees, in a post-apocalyptic society based on the misogynist rantings of a London cabby.

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024
'My dance is a kind of prayer'
The Guardian Weekly

'My dance is a kind of prayer'

After success in France, choreographer Qudus Onikeku has returned to Nigeria to bring new life to Lagos's dance scene and to mastermind a pan-African creative awakening

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4 mins  |
September 06, 2024
The lighter side of grief A romcom where love never dies
The Guardian Weekly

The lighter side of grief A romcom where love never dies

Marrying your dead fiance may be taboo, but Colin Hanks and director Daniel Reisinger hope their new film will help those coming to terms with their own loss

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Look who's back in anger
The Guardian Weekly

Look who's back in anger

Will an Oasis reunion be a success? Definitely. Will it be worth it? Maybe, say Guardian arts writers

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6 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Voters rejected Macron. Why is he still trying to dictate who governs us?
The Guardian Weekly

Voters rejected Macron. Why is he still trying to dictate who governs us?

After the electoral turbulence of June and July, few in France imagined that we would be heading into September without a new prime minister appointed to reflect the results of July's parliamentary elections.

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Forget the clothes-eating critters-we should love moths in all their beauty
The Guardian Weekly

Forget the clothes-eating critters-we should love moths in all their beauty

Let me start with a confession: I love moths. If your instant reaction to that statement is a shudder and expression of dislike (or worse), be assured that you're not alone. It is the commonest response I get. But moths are extremely important and beautiful creatures, and we should all love them.

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024
Is Starmer's 'reset' with Europe enough to undo Brexit damage?
The Guardian Weekly

Is Starmer's 'reset' with Europe enough to undo Brexit damage?

Every prime minister has their verbal tell-tales. \"Reset\" is a favourite Starmerism. When he visited Berlin last week to pave the way to a bilateral co-operation treaty, the prime minister said he was there as part of a \"wider reset\" in Britain's relations with Europe. There was the same message when he journeyed on to Paris for a grip, grin and chat with Emmanuel Macron. I see why he's fond of the word. \"Reset\" conveys new thinking, a fresh start and altered priorities, while being conveniently vague about the direction of travel or the ultimate destination.

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3 mins  |
September 06, 2024