So I get back from Singapore, where one of the themes was the rivalry between India and China, to find an Indian steel company announcing British redundancies during a Chinese state visit, and blaming Chinese cheap steel imports. The question from the media, as always, was whether [insert name here] will mention human rights to the Chinese leader. Yes, [insert name here] will mention human rights. Cameron will do it, Corbyn will do it, and if I happen to run into the man, I'll mention them. Will that make a difference?
If there's still a Great Game, we're a piece on the board, not a player. It seems at least reasonable to suppose that the Indian steel company would have considered the timing of its announcement - even if only to the extent of a last-minute "Hang on - do we want to do this now?" Odd, then, that the only story was the Chinese not-quite-commitment to build a power station in the West Country. Now we'll just have to wait for the Chinese counter-snub to India. And the British workers crunched between the two sides will have to look for work.
Meanwhile, the future continues to slow down. Skynet became self-aware back in the nineties, and even Marty McFly turned up yesterday in his DeLorean. James Bond is back, yet again, and we're all excited about a Star Wars movie. What's new, and where's the next future?
If there's still a Great Game, we're a piece on the board, not a player. It seems at least reasonable to suppose that the Indian steel company would have considered the timing of its announcement - even if only to the extent of a last-minute "Hang on - do we want to do this now?" Odd, then, that the only story was the Chinese not-quite-commitment to build a power station in the West Country. Now we'll just have to wait for the Chinese counter-snub to India. And the British workers crunched between the two sides will have to look for work.
Meanwhile, the future continues to slow down. Skynet became self-aware back in the nineties, and even Marty McFly turned up yesterday in his DeLorean. James Bond is back, yet again, and we're all excited about a Star Wars movie. What's new, and where's the next future?