A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: what would America fight for? Also, why two years after a famous election victory, Boris Johnson’s would-be radical administration has run into the ground (09:20). And we explore how Beijing’s Winter Olympics may hasten China’s break with the West (17:10).
Tag Archives: UK
Reviews: A Scenic Bus Ride To Whitby, North England

Morning News: Russia Threatens Ukraine, UK & ASEAN, Finland’s ‘Posti’
We discuss US intelligence reports suggesting that Russia could be preparing to invade Ukraine. Plus, why the UK is extending a G7 invite to Asean members, and the modernisation of Finnish postal service Posti.
Views: Isle Of Wight Off South Coast Of England
The Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England. It’s known for its beaches and seafront promenades such as sandy Shanklin Beach and south-facing Ventnor Beach, which is dotted with vintage beach huts. Dinosaur remains and fossils can be seen in areas like Compton Bay and Yaverland Beach. On the island’s western point, The Needles are 3 huge, white chalk rocks, guarded by a 19th-century lighthouse.
Views: 10 Beautiful Places In Cornwall, England

1. Minnack Theatre and Porthcurno Beach
Just four miles from Lands’ End, the Minnack is an epic open-air theatre, perched on rugged granite cliffs towering over the Atlantic Ocean. The theatre itself has been carved into the landscape and is set among beautiful sub-tropical gardens. The theatre’s sweeping panoramic views of Porthcurno Bay are astounding.
2. Mevagissey and Fowey
Mevagissey is an idyllic, authentic and traditional Cornish fishing village. Its narrow streets wind past ancient buildings down to the heart of the picturesque old town. Here Mevagissey’s distinctive twin harbour bustles with colourful boats landing their daily catch.
3. Charlestown
Picturesque and pristine, Charlestown is one of Cornwall’s most beautiful and unspoiled historic ports. Originally built in the Georgian period to ship copper, today the Grade II listed 18th-century harbour instead transports visitors back in time. A fleet of breath-taking tall ships which anchor in the harbour conjure images of a bygone era and add to Charlestown’s charm.
Morning News: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Delhi’s Pollution, Movies
Can UK prime minister Boris Johnson survive accusations of corruption and sleaze? Also in the programme: India’s fight against deadly pollution in Delhi and the week’s film-industry news.
Architecture & Design: York Minster Centre, UK

City Views: London – Capital Of England (8K)
London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.
Views: Cragside Mansion In Northumberland, UK
The first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and full of Victorian gadgets and innovations, Cragside in Northumberland has always been at the forefront of modern living.
But now, climate change has started to catch up with this pioneering place. More frequent and intense rainfall is overwhelming the house’s drainage system and beginning to find its way inside of the Arts and Crafts mansion. Most affected is the drawing room with its immense, two-story high, ornately carved marble fireplace.
Rainwater is pushing salts that are in the stonework of the house through to the decorative marble and plasterwork of fireplace inside, causing its surface to deteriorate, meaning urgent work is needed to save this irreplaceable piece of architecture from crumbling away.
A two-stage project is currently underway to stabilise and future-proof the fireplace against climate-change, conserving it for future generations. As conservation work continues, Cragside is once again looking to the future – this time by looking to its past. Originally built by architect Lord Armstrong and his wife Lady Margaret, this pair of innovators created Britain’s original smart home when Cragside became the first house in the world to be illuminated by hydroelectricity, generated by its man-made lakes.
A project in 2014 gave the estate the ability to yield enough energy from water to light the whole house by installing an Archimedes Screw, which works at an angle and allows water to pass between the Tumbleton Lake and the burn below. This converts the power of the water flowing through it into electricity, a never-ending source that now illuminates the whole house and sends excess power back to the National Grid. Watch this video to discover more.
Morning News: Taliban And Afghanistan Talks In Moscow, Life In Wales
We head to Moscow as Russia hosts talks on Afghanistan with representatives from China, Iran, Pakistan and the Taliban. Plus, we discuss what Wales could do to keep its best and brightest at home.