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IOL News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Wimbledon 2025: Celebrity sightings and royal appearances
Sir David Beckham spotted in the Royal Box. Image: Instagram / primetimeabc Wimbledon might be known for its tennis, but let's be honest, it's just as much about the fashion and the famous faces as it is about forehands and backhands. Between the strawberries and cream, the manicured lawns, and that no-nonsense all-white dress code, it's giving royal garden party meets runway. And once again, the Royal Box is the place to see and be seen. Princess Beatrice was one of the first royals spotted this year, and she brought along her mom, Sarah, Duchess of York, for a rare outing together. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This was a special outing because the Duchess hadn't attended the sporting event since 1988. Just a few seats away was recently knighted Sir David Beckham, looking as dapper as ever, even with a bandaged wrist. The former captain of the England soccer team was joined by his mother, Sandra. The 'Day of the Jackal' star Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah Bagshawe brought a bit of movie-star charm to the stands, and they weren't the only celebrities turning heads. Cate Blanchett looked effortlessly cool in a sleek pale suit, accompanied by her mom, June. Rebel Wilson and her wife Ramona Agruma made it through one of the hottest Wimbledon days in years, while Russell Crowe kept things chill with his partner Britney Theriot. Over in the plush Evian "Mountain of Youth" suite, not far from Centre Court, actress Jessica Alba was seen enjoying the day with her daughter Honor. The space was buzzing with TV personalities, influencers, and sports stars. Wimbledon title winner Maria Sharapova showed up too, snapping a selfie with Beckham at courtside. Other familiar faces included 'Absolutely Fabulous' star Dame Joanna Lumley and actress Isla Fisher. The famous Royal Box is one of the most exclusive seats in sport. Located at the south end of Centre Court, it has just 74 spots and is invite-only. The guest list includes royals, VIPs, former champions, and big names from sport, entertainment, and politics. Of course, there's a strict dress code. Men are expected to wear suits and ties, while the ladies need to dress elegantly. With the finals coming up and the buzz building, we're sure to see even more celebrities joining the crowd. Many are hoping Princess Catherine might make an appearance if she's well enough.
Scottish Sun
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Russian ‘Day of the Jackal' plot to assassinate Zelensky at Polish airport foiled by Ukraine as would-be hitman arrested
The would-be killer was a retired military officer, according to Ukraine's SBU spy service ZEL KILL PLOT Russian 'Day of the Jackal' plot to assassinate Zelensky at Polish airport foiled by Ukraine as would-be hitman arrested Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) UKRAINE foiled a Day of the Jackal plot to assassinate President Zelensky with a sniper. Russia's feared FSB spy service had activated a sleeper agent to carry out the hit in Poland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Ukraine has foiled a 'Day of the Jackal' plot to assassinate President Zelensky, it has been revealed Credit: Getty 7 This isn't the first time President Vladimir Putin has been accused of orchestrating attempts to kill Zelensky Credit: Reuters 7 The assassin was set to kill Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów Airport, where British troops were based Credit: Getty 7 The would-be killer was a retired military officer, Ukraine's SBU spy service said yesterday. He had been recruited 'decades earlier' and was planning to kill Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów Airport – where British troops were based. It echoes the plot of the Jackal spy thriller – remade with Eddie Redmayne last year – in which a sniper attempts to a kill high value target but ultimately fails. Ukraine's SBU spy chief Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk said the FSB agent plotted 'several options' including a sniper and a drone. Read More on World News TARGET LOCKED Putin to exploit Iran chaos and 'strike Europe with never-seen-before attack' He said: 'The task was the physical elimination of President Zelensky at Rzeszow airport. 'Several options were considered. One of them was an FPV drone, the other was a sniper.' Maliuk said the sleeper agent had been recruited through nostaliga for the collapsed USSR and "nurtured" over many years. He was detained in a joint operation with Poland's Homeland Security Agency. He claimed over 500 Russian spies had been caught during the war – including two senior colonels whose job was to guard top officials. Maliuk said the boss of the FSB's feared Fifth Service, Lt Gen Sergey Beseda, was sacked by President Putin when the plots failed. Ukrainian troops advance as they blast Russian self-propelled howitzer Details emerged as President Zelensky swooped into London for talks with Keir Starmer on military aid. Both men have flown through Rzeszow travelling to and from Ukraine. Zelensky told The Sun he had lost track of all the attempts to kill him, and compared it to a bout of covid. He said: 'The first one is very interesting, when it is the first time, and after that it is just like Covid. 'First of all people don't know what to do with it and it's looking very scary. 'And then after that, it is just intelligence just sharing with you detail that one more group came to Ukraine to [attempt] this.' 7 Ukrainian forces on the front line near Kostiantynvka earlier this month Credit: Getty 7 Members of the White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers check an area for residents amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in the frontline town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region Credit: Reuters 7 A factory on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, burns after being hit by multiple Shaheed drones during a Russian strike in April Credit: Alamy Russian special forces parachuted into Kyiv to kill him on the first day of Putin's full scale invasion, on Feb 24, 2022. In February, Zelensky also revealed how he almost got killed in an assassination attempt orchestrated by the Kremlin inside his secured presidential fortress. The brave leader revealed that people died inside his office in Kyiv when Vladimir Putin sent hitmen to wipe him out and take over Ukraine. In an interview with the Guardian, Zelensky said he was attacked by the Russians amid efforts to force Ukraine to accept a peace deal in the wake of the full-scale invasion. If everyone wants peace why is the war in Ukraine still raging? The answer is very simple By Jerome Starkey EVERYONE says they want peace, so why is the war still raging in Ukraine? The short answer is simple: Peace means very different things to very different people. They have different goals and different motives. Vladimir Putin wants total conquest. And he wants to be remembered as a modern Tsar who restored Russia's imperial greatness. Ukraine wants to survive, as a sovereign independent nation. Europe wants a chastened Russia and peace that lasts beyond six months. Trump just wants a deal — any deal at any price — with minerals thrown in for good measure. He wants to claim the glory and perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize for sorting out the carnage which he sees as Barack Obama and Joe Biden's mess. The American position is clear from the terrible deal they want Kyiv to accept. Their so-called seven-point peace plan would freeze the war on the current front lines and force Ukraine to surrender almost all of its occupied territories — some 44,000 square miles — with almost nothing in return. That is an area the size of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is roughly 20 per cent of Ukraine's sovereign territory. In return, Russia would hand back small pockets of territory, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and give Ukraine unhindered access to the mouth of the River Dnieper. Moscow would also give up its ambitions to capture the parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces that its troops have been unable to take by force. But crucially, for Ukraine, there are no security guarantees. That means there is nothing to stop Russia catching its breath, rearming and invading again a few months or years later. The president added: "There were people who wanted to kill [me]. There were gunshots and more. "Some people were killed here, inside the Presidential Office, others were defending us." Zelensky did not reveal the number of people killed during the act, nor did he specify if they were Russians, Ukrainians, or both. Details of the latest plots came as came as a massive missile and drone blitz killed at least eight people in Kyiv and injured dozens more. Ukraine's President Zelensky said a hospital and several homes were hit when Russia fired more than 360 missiles and drones.
The Irish Sun
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Russian ‘Day of the Jackal' plot to assassinate Zelensky at Polish airport foiled by Ukraine as would-be hitman arrested
UKRAINE foiled a Day of the Jackal plot to assassinate President Zelensky with a sniper. Russia's feared FSB spy service had activated a sleeper agent to carry out the hit in Poland. 7 Ukraine has foiled a 'Day of the Jackal' plot to assassinate President Zelensky, it has been revealed Credit: Getty 7 This isn't the first time President Vladimir Putin has been accused of orchestrating attempts to kill Zelensky Credit: Reuters 7 The assassin was set to kill Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów Airport, where British troops were based Credit: Getty 7 The would-be killer was a retired military officer, Ukraine's SBU spy service said yesterday. He had been recruited 'decades earlier' and was planning to kill Zelensky at It echoes the plot of the Jackal spy thriller – remade with Eddie Redmayne last year – in which a sniper attempts to a kill high value target but ultimately fails. Ukraine's SBU spy chief Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk said the FSB agent plotted 'several options' including a sniper and a drone. Read More on World News He said: 'The task was the physical elimination of President Zelensky at Rzeszow airport. 'Several options were considered. One of them was an FPV drone, the other was a sniper.' Maliuk said the sleeper agent had been recruited through nostaliga for the collapsed USSR and "nurtured" over many years. He was detained in a joint operation with Poland 's Homeland Security Agency. Most read in The Sun He claimed over 500 Russian spies had been caught during the war – including two senior colonels whose job was to guard top officials. Maliuk said the boss of the FSB's feared Fifth Service, Ukrainian troops advance as they blast Russian self-propelled howitzer Details emerged as President Zelensky swooped into London for talks with Both men have flown through Rzeszow travelling to and from Ukraine. Zelensky told The Sun he had He said: 'The first one is very interesting, when it is the first time, and after that it is just like Covid. 'First of all people don't know what to do with it and it's looking very scary. 'And then after that, it is just intelligence just sharing with you detail that one more group came to Ukraine to [attempt] this.' 7 Ukrainian forces on the front line near Kostiantynvka earlier this month Credit: Getty 7 Members of the White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers check an area for residents amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in the frontline town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region Credit: Reuters 7 A factory on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, burns after being hit by multiple Shaheed drones during a Russian strike in April Credit: Alamy Russian special forces parachuted into In February, Zelensky also revealed The brave leader revealed that people died inside his office in Kyiv when Vladimir Putin sent hitmen to wipe him out and take over Ukraine . In an interview with the If everyone wants peace why is the war in Ukraine still raging? The answer is very simple By Jerome Starkey EVERYONE says they want peace, so why is the war still raging in Ukraine? The short answer is simple: Peace means very different things to very different people. They have different goals and different motives. Vladimir Putin wants total conquest. And he wants to be remembered as a modern Tsar who restored Russia's imperial greatness. Ukraine wants to survive, as a sovereign independent nation. Europe wants a chastened Russia and peace that lasts beyond six months. Trump just wants a deal — any deal at any price — with minerals thrown in for good measure. He wants to claim the glory and The American position is clear from the terrible deal they want Kyiv to accept. Their That is an area the size of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is roughly 20 per cent of Ukraine's sovereign territory. In return, Russia would hand back small pockets of territory, including the Moscow would also give up its ambitions to capture the parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces that its troops have been unable to take by force. But crucially, for Ukraine, there are no security guarantees. That means there is nothing to stop Russia catching its breath, rearming and invading again a few months or years later. The president added: "There were people who wanted to kill [me]. There were gunshots and more. "Some people were killed here, inside the Presidential Office, others were defending us." Zelensky did not reveal the number of people killed during the act, nor did he specify if they were Russians, Ukrainians, or both. Details of the latest plots came as came as a massive missile and drone blitz killed at least eight people in Kyiv and injured dozens more. Ukraine's President Zelensky said a hospital and several homes were hit when Russia fired more than 360 missiles and drones.
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 15th June 2025
Farewell Frederick Forsyth It was the forever 'Day of Frederick Forsyth' in the thriller writing genre till his death. His end marks the end of a glorious era in crime fiction writing. His novels always depicted victory of good over the evil. His artful narration kept the reader engaged constantly page after page their heart pounding till the last page. Most of his novels made it to the best seller's lists, while over a dozen of his novels were made into movies (in multiple languages). His debut book 'Day of the Jackal' (1973) made Forsyth a "world star writer" overnight. Its intriguing plot remained the foundation of all his future books. The movie based on it was as intriguing and a super hit globally. Sreelekha PS, Boudhnagar Secunderabad-61 Israel and Iran must end hostilities The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran is quite 'alarming ' as it would eventually destabilize the region. Launching of ' Operation Rising Lion' by the Israeli forces to "defang" Iran from making nuclear arsenal, as it feared that it would endanger the ' very survival of Israel'. The killing of the Commander- in- Chief of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Chief of the Staff of the Iranian armed forces is quite chilling. Though the U. S. Secretary of State unequivocally claimed that the USA was not involved in the strike and termed it as Israel's unilateral action, the fact remains that Tel Aviv enjoys Washington's tacit support. Both Israel and Iran should prioritize 'dialogue and diplomacy' and diffuse the tensions, at once. R. J. Janardhana Rao, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad-28 India and Switzerland can play peacemakers Israel has claimed responsibility for bombing Iran's nuclear sites under "Operation Rising Lion," citing existential threats. The U.S., while beginning evacuation of its embassy staff in Tehran, has denied involvement, calling it a unilateral Israeli decision. However, Iran suspects U.S. complicity and has threatened retaliation against both nations—potentially exposing U.S. nuclear secrets and escalating the crisis. The region stands on the edge, with fears of a broader conflict. To diffuse tensions, international mediation, possibly by neutral powers like India or Switzerland, is crucial. India, with its balanced ties and regional influence, can play a vital role in fostering dialogue, urging de-escalation and promoting nuclear transparency to ensure peace in West Asia and stability across the broader South Asian region. RS Narula, Patiala A war that could reach our doorstep The rising conflict between Israel and Iran is no longer a regional issue—it's a global powder keg. With India's diaspora spread across both nations, diplomatic silence is no longer an option. Airstrikes in Tehran and retaliatory threats point to a spiralling crisis. What if the next missile endangers an Indian life? While the world watches like spectators, India must assert its neutral voice for de-escalation. Geopolitical chess games often crush the pawns. Do we wait until one of our own is caught in the crossfire? Hasnain, Patnavi Iran is not complying Since Iran is not complying with its obligations to the UN a regards curtailing nuclear arms propagations, Israel has launched major airstrikes deep inside Iran against nuclear infra-structure. This stems from growing concern that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons, which can be a potential risk to Israel's very survival. If Iran retaliates then it will endanger world peace and adversely impact global trade. B V Thampi, Tamil Nadu Operation 'Rising Lion' Israel attacked Iran in the name of 'Operation Rising Lion' on Friday. Its precision attacks destroyed not only nuclear centres of Iran but also killed its military higherups and prominent nuclear scientists. It is obvious that the operation is being executed with Washington's tacit support, which is evidenced by US President Donald Trump's comments that Iran would face severe attacks in the coming days. Further the US authorities clarified that they had given 60 days to Tehran to come to a nuclear pact with the US, but it had failed to respond. On the other hand, Israel doubted that Iran's nuclear programme would be great threat to it as it would support Hezbollah and Houthi. West Asia is in trouble. Moreover Iran 's supreme leader Khamenei and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are challenging each other with retaliatory attacks. This conflict is leading to severe economic disturbances. India faces 40-50 per cent increase in fuel, which will push inflation in the country. All the countries must do their best to bring the warring groups to the negotiating table to usher in peace in West Asia. Pratapa Reddy Yaramala, Tiruvuru (AP) Safe school buses are a must This refers to 'RTA officials out to rein in rogue school buses in city' (June 12). School bus safety is a major concern. Reckless driving, poor maintenance, and obstructive stops pose risks to students, pedestrians and other drivers. I suggest that authorities should enforce speed limits, lane discipline and safe stopping procedures for school buses; regular inspections to ensure buses are well-maintained, including brakes, tires, and emergency exits. hefty fines or license suspension for repeated traffic violations by bus operators. GPS tracking and speed governors can help monitor bus movement and prevent excessive speeding. Cameras inside and outside buses can deter reckless behaviour and ensure safe driving. Automatic braking and collision avoidance systems that prevent accidents. schools should have designated pick-up and drop-off points to minimize road disruptions. Drivers should undergo specialized training focused on safe driving techniques and handling school bus routes. Parents, schools, and students must be educated on reporting violations and ensuring accountability and demand higher safety standards. Schools should work with RTOs to ensure compliance with transport laws. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad US - China deal fuels ambiguity US President Donald Trump's announcement of a possible extension of the July 9 deadline for concluding ongoing trade negotiations offers only limited reassurance to America's trading partners. This move reflects Washington's implicit acknowledgment of the complexity involved in forging bilateral trade deals, especially as it juggles negotiations with 15 major trading partners, including India. While New Delhi is reportedly in the final stages of hammering out an agreement with the US, it remains unclear whether a deal can be secured by the original deadline—or how long the extension might last. So far, the US has only finalised a trade deal with the UK and reached a tentative, detail-scarce agreement with China. As announced by Trump on Truth Social, the preliminary deal with China includes a 55 per cent US tariff on Chinese imports and a 10 per cent Chinese tariff on American goods, along with reciprocal relaxations on student visas, rare-earth exports, and selective high-tech items. However, the durability of this arrangement is uncertain. While both nations appear to be walking back earlier tariff escalations, underlying tensions persist—especially given China's strategic dominance over the global supply of rare-earth elements, which are critical to a wide range of industries from electronics to defence. Beijing's leverage in this sector could potentially shape the final terms of the agreement. For other trading partners observing from the sidelines, the US-China arrangement signals that any future deals might cement higher baseline tariffs compared to pre-trade war norms. The global economy remains on edge, with the OECD projecting a sharp slowdown in US growth—from 2.8 per cent in 2024 to 1.6 per cent this year—and inflation expected to hover above the Fed's target into 2026. As such, despite the optics of diplomatic progress, uncertainty remains the defining feature of the global trade environment under the Trump administration's evolving policies. Amarjeet Kumar, Hazaribagh Relief for children from overloaded school bags Once an academic year starts, it is back to the painstaking days when children have no other option but struggle carrying heavy bag to school. It is an everyday cumbersome exercise. As a result, many of them suffer from shoulder and back pain. I would like to suggest to every parent to get each text book divided into two parts and binding them separately. The second part is only meant for the second half of the year by when the first part would have been done with. The notebooks may have less number of pages. Once one is over, the second notebook may be used for that subject. This will bring noticeable relief to the children as the weight of the school bag would be reduced considerably. I am sure that when one parent implements this measure, the others will follow suit. K L Rao Bangalore-64 Purposeful thinking in the scientific age We live in an era of astonishing scientific progress — AI, genetic engineering, quantum leaps. Yet, we witness a disturbing void: a lack of purposeful thinking among the youth. They have gadgets in hand but no goal in mind. Innovation thrives not on information, but on intention. Nature itself reflects design and direction. Why, then, does our education system promote success, but not substance? We applaud smart minds but ignore wise hearts. Isn't it time we stop producing only skilled professionals and start nurturing conscious, ethical thinkers? Because without purpose, even the brightest science may not serve the darkest ends. Rabbani Hasnain Patna Adi Shankrachaya , the father figure of Sanyas-Parampara Adi Shankracharya established four shrines in four directions-Govardhan peetha, Sharda peetha, Dwarika peetha and Jyotirmaya peetha. In 547 AD he went on to initiate Dashnami Sanyasi or Akhada Parampara. The ten include Teerth, Ashram, Vana, Aranya, Parvat, Sagar, Saraswati, Bharti, Giri and Puri. Thereafter two more Akhadas came into existence by the virtue of Shir Chand, son of Guru Nanak Dev. The 13th of them was Nirmal Akhada, votaries (sadhus) of which draw inspiration from all the Sikh gurus and Guru Granth Sahib. In order to inflame the spirit of Dhrama the institution of Akhadas grew into active form in the Mughal-period. The institution is said to be named as Akhadas after the arrogant (akkhad in Hindi) nature of sadhus. In case of the marriage and crimes like killing they are excommunicated from the Akhada. However, in the wake of a stampede during the 1954 Kumbha the Akhada Parishad came into being in an organized form. Earlier, sadhus performed rituals of austerity according to their will. It was Shankaracharya, who formed Akhadas. In 1260 the army of Muslim Slave-dynasty attacked Kankhal, one of the 'Panch Teerth of Haridwar, also the abode of Gurukul Kangri. In the battle that continued for 11 days, Naga Sadhus emerged victorious, although 5000 sadhus were martyred! The battle as led by Mahant Bhagwananda. The symbols of bravery, the two spears 'Surya Prakash' and 'Bhairav Prakash' used in the battle are still laid in all sanctity in the cantonment of Kankhal. Every year these spears are worshipped on the eve of Vijayadashami. Er. Rajesh Pathak Nehru nagar, Bhopal From population explosion to population collapse Major health care and development has resulted in a dramatic fall in India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR). It is now way below the replacement rate, sounding alarm bells all across. This warns of an imminent population bomb exploding in the world's most populous nation. The country's TFR has declined to 1.9 births per women falling below the replacement level of 2.1. The population is expected to grow till there is a decline in about 40 years, according to UN demographic report of "State of the World population 2025". The crisis is not about under or over population but millions of people, not able to realize their real fertility goals, wish to make free and informed choices about sex and contraception in the changing environment. The report underscores major shifts in population composition, fertility and life expectancy, signalling a demographic transition. TFR measures the number of children a women is expected to have throughout her reproductive age, according to Sample Registration System Statistical report. India's demographic dividend remains significant with 24 per cent in the age bracket (0-14 years), 17 per cent in (10-19 years) and 26 per cent in (10-24 years). The most striking feature is that 68 per cent of population is the working age (15-64 years), which calls for adequate employment and policy support. The report underscores demographic resilience for policy makers that embeds population polices- including migration and reproductive health as well human capital development with focus on sexual and reproductive health and appropriate population policies. Gudipati Rajendera Kumar, Hyderabad
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Remembering Frederick Forsyth
This is not an obituary of Frederick Forsyth, just a fan's recollection. Obituaries will be many (if the team at The Economist becomes a little 'pop' and less woke perhaps it will do it). Forsyth's demise is passing of an era, a genre of writing that was an intersection of espionage, wars, racy thrillers with pop heroism, crime intertwined in the history and the geo-politics of world war II, Cold war and post-colonial era. All these themes churned well into a large and rich corpus of best sellers that Frederick Forsyth produced over five decades, with remarkable success- Day of the Jackal, Odessa File, Devil's Alternative, Dogs of War, The Shepherd, Fourth Protocol, Phantom of Manhattan, The Afghan, Kill List- among others. Eminently readable, the racy novels interspersed with superb short stories collections: No Comebacks, The Veteran, The Deceiver. Quite a few of these were made into movies- successful ones. For the Gen X types (me included), these books were the closest we could come to the thrills, the intrigues and complexities of the post-colonial, cold war era. The 70s and 80s, the pre-globalization era, when India was a distant spectator to the bipolar world and when our windows to the world was confined to the papers, Illustrated Weekly, Archies, Commandos- Frederick Forsyth, Alistair Maclean, Leon Uris, Robert Ludlum were our windows to the world of espionage, global politics and statecraft. And in this genre Forsyth was in a class of his own. Alistair Maclean was too World War II British type. Ludlum too racy and too American, Leon Uris was too historical (and boringly voluminous to many). Forsyth was the perfect mix of the setting, context, events and of course a good story. The humanness of his characters, their strivings, success and failures, was endearing. None were superheroes, at best a phantom like Johnny Kravanagh in The Shepherd (made into a short film starring Ben Radcliffe and John Travolta (available on Disney Hotstar). The stories, actors were so close to reality that to an impressionable mind growing up in the 1980s, it all seemed real. That Forsyth was a trained Royal Air Force Pilot who saw action in the 1960s, an intelligence operative, BBC correspondent (when BBC was credible and respected) helped imparting that sense of realism to his racy scripts. Meticulous research, delving deep in history, and immaculate detailing made his writing so vivid that one did not need a motion picture adaptation- be it the murky world of the mercenaries in the 1960s Africa (Calo 'Cat' Shannon and his bunch in The Dogs of War) or the sordid saga of a concentration camp in Riga and the hunt for a Nazis war criminal in The Odessa File (the movie was so damn underwhelming). From the point of recall value, Day of the Jackal remains Forsyth's number one- again it was the detailing- whether forgery of documents, the ballistics and the taut plot woven so intricately around historical events that it all seemed real. His canvas stretched wider with cold war thrillers like Devil's Alternative which perhaps for the first time revealed Ukrainian subnationalism to the English-speaking world which had hitherto seen USSR as a Russian megalith, and the Fourth Protocol. In the 1990s and the subsequent decades after the cold war, his works centered around the themes of international terrorism, narcotics, and theaters in West Asia and Afghanistan in the works like The Afghan, The Veteran. These books may have lacked the nostalgia, the appeal and the readership of his earlier works, but they held their own against the forces of new mass media and information overload, which had somewhat demystified the arcane world of global geo-politics, espionage, crime syndicates and all. The last book of Forsyth that I read was the Kill List, it had all the attributes of a good Frederick Forsyth novel. It was to be made into a film and I just hope with so many OTT platforms and the popularity of the genre someone will take up that work. A writer's impressionability is to a great extent determined by the reader's age and sensibility. Like today, in my 50s, it is more of Pico Iyer or the right of center Political Economists and historians and scientists turned philosophers. But even to an ageing mind, the knowledge of these scholars and their wisdom is absolutely no match for the taut plot, storytelling and attention to detail and research of Frederick Forsyth- especially for the generation that grew up in the 70s and the 80s. Though sorry for his demise- even at 86 he had some juice left in the tank- it was a life well lived. It was disciplined, organized, successful and fulfilling. Thank you, Frederick for enriching ours. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
