Colin Freeman

A detailed review of Bojan Pancevski’s investigative book recounts the Ukrainian-led operation that sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines and the extensive German investigation that followed. Drawing on direct access to the conspirators, the book challenges assumptions that only major powers could execute the attack, highlights internal Ukrainian decision‑making, and explores Western intelligence awareness. The review praises the work’s reporting depth, narrative strength, and insight into the geopolitical ramifications of the 2022 explosions, concluding that it offers one of the clearest accounts available of the covert operation.

The BBC plans to cancel Radio 4’s long‑running programme The World Tonight as part of budget cuts introduced by new director‑general Matt Brittin, replacing it with the World Service programme Newshour. Former presenters and insiders argue that the two shows serve fundamentally different audiences, warning that British listeners will lose a programme tailored to domestic interests while Newshour’s global focus may not meet their needs. Critics say the savings are minimal and reflect management priorities that underrate radio. Concerns include differing editorial perspectives, potential clashes between domestic and international news priorities, and the erosion of distinctive BBC radio journalism.

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new investigative book London Falling, which examines the mysterious 2019 death of Zac Brettler and the broader world of wealthy London circles influenced by Russian money. The Brettler family, dissatisfied with the police investigation, granted Keefe extensive access to case files, raising questions about overlooked evidence and police resource constraints. The narrative expands to similar unsolved deaths connected to oligarch-linked circles, portraying London as vulnerable to illicit wealth. Keefe reflects on his investigative career, the challenges facing journalism and publishing, and his concerns over modern reading habits, while distancing himself from comparisons to Truman Capote due to revelations about fabricated material in Capote’s work.