ALAN SIMPSON offers a few pointers on dealing with the ongoing, Trump-led destruction of the norms of a rules-based international order established post-WWII
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Celebrating Cosmonauts’ Day in troubled times
On April 12 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, followed in 1963 by Valentina Tereshkova, who became the first woman in space. COLIN TURBETT looks at this remarkable Soviet achievement and tells the story of the first intrepid cosmic explorers
A 1959 Soviet postcard linking space success with the October Revolution; and how this paper’s predecessor the Daily Worker covered Uri Gagarin’s space flight
The Morning Star publishes an edited transcript of a speech by NICOLAS MADURO GUERRA, a Venezuelan MP and son of Venezuelan President Maduro. The speech was given at the recent Voices from Venezuela event marking two months since Trump’s attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores on January 3
From the hills of the England–Wales border, our new fortnightly nature columnist MARK SEDDON reflects on rebellion, faith and the small dramas of rural life — from medieval fugitives to the quiet rescue of a bucket of tadpoles
While public outrage has focused on the abuse committed within Jeffrey Epstein’s orbit, key questions remain unresolved, says JOHN GREEN
KEITH FLETT argues that we need to stand up to those in power every single time they transgress
Gloucestershire’s phlebotomists have brought their historic strike to a close after almost a year of action, leaving a legacy of determination – and a clear lesson about the power of solidarity in the face of anti-union laws and austerity, says FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
THE Soviet space programme of the 1950s and 1960s may have had some military association, but its chief designer, the brilliant Sergei Korolev, had no interest in weapons developments and devoted his life to the pursuit of space travel and exploration for the sake of peaceful human advancement and the prestige of the USSR.
It is worth reminding ourselves of that fact as we celebrate Cosmonaut’s Day — a day set aside to admire the remarkable achievements of the Soviet pioneers and their successes in the 1950s and early 1960s years of the space race with the US.
The date, April 12, is that of Yuri Gagarin’s first 108-minute human flight into space in 1961. Tonight, I will be presenting on this topic to a Society For Co-operation In Russian & Soviet Studies online gathering (details below) and for doing so have already been subject of a call to boycott my books due to a false assertion that I must by implication support the Russians in the war in Ukraine.
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