First, a public service announcement. If you’re a woman who needs a bit or mentoring, let Meghan’s Celebrity Motivators help you! The Duchess of Santa Barbara Sussex is marking her fortieth birthday by getting 40 female celebs to mentor 40 deserving ladies. Melanie McDonagh explains why this attention-seeking vanity project will be such a crock – if, that is, it ever happens.

In the real world, China keeps rising and rising, like Germany did in the 1930s. James Forsyth writes how a Biden administration official has written a book arguing China’s aim is world hegemony, with the US displaced as the arbiter of word political and economic affairs. No s***, Sherlock, but at least it’s good to know the Biden administration is thinking the right way. As to the imperial aspirations of Xi Jinping, Francis Pike suggests we should look to Thucydides and the rise and fall of the Athenian empire for answers. Everything old is new again…

As the Delta variant does its thing around the world, Laura Dodsworth tells us what some powerful people say is our greatest enemy – breathing. And not breathing would cure halitosis too!

Meanwhile, in New York state, the Democrats are eating one of the own – one once deemed as presidential timber, no less. Governor Andrew Cuomo, found by an official investigation to be a sex pest, and now disowned by President Biden, is being impeached by his own party’s legislators, Janice Dean tells us.

Talking of presidential timber, Amber Athey writes that just six months in, powerful Democrat women are worried that Veep Kamala Harris, whose qualifications seem to be she’s non-white, female and Californian rather than capable of being a competent President, has been seen through by the American public.

Finally, rejoice! Britney Spears is a Catholic. Cockburn says the signs were always there, but good luck to her if she wants to worship a Heavenly Father who’s kind and loving, unlike her earthly one.

All this and more in our incomparable World section this week, along with Flat White and everything else our wonderful magazine has to offer.

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