Politics (Page 499)

Youthful patriotism: Russia's sense of its own history remains unclear. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina Vladimir Putin’s justifications for his country’s invasion of Ukraine – that is, legitimate anxiety at the erosion of Russia’s geopolitical security triggered by Nato’s expansion into eastern Europe – are looking increasingly wayward as the war enters itsContinue Reading

When London was preparing to host the 2012 Olympic Games, 250,000 people signed up to volunteer as official “Games Makers”. Of these, 70,000 people were ultimately selected to wear the distinctive purple-and-red volunteer uniforms. For 40% of them, it was the first time they’d done anything like this. In theContinue Reading

Two men plunged to their deaths in the River Shannon after a safety mechanism on a crane which was holding a steel cage carrying them failed to operate, a court heard Wednesday. There were emotional scenes at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court when members of both deceased’s families left the roomContinue Reading

Ten years ago, London hosted the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. For London 2012 planners, a central aim was that this mega-event would change the way non-disabled people – and society at large – see disabled people in the long-term. Prominent political figures including Tony Blair, Ken Livingstone and theContinue Reading

I was naked, tied to a hard chair with handcuffs. Three or four burly fellows in uniform are standing around me, one of them behind me with a truncheon… ‘Sie sind ein Verräter! [You are a traitor!],’ they snap. These are the words of double agent “M”, who operated forContinue Reading

Ten years ago, London hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hosting the Games had been sold to the British public on the slogan that it would “inspire a generation”. The idea of inspiring a generation chimed with the basic aim of the Olympic Movement, which is to “build aContinue Reading

Political instability in Italy is nothing new – the country has had 67 governments in less than 75 years. Its politicians are often shortsighted, moved by special interests and career concerns, rather than by the common good. This is what’s behind the collapse of the most recent government – theContinue Reading

Odessa's grain silos are full as a Russian blockade has stopped ships leaving during the Ukraine war. Rospoint/Shutterstock The deal to open up Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, brokered by the UN and Turkey, is expected to facilitate the much-needed export of several million tonnes of grain and other food products,Continue Reading